TUESDAY 22ND MARCH 2022

First time buyers take a step on the property ladder in Edinburgh

Having rented a flat in Leith, local nurse Gemma and her husband Carl who is a chef, know the Edinburgh property scene well but when they decided to take their first step into home ownership, they were fed-up being outbid on properties they wanted to buy.

More space

The couple desperately wanted to stay in Edinburgh, so they turned to considering a new-build home where a fixed price meant they knew exactly what property they could afford to buy.

The couple did lots of research before choosing where to buy as Gemma explains: “We both wanted to stay in Edinburgh and while we also considered moving to Wallyford, Bankfield Brae is just so convenient for work for both of us that it was the obvious choice. We were also impressed by Taylor Wimpey – their staff, choice of house styles and professionalism from day one was the best we experienced."

The lounge and dining area of the Andrew home

"We also knew that we liked the style and layout of their two bedroom Andrew house because one of our friends has the same style. We’ve always really liked the layout and space she has. And so, although we couldn’t visit the show homes due to the pandemic, we knew this house ticked all the boxes for us."

The position of their home on the development and having the lounge space overlooking the rear garden was a pre-requisite for the couple as Carl adds: “We did our research and we knew that our budget would allow us to buy a two bedroom home and we looked at lots of different styles and layouts. The Andrew by Taylor Wimpey just stands out and it has a lounge at the back, which is important to me. As a chef, I’m in the kitchen a lot and I knew that if we chose a north-facing property that I would get the sun in the morning while I’m cooking breakfast and in the evening the light would shift to our lounge/diner so it’s just an ideal layout for us. Plus, we have two good sized bedrooms – the main bedroom is just massive, in fact it matches the size of our lounge downstairs, so it’s perfect for Gemma and I just now but having a second bedroom also gives us room to grow or space for friends and family if they decide to stay overnight.”

In terms of energy efficiency, the couple has also discovered that moving to a new-build home is saving them money: “We are paying less now for our bills than we did in our flat, and that’s a good thing especially now with the rising energy prices,” adds Gemma.

“We also feel this house is very well insulated because it really holds the heat. And we also can’t hear our neighbours either so everyday life is really quiet and peaceful – it’s lovely. The PV solar panels are also a real benefit too and they have saved us money, plus we really like the convenience of the heating control system, which allows us to control the temperature as two separate zones.”

Great location

From a location perspective, Bankfield Brae is a new and growing community with amenities close to hand if you need them, something the couple benefit from as Gemma adds: “We liked the location of Bankfield Brae because it’s just far enough away from Edinburgh to have a really lovely countryside feel and places to walk our dog, but close enough to be able to get everything you need, plus the transport links great. But it’s also a great location for families with a choice of schools locally so there’s a really lovely mix of people living here and that makes us feel as though we’ve made a move for the long term.”

Fixed prices with a new Taylor Wimpey home

Gemma adds: “Just generally I would also encourage first time buyers to really explore all of the options they have available to them and never give up. Taylor Wimpey and their IFA really helped us to understand our options and because they’re so experienced and generally work together, it just made everything so easy.

“Also, working towards a Fixed Price also made it much easier for us to achieve our savings goal! We can’t believe this is our own home and it feels almost surreal that no-one is going to take it away from us.”