Claire makes her dream move to be close to family.

As we grow older, our priorities can shift. What matters most becomes clear—comfort, peace of mind, and being close to the ones we love. For many retirees, living near family provides not just emotional reassurance but also practical support and companionship. Whether it's to spend more time with children and grandchildren, or to have family nearby ‘just in case’, leaving a long-time home can feel daunting. But with the right support and family to help, the move can be life-changing and rewarding for all.

After spending 61 years in the same three-bedroom semi-detached house—with its much-loved garden and all the memories of a life well lived—Claire, a widow of 20 years and 89 years young, made the brave decision to move closer to her daughter Jacqueline.  “Our home held so many memories for me and my late husband as we bought the house when we first got married,” said Claire. “We both loved the location as it was near local shops and schools, plus it was very convenient to catch public transport. After my husband passed away, the house was just too big for me, and I felt the time had now come for me to make a change.”

Making plans

Claire’s daughter Jacqueline had recently moved home to a Regency Living Park Bungalow community, and during visits to see her, Claire began to realise that she loved the location and area, plus her daughter was keen to move mum close by. “Jacqueline's bungalow at New Forest Glades was stunning and had such a nice feeling of community that we instantly felt drawn to,” said Claire. “I loved the idea of being close to Jacqueline and there was a bungalow around the corner for sale that was perfect for me, but the thought of having to go through the process of selling my house was putting me off; it was a daunting prospect.”

When Claire's daughter Jacqueline moved into New Forest Glades, she didn’t sell her home via an estate agent; instead, she chose Part-Exchange with Regency Living’s partner Spring. The service meant Jacqueline didn’t have to list her home with an estate agent and wait for a buyer, instead she was able to move quickly and easily – a process that Claire also found appealing. “I knew how well Jacqueline’s sale had gone with Spring, so once I’d made the decision it was my time to move, I also wanted to use Part-Exchange as Jacqueline found it so easy, quick, and convenient.”

Setting the wheels in motion

With Jacqueline fully on board and the ideal bungalow earmarked at New Forest Glades, Claire set the wheels in motion for her big move. “I spoke with Aiden Carter on site, who, from the beginning, was very helpful indeed. He put me in touch with Spring, and once the team at Spring had contacted me, things started moving very quickly,” explained Claire. “At 89, it can be difficult sometimes to understand things, but Spring made it easy, and all the information they gave me was clear, with good communication throughout. I decided to go ahead as the service gave me a hassle-free, safe and quick sale - which is exactly what I wanted.”

And, with so many years of belongings and memories to sort through to prepare for the move, Spring’s license to occupy feature came in handy for Claire. “Having the extra time once my sale had gone through with the license to occupy was very helpful,” said Claire. “As you can imagine, I had a lot of things to sort after 61 years in the same house, so the extra time was brilliant to declutter and sort everything.”

A bright future

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.”

 

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