Kenneth began his search for his UK home from Hong Kong, but decided to rent a property in Warrington in the first instance. He was keen to get to know the local area and different housing options before committing himself to buying a property.
The research
Kenneth comments: “Every town and city in the UK is so different and as I was coming from such an urban area, it was especially important to me to get to know the area I wanted to live in before buying.
“To anyone else planning a move, I would also suggest visiting a variety of different homes and areas to get a better understanding of what it is you like and need.”
The must-haves
“I wanted a new build property and there were a few reasons why I made that decision. For me, it was a much easier move with coming from overseas. Everything was ready to move into and I didn’t have to take care of any renovation works. I just wanted to focus on getting a job and settling in.
“Energy efficiency was another reason - energy bills are higher in the UK than Hong Kong, but new build homes are more energy efficient than older ones.
“Life balance and living space were the most important things to me though and with Countryside, it was almost all perfect - the house, the development, the sales consultants.
The dream
“I looked at all the new build options available nearby, but it was the skylights in the kitchen of the Ashop that sealed it for me.
“The windows make the kitchen feel much brighter and bigger than the other new builds I visited - it’s a real family space and I like that I can feel the sunshine on my skin.
“I’m really looking forward to having a garden in the summer - they aren’t very common in Hong Kong, so I’ll be enjoying some BBQs and even have plans to build a small greenhouse."
