A dream move for Jacqueline and her mum Claire

Downsizing to a park home is becoming an increasingly popular lifestyle choice among homeowners looking for simplicity, community living, and reduced maintenance. Whether prompted by retirement, family needs, or a change in personal circumstances, making the move to a park home can offer the perfect balance between comfort and convenience.

Jacqueline and her partner Andy had owned their two-bedroom end-of-terrace property for four years. Enjoying the property's convenient location, it was ideal for the couple to get in and around town. “We loved how close our property was to all the shops and amenities, and there were also lots of places for us to enjoy nice walks in the local green spaces,” said Jacqueline. But, due to a family bereavement, Andy wanted to be nearer to his children, who had recently settled in Christchurch, so the couple decided it was time to move to the Dorset coast so they could better support Andy’s children.

Putting steps in place

Jacqueline and Andy knew the exact area they wanted to live in, plus they loved the idea of living in a park bungalow community after discovering the selection of parks on offer through Regency Living in the local area. “We found the New Forest Glades site as it was near Andy’s children,” said Jacqueline. “As soon as we drove into the site for the first time, the stunning grounds blew us away, and the space inside the Regency Living bungalows was amazing and really surprised us.”

After speaking to the Regency Living team on site, Jacqueline and Andy knew this was the place they wanted to be. “Not only was the location perfect for Andy’s children, but the bungalows were exactly what we were looking for. We wanted to go ahead and buy, but with our end-of-terrace property not yet on the market, we needed to find a solution to enable us to sell our property and not lose the bungalow we had fallen in love with.”

The couple understood that selling their home through an estate agent could take a long time, and after learning about the Part-Exchange service offered by Regency Living’s partner, Spring, Jacqueline and Andy thought this was the best way for them to move. “We didn’t want the stress or hassle of dealing with estate agents, and all the fees that come with it, so using Part-Exchange was ideal because it gave us a quick, easy, and guaranteed sale.”

Getting started with the move

The couple were drawn to the simplicity and speed that Part-Exchange could offer. “We visited Spring's website and found it easy to navigate, informative, and reassuring thanks to other customers' stories,” said Jacqueline. “These stories influenced our decision to move forward with Spring, as we could relate to other customers' circumstances.”

With all their information sent to Spring, the couple found the process moved very quickly. “The information Spring provided in their Property Valuation Report was especially helpful, as it clearly explained the process and set expectations for us,” said Jacqueline. “We thought the valuation was fair, and we decided we wanted to go ahead. As the sale progressed, it was stress-free, and communication throughout from the Spring team was great.”

The couple also made use of Spring’s complimentary 'License to Occupy' feature, allowing them to remain in their property after their sale had completed. “The license was wonderful, our move didn’t feel rushed at all, and it was a great feature of the service.”

The beginning of a new chapter

The couple managed to move quickly and start their new life in Christchurch, near Andy’s children. “We love our new home, and we’ve settled in well. We’ve met all our wonderful neighbours now, and all the park staff are excellent,” said Jacqueline. “We are so close to Andy’s children, and we’ve been able to spend plenty of time with them, which was the main goal of our move.”

“We love the space we have — our kitchen-diner is a great place for entertaining, along with the separate lounge. We’ve taken up a new hobby too, and we now enjoy walking and exploring the local area. We are so happy we made the move, and I’ve even had my mum, Claire Cole, move into a nearby bungalow recently, which has been amazing. She also fell in love with the community here, and at 89, has embraced everything the site has to offer. I’d recommend anyone looking for a stress-free move to use Spring; it really does remove all the hassle of selling a property.”

A bright future for Claire too

Now settled in her new Regency Living bungalow, Claire is loving life and being so close to Jacqueline. “I love life so far at New Forest Glades, it's a beautifully laid out park. My bungalow is perfect for what I need, with two bedrooms, a lovely open lounge, kitchen/diner, and a cozy snug with fireplace,” said Claire. “I’ve settled in well, and it's great being so close to Jacqueline and her partner Andy. My neighbours are also lovely, the staff are so friendly, and it is a beautiful place. I’m delighted I made the move using Spring’s Part-Exchange service; it made everything so easy and stress-free for me. If anyone else is thinking about moving and is considering using Spring’s Part-Exchange, my advice would be to do it – you won’t look back.”

← RETURN to BLOG/STORIES