their children and carried out years of renovations, the couple assumed they would stay there for the long term. But as their children prepared to move out and priorities began to shift, they started thinking differently about the future.
“We were bored one Sunday afternoon and decided to look around a few developments,” explained David. “We had no real intention of moving at that stage, but it planted the seed.”
Months later, with their children beginning the next stage of their lives, the couple revisited the idea seriously. Their search eventually led them to our Finchwood Park development in Finchampstead where they immediately fell in love with the four-bedroom Laurel housetype.
“We walked through the front door and within five minutes we knew,” said Susanne. “The layout, the quality, the feeling of the house – it just felt right straight away.”
The couple purchased their new home, with the property already built and ready to move into and they benefitted from us covering their Stamp Duty cost, helping make the move possible.
While the couple had already sold their previous property, complications within the chain soon caused delays and uncertainty. Throughout the process, David and Susanne said our Finchwood Park sales team became a constant source of reassurance.
“The chain completely fell apart at one stage,” David said. “It was incredibly stressful, but the Cala team were phenomenal throughout it all. Sam, Jane and David kept saying, ‘don’t panic, we’ll get through this’. They were calm, reassuring and always kept us informed.”
“The whole UK house-buying process can be traumatic,” said Susanne. “But Cala were genuinely the bright light throughout the experience. Nothing was too much trouble, and they made everything feel manageable.”
The couple officially moved into their new home in October and immediately felt they had made the right decision.
“The moment we got the keys was pure relief and excitement,” David said. “I actually carried Susanne over the threshold. We felt like first-time buyers again.”
Having previously renovated much of their older property themselves, one of the biggest attractions of buying new was the ability to simply move in and enjoy the home immediately.
“I’d spent years doing DIY and renovations,” explained David. “This time I loved the idea that we could unpack, buy new furniture and just enjoy living there without worrying about fixing things.”
The couple were also impressed by the quality and efficiency of their new home, particularly compared to their previous 1960s property.
“The build quality is excellent,” David added. “I’ve renovated houses myself, so I notice these things. The materials feel solid, nothing feels cheap, and the insulation is incredible. It’s actually a bigger house than our previous one, but our running costs are lower.”
Although they originally expected to downsize after their children moved out, David and Susanne instead chose to upsize, prioritising space and comfort for themselves for the first time.
“Our previous house was always built around family life and the kids,” said Susanne. “This is the first home that truly feels like it’s for us.”
Now settled into life at Finchwood Park, alongside their cat Harvey who is affectionately known as “Harvey Bear”, the couple say they have found a level of happiness and contentment they were not expecting.
“We honestly don’t think we’ve been this happy in a very long time,” David said. “There’s a real sense of relaxation and joy here. Six months later, I still walk into the kitchen smiling.”
Reflecting on their journey, the couple say we not only purchased a high-quality home, but the Cala team also provided support and reassurance when they needed it most.
“The sales team genuinely got us through the process,” said Susanne. “They knew us by name, always made time for us and cared about getting us into the home. That warmth made all the difference.”
Located in the sought-after village of Finchampstead, Finchwood Park offers a collection of thoughtfully designed homes surrounded by green open spaces and woodland walks, while remaining close to Wokingham and excellent commuter links. Combining semi-rural living with modern convenience, the development has become a popular choice for buyers seeking space, community and high-quality homes built for modern lifestyles.
