What makes a forever home?
A home is so much more than just the property we live in. It is our sanctuary; the place we go to rest, unwind, and relax. It is also the place we go to entertain, host our loved ones, and enjoy precious moments with friends and family.
Throughout our lifetime, many of us will spend a considerable amount of time searching for our ‘forever home’ – a home which has the potential to change, improve, and adapt to meet our ever-changing lifestyles.
In the years leading up to retirement, it is likely we will come back to this concept of a forever home and assess whether our current property is still well-equipped to suit our changing needs, particularly as we start to spend more time in these spaces. During this time, many of us may consider moving out of our larger family homes and ‘rightsizing’ into a home which better fits the lifestyle we wish to lead in retirement. This could be a more spacious property with fewer rooms to look after, which would help lighten the workload of internal and external maintenance.
At Blue Cedar Homes, we have seen how our thoughtful, well-considered design has changed people’s lives for the better. It is why all our properties are designed specifically with our residents’ future needs in mind but are still finished to a high specification, so that our residents never need to worry about compromising on quality or location when searching for their forever home.
Based on over two decades of experience designing homes for later living, do read on to discover our recommendations for what should be considered when searching for a forever home.
1. Location
One of the most important factors in identifying a forever home is paying close attention to its location. The property may be amazing, but how close is it to local supermarkets, cafés, hairdressers, and doctor’s surgeries? Is it within good walking distance? How about recreational spaces, woodlands, cycling paths and beaches? The garden may be wonderful, but are there plenty of options to enjoy fresh air and exercise outside with your loved ones and pets?
At Blue Cedar Homes, all our properties are built within highly desirable, unique locations which offer a coveted blend of countryside living, convenience and community. We want our homeowners to enjoy the tranquillity of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty or being just a stone’s throw from some of the country’s most prestigious beaches, whilst still feeling a part of a local community with many amenities on their doorstep.
At the heart of our spacious developments, there’s also a pretty, communal, landscaped garden and summerhouse for homeowners to enjoy and benefit from a friendly, village-like community.
2. Quality fixtures and fittings
Whilst location may be key, the interior of any home can still be a dealbreaker. It’s vital to consider whether you need to allow time and additional budget for renovations, and whether the home will match the style of your existing furniture.
Step inside any Blue Cedar Home property and you will spot luxury fixtures and fittings that perfectly finish the living space, all future-proofed in a flexible layout that can easily adapt to your needs and lifestyle as they evolve.
With fully fitted wool carpets, engineered oak flooring with underfloor heating, brand-new appliances by brands such as Neff or Bosch and stylish Quartz worktops, our homes are finished to a high specification that’s built to last. We design the interiors with a classic, timeless feel so homebuyers can retain their own sense of style and taste. In fact, if you look at our interior images, the furniture we use to stage our homes can be anything from traditional to modern minimalist and still look great. Our generously sized rooms also come with larger than usual storage space, so you shouldn’t have to part with any treasured items you do not want to.
3. Smart future-proofing features
It may seem a while off now, but it is important to think ahead before purchasing a home to ensure it is fit for purpose. Be sure to ask yourself: how suited is this home for later living? How accessible is the property? Could the stairs potentially be an issue in ten to fifteen years’ time?
At Blue Cedar Homes we factor in discreet future proofing features so that all our homes are just as practical as they are stylish. This includes fitting level thresholds into showers and buildings, wide wheelchair friendly doorways and circulation spaces, and discreet pre-wiring for stairlifts and lifts to allow for ease of movement throughout the home. All ovens and fridges are also installed at an accessible height, with a multi-grid appliance switch to help keep everything as simple as possible.
Many of our developments, such as properties at The Millpool, also offer a second reception room on the ground floor which could serve as a bedroom in order to provide single floor living if required at a later stage.
4. Take the hassle out of everyday life
The best part about retirement is embracing a simpler way of life and having more time to spend on your hobbies and passions. If gardening is not your thing, question whether your dream property will demand lots of lawn mowing and external property maintenance, and whether you would prefer to spend your time on something else.
We understand that gardens are important spaces for homeowners, which is why each of our developments has a visiting local Estate Manager who ensures all the communal areas and grounds, as well as owners’ private gardens look their best. That means homeowners can spend less time cleaning out gutters, and more time doing the things they love. And if you love gardening, don’t worry, you can always ask the Estate Manager to help with all the heavy stuff and leave all the fun bits for yourself.
Our Estate Management service includes recycling and waste management, external window cleaning, gutter clearing and external redecoration every five years, all of which is included in an annual service charge. Our friendly Estate Managers can even offer a helping hand to keep an eye on your home whilst you are away, which gives many homeowners peace of mind.
5. No unexpected fees
When looking into retirement housing, you may have heard about event fees, often referred to as transfer or assignment fees, which can be incurred when you come to sell the property or make changes.
When purchasing your forever home, it is important to make sure neither you nor your children will be caught out financially by unexpected charges later down the line. It is why, unlike many other retirement property developers, we are proud to not charge event fees. This means whether you’re selling your home or changing your living arrangements, there is nothing to pay us – you will receive 100% of the proceeds upon sale.
6. Making moving house a stress-free experience
When it finally comes to that exciting moving in day, you want everything to go as smoothly as possible. That is why we support our homeowners through the whole process, making sure we keep in touch regularly. We also offer an inclusive ‘Half Day Handyman Scheme’ to help homeowners settle in. The Handy Man helps residents move into their new home, to unpack boxes as well as carrying out tasks such as hanging paintings and fitting lampshades, which help make a house a home.
Thinking about what it would be like to experience a fresh start in your forever home? You can find out more about the moving process and the luxury properties we have available by speaking to our helpful team on 01392 369704.
A home is so much more than just the property we live in. It is our sanctuary; the place we go to rest, unwind, and relax. It is also the place we go to entertain, host our loved ones, and enjoy precious moments with friends and family.
Throughout our lifetime, many of us will spend a considerable amount of time searching for our ‘forever home’ – a home which has the potential to change, improve, and adapt to meet our ever-changing lifestyles.
In the years leading up to retirement, it is likely we will come back to this concept of a forever home and assess whether our current property is still well-equipped to suit our changing needs, particularly as we start to spend more time in these spaces. During this time, many of us may consider moving out of our larger family homes and ‘rightsizing’ into a home which better fits the lifestyle we wish to lead in retirement. This could be a more spacious property with fewer rooms to look after, which would help lighten the workload of internal and external maintenance.
At Blue Cedar Homes, we have seen how our thoughtful, well-considered design has changed people’s lives for the better. It is why all our properties are designed specifically with our residents’ future needs in mind but are still finished to a high specification, so that our residents never need to worry about compromising on quality or location when searching for their forever home.
Based on over two decades of experience designing homes for later living, do read on to discover our recommendations for what should be considered when searching for a forever home.
1. Location
One of the most important factors in identifying a forever home is paying close attention to its location. The property may be amazing, but how close is it to local supermarkets, cafés, hairdressers, and doctor’s surgeries? Is it within good walking distance? How about recreational spaces, woodlands, cycling paths and beaches? The garden may be wonderful, but are there plenty of options to enjoy fresh air and exercise outside with your loved ones and pets?
At Blue Cedar Homes, all our properties are built within highly desirable, unique locations which offer a coveted blend of countryside living, convenience and community. We want our homeowners to enjoy the tranquillity of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty or being just a stone’s throw from some of the country’s most prestigious beaches, whilst still feeling a part of a local community with many amenities on their doorstep.
At the heart of our spacious developments, there’s also a pretty, communal, landscaped garden and summerhouse for homeowners to enjoy and benefit from a friendly, village-like community.
2. Quality fixtures and fittings
Whilst location may be key, the interior of any home can still be a dealbreaker. It’s vital to consider whether you need to allow time and additional budget for renovations, and whether the home will match the style of your existing furniture.
Step inside any Blue Cedar Home property and you will spot luxury fixtures and fittings that perfectly finish the living space, all future proofed in a flexible layout that can easily adapt to your needs and lifestyle as they evolve.
With fully fitted wool carpets, engineered oak flooring with underfloor heating, brand-new appliances by brands such as Neff or Bosch and stylish Quartz worktops, our homes are finished to a high specification that’s built to last. We design the interiors with a classic, timeless feel so homebuyers can retain their own sense of style and taste. In fact, if you look at our interior images, the furniture we use to stage our homes can be anything from traditional to modern minimalist and still look great. Our generously sized rooms also come with larger than usual storage space, so you shouldn’t have to part with any treasured items you do not want to.
3. Smart future proofing features
It may seem a while off now, but it is important to think ahead before purchasing a home to ensure it is fit for purpose. Be sure to ask yourself: how suited is this home for later living? How accessible is the property? Could the stairs potentially be an issue in ten to fifteen years’ time?
At Blue Cedar Homes we factor in discreet future proofing features so that all our homes are just as practical as they are stylish. This includes fitting level thresholds into showers and buildings, wide wheelchair friendly doorways and circulation spaces, and discreet pre-wiring for stairlifts and lifts to allow for ease of movement throughout the home. All ovens and fridges are also installed at an accessible height, with a multi-grid appliance switch to help keep everything as simple as possible.
Many of our developments, such as properties at The Millpool, also offer a second reception room on the ground floor which could serve as a bedroom in order to provide single floor living if required at a later stage.
4. Take the hassle out of everyday life
The best part about retirement is embracing a simpler way of life and having more time to spend on your hobbies and passions. If gardening is not your thing, question whether your dream property will demand lots of lawn mowing and external property maintenance, and whether you would prefer to spend your time on something else.
We understand that gardens are important spaces for homeowners, which is why each of our developments has a visiting local Estate Manager who ensures all the communal areas and grounds, as well as owners’ private gardens look their best. That means homeowners can spend less time cleaning out gutters, and more time doing the things they love. And if you love gardening, don’t worry, you can always ask the Estate Manager to help with all the heavy stuff and leave all the fun bits for yourself.
Our Estate Management service includes recycling and waste management, external window cleaning, gutter clearing and external redecoration every five years, all of which is included in an annual service charge. Our friendly Estate Managers can even offer a helping hand to keep an eye on your home whilst you are away, which gives many homeowners peace of mind.
5. No unexpected fees
When looking into retirement housing, you may have heard about event fees, often referred to as transfer or assignment fees, which can be incurred when you come to sell the property or make changes.
When purchasing your forever home, it is important to make sure neither you nor your children will be caught out financially by unexpected charges later down the line. It is why, unlike many other retirement property developers, we are proud to not charge event fees. This means whether you’re selling your home or changing your living arrangements, there is nothing to pay us – you will receive 100% of the proceeds upon sale.
6. Making moving house a stress-free experience
When it finally comes to that exciting moving in day, you want everything to go as smoothly as possible. That is why we support our homeowners through the whole process, making sure we keep in touch regularly. We also offer an inclusive ‘Half Day Handyman Scheme’ to help homeowners settle in. The Handy Man helps residents move into their new home, to unpack boxes as well as carrying out tasks such as hanging paintings and fitting lampshades, which help make a house a home.
Thinking about what it would be like to experience a fresh start in your forever home? You can find out more about the moving process and the luxury properties we have available by speaking to our helpful team on 01392 369704.
Company Information
The Company
Key People
Land and Planning
Blue Cedar Home Ltd is registered in England no. 6444180. Registered office: Eagle House, 1 Babbage Way, Exeter Science Park, Exeter, Devon, EX5 2FN
Warranty
For further peace of mind, all Blue Cedar Homes properties carry a 10 year NHBC 'Buildmark' warranty.
