When Kate and Phillip discovered The Crescent in Goff’s Oak by Stonebond, they found a new and sustainable home in a friendly area which would become the first property they bought together. Since taking the plunge and purchasing their new three-bedroom home off-plan, Kate comments: “We are so much happier here and I feel safe and carefree. It meant a lot to us to be able to buy this beautiful home together”.
Kate, a consultant in the construction industry and Phillip, Senior Project Engineer on the HS2 project, had been living in a three-bedroom 1930s home in Hatfield which Phillip owned. Kate had moved in a few years prior but together, the couple were keen to move to a different area, having not felt fully comfortable there. Kate comments: “To put it simply, we didn’t like the area; it really didn’t suit us or our lifestyles. We hardly went out and I didn’t feel completely safe venturing around on my own so we were keen to move on. We wanted to stay in Hertfordshire, be close to a station and upsize, and we felt now was the right time to own a home together.”
The couple began searching online, looking for a bigger detached home with a garden, parking and large garage. Other than wanting a friendly Hertfordshire hotspot, the couple were open minded to different types of homes, including new build developments. Kate comments: “We came across The Crescent online and this sparked us to consider a new-build home. We realised we much preferred the buying process it involved, particularly having previously had a home fall through. We booked a viewing and the rest is history!”
Kate and Phillip visited The Crescent but as it was in early stages of construction, there was no show home to view. However, this did not phase the couple and they purchased a three-bedroom detached home off-plan. Kate comments: “As soon as we got to The Crescent, we just got a good feeling about it. We loved the location which was our biggest concern. The development was nice and small – we loved how it was tucked away and had a huge green space. It just had a lot of character which we felt was lost with bigger developments.”
Kate continues: “Rachel, the sales consultant, was fantastic and went through the brochures, CGIs, floor plans and specification with us. She let us see a plot which was under construction and took us to one of Stonebond’s other sites, Radio Place, to get a feel for the homes on offer. Also, the sustainability elements of the homes were fantastic and this was really important to us. The house which fell through had an EPC F rating yet this one has a B rating. This made us realise how impressive the insulation and efficiency must be of the homes at The Crescent. We jumped in feet first and bought our home without even seeing it!”
On completion day, Kate and Phillip saw their home for the first time and were blown away, as Kate reminisces: “When we finally saw the home, it was better than we had expected and we were elated. The home and the development are peaceful and quiet – we couldn’t have asked for anything better. We chose a three-bedroom over a four-bedroom as it still gives us more space than previously but means every room has an ensuite which is amazing. It’s perfect for when we have visitors and as I hybrid work, I’ve been using one of the bedrooms as an office which is working well. The downstairs is great – we have an open plan kitchen, separate lounge, big WC and a utility room.”
Kate continues: “I love baking and cooking so the lovely kitchen and all the brand-new appliances were incredible. Phillip and I also have a weekend tradition where we cook all types of BBQ food on our Big Green Egg, irrespective of snow/rain/sun. The garden is a really great size and is perfect for this – the home is catering to all our needs, hobbies and lifestyle. I am looking forward to growing some herbs in the summer and we are also planning to build an outdoor kitchen so we can host garden parties.”
Location was the top priority for the couple so they were overjoyed to find somewhere which is clean, welcoming and has a neighbourly feel. Kate comments: “We love this area. There’s a pub next door which we have enjoyed visiting. This is a new experience for us as before we would rarely go out. We go on walks at the weekend round the local woods and its close to the station so we can both get to work easily. I really like Cuffley which is a short walk away and has lots of nice breakfast spots and a local butchers, perfect for our weekend cooking. We’re happier and I can walk around carefree. It’s amazing to come home to this house and know it’s ours and it’s providing a life we love.”
