A Cambridgeshire family who have been in rented accommodation for four years are now enjoying life in their first home of their own – and are able to give their little girl the bright pink bedroom she wanted.
Harlee Cater and Abbie Appleby and their three-year-old daughter Theodora moved into their new Linden Homes property at Quantum Fields in Littleport at the end of 2022, a few days before Christmas.
The couple, both aged 25, did not like renting, and couldn’t wait to get a place of their own, so spent the whole time they were in their rented house in nearby Ely saving for their deposit.
Harlee, a groundworker, and Abbie, a receptionist at a doctor’s surgery in Sutton, bought their three-bedroom semi-detached Eveleigh property.
Harlee said: “We were thinking about moving into a home of our own ever since we started renting four years ago. We hated it, paying someone else’s retirement fund. But now we are paying our own mortgage so we will eventually have something to show for it.
“At the old house we couldn’t decorate Theodora’s room, but now we have our own place she has chosen the brightest pink she could find for her bedroom.”
Having bought their new home off-plan, the couple also enjoyed having the chance to choose fittings and floorings and have the kitchen, en suite, and bathroom just as they wanted them.
Harlee, who has been in construction for eight years as a groundworker, and has worked on Linden Homes sites in the past, said: “I knew it was a good quality house.”
Although the couple were open minded about whether to buy a new build, once they looked into it, they found that buying a property at Quantum Fields would work very well for them.
“New builds have come on in leaps and bounds in the last five years and you do get a lot for your money these days,” said Harlee.
And in fact, they realised that the location works even better for them, with family members living within walking distance and Millfield Primary School a few minutes away, which will be very convenient when Theodora starts at school.
They are also expecting their bills to be smaller than they were used to in the 15-year-old townhouse they were renting.
Harlee said: “This is very well insulated. It’s definitely a big improvement. It’s a very warm and very cosy house. The heating rarely comes on, and then if it does the place warms up very quickly.”
The layout of the house also works well for them. “It’s got a nice kitchen/diner, a decent garden and a good size living room,” he said. “It’s a good family home, it’s got everything we need. It did tick every box.”
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