subject: An Open Mind Leads To A Great New Retirement Home For Derek And Mary [print this page] Not everyone has a purpose-built, new-build retirement property in mind when they downsize later in life, but it's amazing how some people come back to the idea and see all the benefits of buying new-build, even if at first they were sceptical. That's what happened to Derek and Mary Riching when they were looking to move from their old bungalow in the Reading area to find a property that would be more manageable for them as they got older.
Mary Riching takes up the story: "When we started to view the bungalows on offer in the area, we found that most of them required work and that wasn't something we wanted to take on at our age. We knew about the Lyefield Place development but that was before Beechcroft took over the site and when we first visited it was too early to take a look at it. We went back again before the new homes were completed and, mistakenly, thought that it wasn't for us."
She continues: "We were looking at another property when my husband suggested we go back to Lyefield Place once more - and by that time the show home was completed. We didn't know what to expect but straightaway, my husband said that he'd be happy to live there - and that was that!"
Just three miles from Reading, the development has everything the couple need on hand, from simple everyday necessities like shops, a doctor's surgery, bus stop and post office, to the luxury of Reading Golf Club. The couple have also made lots of new friends at their new home.
"We love Lyefield Place and haven't really missed our old house," adds Mary. "We wouldn't go back. We are very happy with our apartment and the fact that we can open the doors onto the terrace and go out into the gardens whenever we like. We also appreciate the fact that the apartment is really spacious."
Derek and Mary are also grateful to have some of the specialist services on hand that can only be found at dedicated new-build retirement homes: "We are extremely glad that the development has the added security of an on-site estate manager who is on hand to provide assistance in case of emergencies."
All the properties are now reserved at Lyefield Place but Beechcroft has a number of other new retirement developments for sale in the Home Counties and West Country at the moment.
