Customer: Andy Bosso
Housetype: “The Tewel”
Development: Charleston Grange
With Andy and his wife Valentina both securing jobs in Aberdeen, they felt it was time to ease their daily commute and lay some permanent roots close to the city. Cove was firmly at the top of their destination list, and on discovering our Charleston Grange development, they instantly knew it was perfect for them.
As first-time buyers, the couple decided to carefully investigate what mortgage options and incentives were available to them, rather than continuing to rent. And last year, they made the move from their outdated rental cottage in a remote part of Brechin, to a stylish new Kirkwood home and feel they’ve upgraded every aspect of their home life - both from a location and a property perspective.
We caught up with Andy to find out more about their first-time buyer journey, how they are settling into Cove, and what they love most about their new Kirkwood home.
What options were you considering when searching for your first home, and why did you choose Charleston Grange?
“As we had never bought a home before, we wanted to check out a few different home builders to see what was on offer in Cove, but very quickly we realised we preferred the quality and style of the Kirkwood homes.
“As soon as we walked into our house, we knew right away it was perfect for us. Even when it was totally empty, we just loved it and could picture ourselves living there!
“Our previous home was an older style cottage in the middle of nowhere, so the idea of a brand new house in such a fantastic area felt like a complete ‘upgrade’ to our lifestyle.”
What housetype did you choose and why?
“We chose the ‘The Tewel’, a 3 bedroom semi-detached home. Space and storage were two really big factors for us, and the ‘The Tewel’ provided both of these. It actually ticked all of our boxes.
“The open-plan kitchen and dining area is so modern and well designed, and we love the addition of the French doors leading out to our garden. The separate lounge is also lovely and has a large window which lets in so much natural light.
“All the bathrooms are very well designed and we particularly love our beautiful en-suite. We didn’t have this little luxury in our last home, so it’s been such a lovely improvement for us.”
What have you loved most about moving to Cove?
“The amazing thing about Cove is it’s full of scenic and peaceful coastal routes right on our doorstep, yet it is still very close to the city centre for commuting to work, going shopping and dining out.
“The Charleston high street is a personal favourite spot for us, especially the butcher, Meet the Meat, which we have been guilty of visiting multiple times a week! There’s also a supermarket, which is very handy. This has been such a welcome change for us because where we lived before, the closest town was over 20 minutes away.
“I like that without even being far from the city centre, we have the benefits of less busy roads and a more relaxed and quiet atmosphere. I love to go on runs so having safe surroundings to do so is a really big plus for me.”
What is the main thing that attracted you to the development?
“The way the houses look, both inside and outside, attracted us to Kirkwood. The whole development is laid out perfectly and works really well. On a sunny day, all the homes glisten and shine, and we have truly fallen in love with our new area.
“There is definitely a sense of community in Charleston Grange, which is great considering we have basically been in lockdown since we moved in. Although we haven’t had a chance to get to know our neighbours well yet, everyone seems very friendly and are always giving one another a wave.”
What was the buying process like with Kirkwood and what impressed you?
“Our sales advisor Michelle was really amazing and I don’t know what we would have done without her. Being first-time buyers, she explained the whole process and smoothly guided us through the journey from reservation to moving in. In the first instance she recommended an independent financial advisor specialising in new build homes to discuss our affordability and mortgage options - this was really important and a big help.
“Considering the current circumstances, the process ran very smoothly and we never felt pressured at any point. Michelle was incredibly patient and had everything organised for us moving in. Overall, it was a very good experience.”
