Tuesday 29 March 2016

Don't just take our word for it, hear it from our new home buyers

Whether it is your first home, a larger home for your growing family or home to downsize in, you want the best customer service and simplest process.  At Larkfleet Homes we aim to ensure your home buying experience is stress free and make customer satisfaction our number one priority.

Don't just take our word for it, let some of our latest new home buyers explain how we went the extra mile for them. 

Mr Hunt - The Croft at Baston
"I'm satisfied with the company and found them very helpful" explained Mr Hunt. He also said that his property was in 'very good' condition on completion day and he was happy with the way his 'Just for You' products were dealt with.  He finished by saying he would recommend Larkfleet Homes and would buy another Larkfleet property himself.

Mr Dudley & Ms Cheney - Buttercross Park at Oakham
Mr Dudley and Ms Cheney both said that "Joan and Kenny from the sales office were brilliant and the experience before completion was on the whole, very good."  They would also recommend us.

Mr & Mrs Diver - The Croft at Baston
When asked about their move to The Croft at Baston, Mr & Mrs Diver said "We are incredibly happy with our new Larkfleet home in Baston". They both found the literature about the development and the showhome "excellent". They also mentioned that the property was"very clean" on completion day and that the development was the "cleanest building site ever".

Both Mr & Mrs Diver said they would recommend Larkfleet Homes to friends and family, finishing off by saying "The best new home buying experience we've ever had, the sales and customers service teams were excellent".

Mr & Mrs Clare - Parson's Prospect, Eye
"Laura in the sales office was really helpful" and when asked about the show home at Parson's Prospect, Mr & Mrs Clare said they "loved it". They also used our financial advisor, mentioning that they "found him wonderful and helpful". Mr & Mrs Clare both agreed they would definitely recommend us to a friend and would buy another house from Larkfleet Homes themselves.




Monday 28 March 2016

Run for Fun!

We are delighted to be sponsoring the Bourne Fun Run again this year.  Larkfleet has been involved with the Bourne Rotary Club fun run for a number of years. It is an event close to our heart as our CEO, Karl Hick, is a keen runner.

This year the run is being held on Sunday 10 April.  Entry forms are available from Rutland Sports
Runners can either take the 3 km or 10 km route, both of which meander through Bourne Woods.  The 3 km route is aimed at fun runners and youngsters (8 years upwards), whilst those with more serious intentions can take the 10 km route.

Last year the Rotary Club attracted 350 runners and raised £4,500 for local charities.
Ready for the off at last year's Bourne fun run



Thursday 24 March 2016

New home, new garden


Spring is all about getting your garden up and ready for the summer.  If you have a new home, a brand new garden can sometimes be a bit daunting - here are our top five tips to get you going.

 - Consider what kind of garden you want.  Keen gardeners may want larger planting areas and spaces for fruit and vegetables.  Families may need hard-wearing lawns and working professionals usually look for easy to maintain areas.


 - It is probably worth checking the type of soil you have.  Soil testing kits are readily available.  These will tell you if the local soil is acid or alkaline and identify any missing nutrients.  Once you know what is missing you can dig in extra nutrition for your new plants in the form of mulch and organic matter.  

- Designing and planning your garden is the next step.  Create a scale drawing of your plot on squared paper, using a scale to suit.  Measure out your garden with a tape measure and pegs and mark the position of drains, sewers, existing fences and any inspections covers.  Check which way your garden faces - most smart phones now have a compass app which can help you do this.

- Hard landscaping comes first.  Make sure any fences you want to put up are done first along with any retaining walls or raised beds.

-  Finally, choose the right plant for the right place.  Using your garden position and soil composition you can get to work choosing the best plants for your spaces.  The RHS Plant Selector has plenty of ideas if you are stuck.  Think about when and where you want colour or interest in your garden - there are plenty of plants available for spring, summer, autumn and winter interest. 








Bourne Heights launches this Easter

Our newest development, Bourne Heights launches this week.



A new development of eco-friendly two to five bedroom homes - with solar panels fitted as standard - Bourne Heights is on the outskirts of the pretty market town of Bourne, lying right in the heart of South Lincolnshire.

It is in an outstanding location with green open spaces, woodland and waterways nearby, making it the perfect place for families and professionals.

Bourne is just sixteen miles from the vibrant city of Peterborough (from where trains take just 50 minutes to reach London) and less than an hour’s drive from the county town of Lincoln. Towns such as Market Deeping, Stamford, Sleaford, Grantham, Spalding and Boston are all within a thirty minute drive.

To read more about the site and to register your interest, please go to our website

Tuesday 22 March 2016

What's on in Stamford this Easter?

Traditionally the time for Easter Egg hunts and visits to the garden centre, this year there is much more on offer in and around the Lincolnshire town of Stamford.

Stamford is home to our Anvil Mews development and we are offering substantially reduced prices on our few remaining plots. If you are visiting Stamford this Easter weekend, our show home and sales office is open from 10 am - 5 pm daily.  In fact, all of our sales offices at our developments in Baston, Peterborough, Eye and Whittlesey are open as normal.


You can combine your trip to Anvil Mews with one of the Easter activities on offer locally, starting with the Big Bunny Hunt at Sacrewell or the Pop up Easter crafts event at Stamford Arts Centre.  Alternatively go a little further afield to Barnsdale Gardens and take part in its Easter Egg hunt and paint some eggs for its special Easter tree.

Tuesday 15 March 2016

New home, new price at Anvil Mews, Stamford

Our exclusive new homes at Anvil Mews, Stamford bring you a contemporary interpretation of the classic townhouse through just nine exceptional three and four bedroom homes.  Each townhouse features state-of-the-art specification including stylish kitchens, superb living areas, luxurious bathrooms and private terraces.

The homes are designed to appeal to families and couples alike with plenty of shared living and quiet, more secluded spaces.  Built over three floors, with bedrooms and bathrooms on every level, Anvil Mews caters for every living style.   

Situated in the heart of stylish Stamford, Anvil Mews is perfectly placed for commuters with easy road and rail access to the nearby cities of Peterborough or Cambridge.  For new home buyers with families, Stamford has a number of excellent nursery, primary and secondary state and private schools which are all within easy reach.  

If you are keen to take advantage of our new prices, contact Caroline on 07825 275820 or via email at anvilmews@allison-homes.co.uk




Monday 14 March 2016

Larkfleet Homes has officially welcomed the first resident to Whittlesey Green development.

Nicole Bane cut the ribbon to her new home at Whittlesey Green and was presented with a bottle of champagne by Didie Kearns and Kirsty Pope from the Larkfleet sales team based at the development.


Nicola Bane (left) cuts the ribbon to her new home with Didie Kearns and Kirsty Pope

The Whittlesey Green development has proved to be hugely popular with local buyers. 

Samantha (Sam) Watkins, sales manager, said: “It is always a pleasure to welcome the first resident to a new site and we were delighted to officially celebrate Nicole’s move to her new home. 

"We could not be more pleased with the response from buyers to Whittlesey Green.  We have just a few plots left for sale now.  Nicole purchased her new home using the Help-to-Buy scheme and this option is available on any of the remaining plots.”

Nicole commented: “I was immediately impressed with the design and standard of the properties here at Whittlesey Green and I am delighted with my new home. The location of the development is perfect for me and my family and we cannot wait to get settled and meet other new residents.”

Whittlesey Green is close to the town of March and bordered to the north by the River Nene and to the south by Whittlesey Dyke.  The development is within easy reach of all the local schools, shops, services and amenities of the town, plus has the advantage of being directly opposite a planner large superstore.  New homeowners at Whittlesey Green can enjoy the superb arts, entertainment and shopping facilities of Peterborough and by travelling a little further afield can discover the idyllic Fenland waterways, woodlands and wildlife conservation areas.

Friday 11 March 2016

Great offer for our exclusive home, The Haybarn

The Haybarn is a four bedroom barn conversion situated in Barleythorpe, just on the outskirts of Oakham, which means new owners can enjoy all that this charming rural town has to offer, including its beautiful surrounding countryside.

Our amazing offer means that if you reserve The Haybarn during March, we will pay your stamp duty!


The Haybarn falls under our Larkfleet Exclusives brand, which ensures this new home is not only built and finished to the highest standard, as you would expect from Larkfleet, but also is unique.

It is perfectly located for those who need to commute to Peterborough, Cambridge, Birmingham or Leicester.

If you would like to take a look at this stunning barn conversion, contact Dee, Heather or Pam on 01572 722262 or at oakham@larkfleethomes.co.uk.

Thursday 10 March 2016

Maintenance and weed free gardening appeals at The Croft in Baston


Mr and Mrs Austin moved into their new Larkfleet house at The Croft in Baston last year. 

Mr Austin said: “We are enjoying our new home very much.  We are relatively local, having lived in Folkingham previously, but we have found a like-minded and friendly community at The Croft.  Our bungalow completely lives up to our expectations and we are loving living here.”



His inspiration to move to a home which would provide a new lifestyle came after visiting his brother who lives in a retirement village in Cape Town, South Africa.  On returning home, Mr Austin and his wife looked at a number of similar options and found The Croft at Baston fitted the bill best.  They enjoy the spacious layout and wide walkways at the development which they feel give a feeling of space and openness.

Both look forward to enjoying the facilities at the Club House which will open shortly for  residents to use as a social centre. The Club House will provide a space for residents to keep up their hobbies, take up new ones or just meet with friends or family for a coffee and relax.

One of the additions the couple made to their home is to install Citygrass, a type of artificial lawn covering, to their garden.  As Mr Austin points out, it offers a maintenance and weed-free surface which looks great throughout the year.  


 

He added: “A local firm, Cherry Holt Garden Centre from Bourne, extended our patio and installed the Citigrass  – and we are delighted with it.  It means we can just pull out our chairs and enjoy the sun in the summer with our new friends and neighbours and ignore it in the winter!”



Wednesday 9 March 2016

New house completions in the eastern region reach a seven year high.

Developers in the eastern region have helped to drive new house completions to a seven year high.

The number of starts and completions on new build homes continued to rise last year to the highest level since 2008 according to new government figures.

The number of new build homes completed by private housebuilders such as Larkfleet Homes has risen 20 per cent on the previous year, while those completed by housing associations is up 27 per cent over the same period.



The figures show that more than 143,500 new build homes were started in the eastern counties in 2015 - nearly double the low point of 2009.

Larkfleet Homes is soon to add to these figures with the start of two new developments, Bourne Heights in the Lincolnshire village of Bourne and Gretton Valley in Corby, Northamptonshire.  To register your interest in either development, go to www.larkfleethomes.co.uk




Thursday 3 March 2016

Changing the pace of life

If you are aged 55 years or over, you might be starting to think about changing the pace of your life or taking advantage of more free time or financial freedom.  Our exclusive development, The Croft at Baston, offers you the perfect opportunity to do just this.

The Croft offers one and two bedroom bungalows, along with three bedroom, chalet style homes for those who like a little more space.  Several property types have their own private garden, whilst others benefit from the attractive landscaping. 

These new homes are all built around attractive, wide walkways and gardens, which helps create a pleasant community environment.  Adding to this, an on-site club house is available to residents, whether enjoying their own hobbies or taking part in one of the regular activity groups or events.  All of which makes The Croft not just a place to live but a community of like-minded neighbours.



This month, Plot 26, the Burleigh, a three bedroom chalet home is on offer.  It can be yours for £228.795, with 12 per cent shared equity.

Read more about our exclusive living developments for the over 55's  and if you are interested in having a look at The Croft, contact Maureen or Dee on 07825 275820 or at baston@larkfleethomes.co.uk.

Larkfleet backs the winners at Garthorpe point to point

Larkfleet Homes was a sponsor at the Garthorpe point to point last weekend.  With over 1,000 people attending on a rather chilly day, it proved to be a successful event.

Larkfleet Homes has offered sponsorship to this local event over a number of years and this year it sponsored the first division of the Open Maiden.  The number of horses declared to run necessitated splitting the race into two divisions.

The first division was won by leading jockey Gina Andrews on Samarnni, who is trained by her husband Tom Ellis.  Gina said she was very surprised he had won given he has only run four times - and fell in his last race.  Once he was clear of the field he pulled away easily and won by 15 lengths.



The second division was one by the Martin Weston-trained Western Climate on his pointing debut.  Ridden by Leo Mahon, he proved not be be the smartest jumper but, as Leo acknowledged, he definitely has an engine!  He finished eight lengths clear of his rivals.

Image credited to -  Nico Morgan Photography - www.nicomorgan.com

Wednesday 2 March 2016

Helen Hick shortlisted for Women in Construction Business Award

Larkfleet Homes joint managing director Helen Hick has been shortlisted for a prestigious award at the upcoming Women in Construction Business Awards.

Helen is on the shortlist for the 'Business Leader of the Year' award.   The winner will be announced at a gala event on 23 March at The Palace Hotel, Manchester.  


Speaking at the event will be the BBC's The Apprentice 2015 finalist, Vana Koutsomitis.

This year the awards celebrate their 10th anniversary and continue to provide a showcase for the brightest and the best female achievers in the UK construction industry.



Tuesday 1 March 2016

We explore the latest decorating trends for your new Larkfleet home.

A quick round up of the latest designer ideas for Spring 2016 suggests that the colours you should look at to decorate your new home are a luscious mix of subtle shades and adventurous strong tones.

Greys are used in a number of ways again, as they were last year.  It is used either as a stand-alone colour or paired with other brighter colours, such as oranges and yellows.

Wallpaper remains top of the list for wall coverings, with bold geometric prints being used to make strong statements.  We think we have put these to their best use in our showhomes at Buttercross Park in Oakham and our Whittlesey Green development, near to Peterborough.

Our light and bright kitchen at Buttercross Park, Oakham



House Beautiful says they believe that lilac will be out in full force this year, whether it is a strong, dark shade or a lighter, more delicate colour.

Deep, dark aubergine is another trend which seems to be popular with all the interior designers and it looks stunning with a touch of mustard yellow or lime green.

Blues are also making quite an appearance this Spring.  Shades vary from dark navy to softer grey or lavender base colours, right through to the brighter sky blues.

Rose quartz remains a favourite.  It's been with us for a while and is obviously suited for feminine bedrooms but makes a stunning background for dining rooms as well.

If you are looking for a bit of inspiration, take a look at the following sites:

Elle Decor

Houzz

House to Home

Home Essentials