One of the favourite things about their new house for newly-weds Matthew and Kelly Murgatroyd is al fresco dinners on their balcony overlooking the river as the sun goes down.
But rewind to last spring and it was a story of frustration for the couple, who married in May, as their search around Guildford repeatedly confronted them with property let-downs, stiff competition and steep prices.
Despite Matthew’s initial doubts over buying new, they expanded their range to take a look at Linden Homes’ popular and fast-selling Riverside development on the banks of the River Wey, close to the centre of the popular Surrey market town of Godalming.
The leafy development comprises a thoughtful arrangement of traditionally designed yet contemporary and very spacious two, three and four-bedroom homes, as well as two-bedroom apartments.
The visit was a turning point, and after moving in during July, Matthew and Kelly enjoyed the warm summer in their three-story, four-bedroom townhouse with views over the water, easy access to the beautiful North Downs, and convenient travel for work.
Matthew (40), who works in IT, said: “Before we arrived, I was dubious. I’ve never liked the idea of big housing estates; I preferred a small collection of five or six houses.
“But when we arrived at Riverside, it was different. We talked with Tia and Laurie, the Linden Homes sales advisors, and we started to see how it could suit us. We also avoided being in a chain and buying off-plan worked out for us.
“This development is full of people who are around our age; professional people who work in London. People have come to this area from the north and more locally.”
Both are very active runners and cyclists, so the surrounding countryside is perfect for enjoying the fresh air. In fact in October, Matthew completed the Clarendon Marathon from Salisbury to Winchester.
It suits them for work too: Kelly (36) is cabin crew and flies from Gatwick and Heathrow, so Riverside is well placed for both.
Matthew mainly works from home but finds the connections suit him very well for business trips, with a train station less than a mile away in Farncombe running direct to London Waterloo in about 45 minutes – and with seats available.
Matthew continued: “We were initially going for a property which didn’t have the river view, but Kelly said we should look at one – and I’m so glad we did. Ever since moving in we’ve been looking out over the water, seeing the ducks and swans swimming by.
“The layout works for us too; we use all the floors and all the space. We have a sofa and TV in the dining room by the kitchen so we can chat while one of us cooks, and then head upstairs to the living room. It’s really nice if we’re entertaining, it keeps everyone together.
“The friends and family who have visited us love our new home. It feels like we have spent our money very well here. We’re very settled and we can’t wait to get home these days and enjoy being here.”
Natalie Flint, Linden Homes Guildford’s sales and marketing director, said: “I’m so pleased we could help Matthew and Kelly find the right home with the price, quality and location they wanted. It’s in a beautiful spot and I hope they’ll be very happy together.”
In common with all Linden Homes properties, each Riverside home comes with integrated kitchen appliances as standard, plus a 10-year NHBC warranty and two-year customer care warranty for peace of mind.
To book an appointment or to find out more, call 0844 488 1984.
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For further press information, contact Claire Cathersides or Claire Oakley at Remarkable Content on 01962 893 893.
References to “we”, “us” or “our” are to the part of the Vistry Group (including Linden Homes, Bovis Homes, Countryside Homes, Drew Smith, Vistry Ventures or one of Vistry’s joint venture companies) from which you are intending to purchase a new home. References to "you” and “your” are to the prospective buyer or buyers of a new home from us.
All images are used for illustrative purposes only and are representative only. They may not be the same as the actual home you purchase and the specification may differ. Images may be of a slightly different model of home and may include optional upgrades and extras which involve additional cost. Individual features such as windows, brick, carpets, paint and other material colours may vary and also the specification of fittings may vary. Any furnishings and furniture are not included in any sale. Please check with our sales consultants for details of the exact specifications available at the development(s) for each type of home and the associated prices.
