Why do up when you can buy new in Oldham?

Home makeover shows have been selling us the home renovation ‘dream’ for decades.

It’s easy to be seduced by romantic stories of buyers who’ve transformed a ‘doer-upper’ into a stunning new home, seeing the switch from ‘before’ to ‘after’ happen instantly.

Unfortunately, for many who start out with grand plans, taking on an older property that needs lots of work is rarely clear cut, as one Oldham buyer found out.

Megan Jones, aged 25, and her partner Phillip McGrath, 28, recently reserved a brand new Redrow home at Saddleworth View, after previously undertaking a revamp of a three-bedroom semi in Royton.

“We bought our first home four years ago and stripped it right back to the bare walls,” Megan said.

“We would spend days and nights stripping off the wallpaper.

"I remember one night just sitting on the stairs crying and thinking it would never be over.

“We just didn’t know exactly what we were letting ourselves in for and there were lots of unexpected extra costs.

"For example, some of the walls were uneven so we ended up knocking down a wall.

"Then we found the whole property needed rewiring.

"We couldn’t live in it for four months.

“This time I just wanted something that was ready to move into.”

The family, including son Harley, have just moved into a brand new four-bedroom detached family home at Saddleworth View, in Oldham, after buying their new Redrow home online.

Megan, who works in premium banking in Manchester city centre, said: “We’d been looking at a couple of Redrow developments locally just prior to lockdown and were in the process of trying to decide where we wanted to live and what we could afford.

“The four-bedroom detached Marlow became available at Saddleworth View and we put our existing property on the market with online estate agent YOPA.”

Megan and Phillip, a hub development officer, very quickly found themselves sold subject to contract to first time buyers, which allowed them to complete the reservation of their brand new Redrow home online as well as choosing their options and extras online as well.

Megan said: “We’re so happy to be in our new home where everything has been done for us, including the beautifully fitted kitchen and bathrooms.

"We love the location too. It’s close to open countryside and has some great views - it’s like living in Saddleworth itself but without the prices!”

With its four double bedrooms, en-suite, utility room and garage, the Marlow is a great family home.

It has a spacious open plan kitchen and dining room overlooking the garden and a separate lounge.

It’s one from a range of three and four-bedroom detached homes at Saddleworth View, off Counthill Road; two miles from Oldham town centre, 10 miles from Manchester and on the edge of Saddleworth Moors.

Redrow Homes (Lancashire) sales director Sian Pitt said: “We’re delighted that Megan and Philip have found a new home they love.

"As well as saving buyers time and stress compared to purchasing a ‘doer-upper’, on average, a brand new home is 40% more energy efficient than a 10-year-old home and 70% more efficient than one built pre-1990.

“In addition, it costs on average £50,000 to bring an old home up to the standard of a new build.

"Inspired by Arts and Crafts style architecture, our Heritage Collection homes have all of the character of an older property but with thoroughly modern interiors, high ceilings, large architraves and deep skirting boards.”

Current prices Saddleworth View are from £297,995 for the three-bedroom detached Amberley.

For more information call 0161 825 7277 or go to: www.redrow.co.uk/saddleworthview

---

Do you have a story for us? Want to tell us about something going on in and around Oldham? Let us know by emailing news@oldham-chronicle.co.uk , calling our Oldham-based newsroom on 0161 633 2121 , tweeting us @oldhamchronicle or messaging us through our Facebook page. All contact will be treated in confidence.