How Part-Exchange Helped Carol and David Secure Their Dream Forever Home

Finding a forever home can be a challenging process. Achieving the balance of the right house, in the right location, at the right time is crucial. 

David and Carol thought they had found the perfect balance when they downsized two years ago. Although their modern three-bedroom bungalow had served them well, it lacked the space they truly needed, and with a new estate built nearby, they felt the local area wasn’t quite the same anymore. “We had downsized into the bungalow, but quickly realised it wasn’t quite spacious enough for the lifestyle we wanted. We also didn’t like how the local area was changing since a new estate had been built; it just didn’t feel right anymore,” shared Carol. “We felt that if we were going to move again, it had to be into our forever home. We wanted to not only have our dream home, but also be in a nice village location that would give us the friendly community and the tranquillity we wanted.”

The Search for ‘The One’

The couple hadn’t put their property on the market yet, but a new Chestnut Homes development in the charming village of Sibsey, near Boston, caught Carol and David’s eye during a leisurely day out. The brand-new property took their breath away—but in an unfortunate twist, someone else had reserved it just 24 hours before they visited the site. “Someone else pipped us to the post, and we were incredibly disappointed; it ticked every box for us and more,” Carol said.

Disheartened, Carol and David halted their search, deciding to postpone their move for a year or two. However, fate had other plans. A few months later, the couple received a call from the Chestnut Homes team, and the property they loved unexpectedly returned to the market after the original buyer had pulled out. Determined not to miss out again, Carol and David were eager to do everything possible to secure their dream property. “We didn’t want to risk it slipping through our fingers a second time,” explained David. “So, we decided to use Part-Exchange offered via Chestnut Homes’ partner Spring. The team on site had already discussed Spring’s Part-Exchange with us a few months earlier, so we knew what it involved and how quickly Spring could buy our home, leaving us free to secure our new property.”

Why Spring?

Once the couple decided to proceed with Part-Exchange, Chestnut Homes sent their details to Spring. “Spring contacted us and got the wheels in motion quickly. Once an offer was ready, they were very clear and transparent about the basis for the valuation, how the figures had been calculated, and what the process would be,” said David. “It also helped enormously that Aston, an Underwriter from Spring, phoned us just before sending our personalized property report containing the Spring offer. He explained everything and was very generous with his time, answering all our questions and considering possible scenarios. Having everything explained so thoroughly allowed us to make an informed decision about whether this would be the best option for us from every aspect.”

“Choosing Spring’s Part-Exchange was the ideal solution for us; it put us in a rock-solid position as buyers. Chestnut Homes knew we had a guaranteed sale with Spring, plus as we could move so quickly, we were able to secure additional incentives from Chestnut Homes,” explained David.

A Seamless Experience from Start to Finish

Knowing that their sale was being taken care of and guaranteed not to fall through was key for Carol and David. “The biggest advantage of all was that we didn’t run the risk of losing our dream property again.  Using Spring meant we avoided all disruption of having viewings, and the potential heartache/disappointments of chains breaking down, it was so easy for us.”

Another standout benefit of using Part-Exchange for Carol and Dave was Spring’s ‘License to Occupy’. This complementary feature enables homeowners to access both their old and new properties simultaneously. “The license to occupy was brilliant,” said Dave, “It gave us the time to plan everything, measure up, and organise removals.”

Carol and David were experienced in moving homes, fully aware of the stresses it can involve. Having completed several moves over the past decade, including international relocations to and from Australia and Spain, the allure of a hassle-free Part-Exchange move was undeniable. “Once we knew our completion date, we were able to organise our move. Communication was exceptional throughout our sale with Spring and Chestnut Homes. Aston was an absolute star, being very proactive with Chestnut Homes as well as responding to whatever we bounced his way.”

The Big Move

Their new home — a four-bedroom ‘Platinum’ property complete with high-end finishes, en-suites, and a double garage — exceeded every expectation for Carol and David. “It was the show home, so everything was already perfectly styled — flooring, tiles, colours, fixtures and fittings — all beautifully done and exactly to our taste, we couldn’t have chosen better ourselves.”

From the moment they got the keys, Carol and David felt at home. “Thanks to the license to occupy, we moved into our new Chestnut Home over a couple of days. We didn’t feel rushed and were able to leave our old home in great condition for the next owners,” said Dave. “Everything was ready and waiting for us, even the gardens looked incredible with lovely lawns laid, plus perennial shrubs planted in the front garden,” complemented Carol. “We’ve got space for everything, plus more. As soon as we walked in, we instantly felt at home, and it’s like they say, when you know, you know.”

Reflections and Advice

If others are considering using Part-Exchange to make their dream move, Carol and David offer some great words of advice. “Do your homework. We created a spreadsheet comparing all our options. We not only looked at what it would mean to our bank balance, but also what our capital assets would be.  We also included what we would have had to spend to refresh our existing property to be comparable to the new build. That reassured us we were doing the right thing and made it crystal clear that Part-Exchange wasn’t just convenient — it was the right financial choice too.”

A New Chapter

Today, Carol and David are loving their new Chestnut Homes property. “The move went perfectly to plan. We are just so happy, our new home is beautiful, and the added bonus is that we are surrounded by friendly neighbours too,” said Carol. “We’ve now got the home and lifestyle we’ve always wanted, and I’ve even set up a new gym in the garage. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do but never had the space. I’ve got an exercise area with a large TV screen for online training sessions, comfortable flooring, plus racks for weights. David is thinking about converting the other half into a games room now; it’s so much fun and a project we are both looking forward to.”

“This is our second Chestnut Homes property, and we’ve found them to be of excellent quality; we’re so glad we went for it. Spring and Chestnut Homes made the entire process seamless — and now we’re living in our dream forever home,” said Carol. “I’d have no hesitation in recommending Spring’s Part-Exchange to friends and family. This has been, hand on heart, our best experience of moving ever.”

Watch Carol's video journey HERE

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