Moving in later life can be a stressful experience but imagine if you had no choice but to move because of poor health. Would you be able to cope with the upheaval both emotionally and financially?
This is exactly the situation Geoff and Gill Moores, both 70, found themselves in when Gill developed a medical condition last year, and the reason the couple chose to buy a retirement apartment at McCarthy & Stone’s Olde Market Court development in Wadebridge.
Geoff Moores explains: “My wife’s health made a move advisable. We were living in a two storey detached house on the side of a hill in Bodmin and it just became too much for Gill. We were aware that McCarthy & Stone had a retirement development in Wadebridge so we decided to go and have a look.
“We were very impressed with what we saw, especially the 24 hour emergency call points and the on-site house manager; we knew this would offer us real peace of mind given Gill’s medical condition. There were ground floor apartments available, so there would be no need to go up and down stairs, and the development’s location in Wadebridge was ideal because the route into the town centre was flat with no hills to negotiate. Our only reservation was how we would afford the move.”
Mr. and Mrs. Moores spoke at length with McCarthy & Stone’s sales executive Heather Cox who suggested they might like to take advantage of the developer’s ‘Move and Live Free for a Year’ initiative.
Mr. Moores comments: “We couldn’t believe it when Heather told us about the ‘Move and Live Free for a Year’ scheme! We were delighted as it meant a lot of the financial strain was eased and helped make an essential move possible.”
Mr. & Mrs. Moores moved in to Olde Market Court in November last year and are delighted with their new home, as Mr Moores explains: “Living at Olde Market Court has given us such peace of mind. Not only is the upkeep of our apartment so much more manageable, we now have a support network in place that we can rely on. It’s also great to have so many like-minded neighbours. We have met some lovely people in the communal residents’ lounge and there are regular social events. We know we’ll be happy here.”
Through ‘Move and Live Free for a Year’, McCarthy & Stone pays the purchaser’s estate agent fees, solicitor fees and arranges the Home Information Pack. They also offer a declutter and removals service, where a trusted team packs up the purchaser’s existing home and takes away any unwanted items before transporting their belongings to their new apartment.
Once settled into their new home, the residents can enjoy the fact that their living expenses, including council tax, TV licence, contents insurance, electricity bills, water rates, telephone lines and calls, service charges and ground rent are fully paid for 12 months.
Olde Market Court is located on Fair Park Road and offers 50 one and two bedroom retirement apartments. Each comprises an open plan lounge and dining room, adjoining kitchen, one or two double bedrooms and a bathroom.
Design features include 24 hour emergency Careline call points, electrical sockets at a raised height to reduce bending, illuminated light switches, a video entry system, easy grip lever taps in the bathroom and kitchen and energy efficient heating. Residents at Olde Market Court can also enjoy beautiful gardens, socialise and relax in the communal lounge and invite family or friends to stay in the development’s guest suite.
See Also: Property News (5994), Careline (20), McCarthy and Stone (109), Olde Market Court (8), Wadebridge (8)
Date Published: 25 February 2010
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