Testimonials
WEDNESDAY 12TH OCTOBER 2022

First-time buyers take a step on the property ladder in East Calder

When first-time buyers Shannon Riley and Caitlin Macintyre decided to take their first step on to the property ladder, they loved the range of benefits that buying a new home gave them.    

The Baxter customer testimonial at Calderwood

A place to call home

With no ‘offers over’ the couple knew the price of the home was what they needed to pay, and with their finances in place all they really had to do was secure their plot. Plus, Calderwood had been on their radar since the development launched a few years ago. With its location so handy for both to get to work, while not leaving friends and family too far behind, it was an easy decision for the first-time buyers to move closer to each other and call Calderwood home.
Calderwood street scene

They moved-in during March this year and are now loving life in Calderwood. With Shannon originally from Edinburgh and Caitlin from Glasgow, Calderwood was the ideal choice from a location perspective as Shannon explains: “We’ve been watching Calderwood develop as we’ve driven past regularly almost since construction started, so when we decided to buy a new home together it was the first location we considered. It’s so handy being almost the same distance to each of our families and friends, plus Calderwood really does have a sense of its own – it’s a lovely place that’s growing here on the outskirts of East Calder.

“The transport links are fantastic and it’s easy for Caitlin to get to Glasgow where she works in a nursery, and when not working from home in my role as a roadworks co-ordinator, my office is in South Queensferry so we both have simple commutes to work when we need to make them. And we tend to go to Livingston for shopping, or maybe the cinema so that’s just a few minutes’ drive away. The Gyle is also handy, but we both love a visit to the Designer Outlet in Livingston!”  

Finding their perfect Taylor Wimpey home

The couple bought the practical and stylish Baxter three bedroom semi-detached home, which just simply ticked all of their boxes as Caitlin adds: “We just fell in love with the layout of the Baxter. We did look at other three bedroom styles by other developers but no-one offered the layout that we wanted. But when we looked at a second-hand Baxter that was for sale on an earlier phase of Calderwood, and we could see how those people had styled it and were using the space, it was that moment we knew the Baxter was for us. 

“The long hall to the lounge at the rear just makes the house seem spacious and we absolutely loved the French doors from the lounge to the rear garden."
Taylor Wimpey West Scotland the Baxter 3 bedroom show home Duncarnock Barrhead

More space for home working

We also noticed that other developers seem keen to have an en suite from the main bedroom but to be honest, we absolutely love the space that our bedroom has without having one and it means that we’ve got a brilliant space for a TV. The second bedroom is generous, and the third bedroom works great as a bedroom or when Shannon is working from home.”
Taylor Wimpey West Scotland the Baxter 3 bedroom show home Duncarnock Barrhead

Great team helping you make your move

The couple have really enjoyed their buying experience with Taylor Wimpey, and it’s been a stress-free and easy journey as Shannon adds: “We can’t fault the service that we’ve had from the sales team and the construction team on-site. Everything has been so smooth, and Suzanne and Danielle have always kept us up to date with the progress of our house and crucially the move-in window which was met so that was so helpful for planning our move.”

Caitlin said: “After we reserved, we were given access to the Touchpoint system and that basically allowed us to personalise our home from our laptop. So, when we needed to go into the sales office, we had already chosen everything and that made everything go so well. We did everything from reservation to move-in day in just a few visits and every time we popped in, the sales staff were lovely and so organised.”

Contractors shaking hands
Calderwood is a growing community that is now home to hundreds of new homeowners who want to feel part of this special development in East Calder. It’s a feeling that is echoed by Caitlin and Shannon. “We love the community feel of Calderwood – it was one of the reasons we chose to buy here,” explains Shannon, “we’ve got a great street and our neighbours are just lovely. Everyone is so helpful and because we all moved in around the same time, we’re all going through similar experiences at the same time.”

Caitlin adds: “It also feels safe here – neither of us feel worried if we are in on our own. And there’s always something going on. There are regular community events, and we were even coming along to those before we moved in. Plus, we love picking up a coffee or having a delivery from our local community café – The Larder- and in time there will be shops so that will be very handy.

Baxter loves his new Baxter home

“It’s lovely to feel part of a growing development like Calderwood, it’s always changing in a good way as it develops. When we take Baxter out for walks, it’s incredible to see how much it changes in just a short space of time. There’s lots of different walking routes just even around the development, in fact someone has even taken the trouble to mark out a 5K walking/running route, which is very community minded.

The Baxter customer testimonial at Calderwood
“Plus, Almondell Country Park is about a 15-20 minutes’ walk away, which is perfect for longer walks when Baxter is a bit older and it’s just a lovely place to go to and have on our doorstep. It’s also really lovely to see the new primary school up and running – I can imagine that’s a great feeling for families with young children when their children can walk to a brand-new school that’s just a few minutes from home."