A young Isle of Wight couple didn’t let a nationwide lockdown stop them from securing their first-ever home together – after just a single Zoom call.
28-year-old Emily Harriskine-Cook and her partner Tom Hipkiss, 29, reserved a home at David Wilson Homes’ St George’s Gate in Newport after a virtual tour of the development via Zoom during November’s lockdown. The couple paid their deposit there and then and are due to move in at the end of June.
After 9 years together, the Ryde couple didn’t want to wait any longer to buy their first home together and David Wilson Homes made it possible, despite the ‘stay at home’ restrictions.
Emily, a Learning Support Assistant at a local primary school, said:
“After we made the decision to purchase a home, we immediately thought of St George’s Gate. The development is in the perfect location for us, close to work and our families, and we couldn’t wait to look around suitable properties.
“We had a tour around the Arley show home on site in August, but by the time we decided to look at a larger house style, the country was in lockdown again.”
It was at this point that David Wilson Homes offered the enthusiastic pair a virtual tour of a Sandford property – showing them all that the home, and the development, had to offer. It was after this Zoom call that the couple decided they had seen enough – they reserved a plot there and then.
Tom, who works at a wind turbine manufacturer in Newport, said:
“Some people might think reserving a home without visiting it in person is a crazy thing to do. But we felt completely satisfied that we were making the right decision. David Wilson Homes is a well-respected trusted brand, and we had no hesitations going ahead.
“All our questions were answered, and with the deposit fully refundable before exchange of contracts, we were also given the peace of mind we needed.”
It wasn’t until April that the couple could actually visit their new Sandford home in person – a whole 2 months after contracts were exchanged – and any anxieties they may have felt, were then eliminated.
Emily added:
“Our new home was exactly as we imagined. Thanks to David Wilson Homes, we had the opportunity to view and reserve it at a time when we were unable to leave our homes, and now, it’s nearly time for us to move in. We can’t wait!”
David Wilson Homes has been offering virtual tours of its developments and properties across the region since the start of the COVID crisis, and with some buyers still anxious about visiting its sites, this is still proving to be a popular alternative.
Tammy Bishop, Sales Director at David Wilson Homes, Southampton Division, said:
“For buyers to be able to view and reserve our homes online was a saving grace during the Covid pandemic – they could feel comfortable they were seeing everything available to them, but, at the same time, not compromising their feelings on safety.
“I’m so happy for Emily and Tom. A virtual viewing meant there were no substantial delays because of lockdown and now they are weeks away from their move-in date. We wish them both well in their first home together.”
Advert disguised as a new story. Hmmmmm.
I’m in full agreement with you, but sadly IE didn’t publish my comment, AGAIN.
Such an attractive development, and I am sure the couple concerned have piece of mind knowing that in a hundred years time their great grandchildren will be growing up in such a solid, well-built dwelling. Who needs fields and lots of wildlife here, anyway? Well done to the developers. No price is too high to get shot of all our green spaces.
St Georges Gate. Already looking like a ghetto. Rabbit hutches on top of each other, parked cars creating hazards. Used as a rat run between Staplers and St Georges Way, to avoid the out of date Coppins Bridge roundabout.