Stepping onto the property ladder: Liv and Luke's story

Buyers: Olivia and Luke, both 24

Buyer type: First-time buyers

Occupation: Nurse and Purchasing Manager

Development: Wood Hall Chase, Bierley, West Yorkshire

House type: The Keady - 3 bedroom semi-detached

Purchase price: £239,995

Monthly mortgage repayment: £852

Completion date: September 2026

Buying schemes: Deposit Contribution

After eight years together, Olivia, a Nurse, and Luke, a Purchasing Manager, wanted a home where they could build their future and eventually start a family. Upon collecting the keys, they share their experience of buying a new build home with Gleeson, the support they received and what life has been like since moving in!

Why did you decide it was time to buy your first home?

We had been together for eight years and were starting to think seriously about our future and eventually starting a family. It felt like the right time to find a place of our own where we could build our lives together and create new memories.

What did owning your own home mean to you?

Before receiving the keys, owning our own home represented independence, security and having somewhere that was truly ours. It was the feeling of knowing that all our hard work had finally paid off. We were creating a place where we could build our future family, make memories and begin a new chapter together.

What are you most proud of about becoming first-time buyers?

We’re most proud that we made it happen ourselves. Buying our first home was a huge milestone, and we’re proud of all the hard work, saving, sacrifices and decisions that helped us get here. It means so much to know that we’ve created a home that belongs to us and gives us a strong foundation for the future.

What was on your wish list when looking for a home?

When we started searching for our first home, our wish list included:

• A garage
• Spacious bedrooms
• A double driveway
• A good-sized back garden

Our Keady home at Wood Hall Chase gave us the space and features we were looking for.

Why did you choose a new build home from Gleeson?

We loved being able to personalise our new home before moving in. We could choose options including our flooring, carpets, kitchen and fitted wardrobes, which helped us make the house feel like our own from the beginning. As this was our first home, it also felt special knowing that nobody had lived in it before us. Buying a new-build home also allowed us to continue saving while the property was being built.

When did you know you had found the right home?

We visited the Wood Hall Chase sales office for a consultation and looked through the available house styles and prices. The sales team made us feel so comfortable and didn’t pressure us into making a decision. That was especially important to us as first-time buyers because we were completely new to the home-buying process.

What were the most important factors when choosing your new home?

Affordability was one of our biggest priorities because we were first-time buyers. We also wanted a convenient location for commuting into the town centre. It was equally important that we remained close to our families while still having our own space and independence. Wood Hall Chase offered the balance we were looking for between affordability, location and space.

What were your biggest affordability concerns?

As first-time buyers, the financial side of buying a home felt daunting. We were concerned about being able to afford the mortgage, household bills, furniture and everything else we would need when moving in. Because our Gleeson home was being built, we had additional time to save before completion. This made the move feel more manageable and helped us prepare for the costs involved.

What financial support did you receive when buying your first home?

We utilised the Gleeson Deposit Contribution scheme, as well as a flooring package. We were also fortunate to receive help from our parents and grandparents.

How did the Deposit Contribution and flooring package help?

The Deposit Contribution scheme helped us reach the amount we needed sooner and made getting onto the property ladder more achievable. It also helped to reduce the amount we needed to borrow. Having the flooring package included was another huge help because it removed one of the additional expenses associated with moving into a new home. It meant the house felt more complete and homely from the moment we moved in.

We don’t think we would have been able to buy our home at the same time without all the support we received.

What advice would you give to other first-time buyers?

Don’t automatically assume that owning a home is out of reach. It can feel overwhelming when you look at the costs involved, but there are different types of support available that can make it more achievable. We would encourage other first-time buyers to research their options, speak to people who can offer guidance and approach the process one step at a time. Buying a home might take longer than you originally hoped, but that doesn’t mean it can’t happen. Seeing the keys in our hands made all the saving, planning and hard work feel completely worthwhile.

How would you describe your buying experience?

Exciting, rewarding and emotional.

What was the most memorable part of buying your new home?

Watching our house being built from the ground up was the part that stood out most. It was exciting to follow each stage of the build and see the house gradually become the home we had chosen together.

What was your experience with the Gleeson sales team?

The sales team were supportive throughout our home-buying journey and went above and beyond to help us achieve our goal.

The Sales Executive, Sarah at Wood Hall Chase, made us feel comfortable from the very beginning. She supported us through the ups and downs, celebrated the exciting moments with us and always did everything she could to help. We never felt like just another customer because Sarah genuinely cared about our journey. We’ll always be grateful for everything she did for us.

How well informed did you feel during the buying process?

We were kept informed at every milestone. Whenever there was something we didn’t understand, the process was explained clearly to us.

How has life changed since moving into your Gleeson home?

We’re beyond happy. We’re creating new memories together and making the house feel more like home every day. Moving home and building furniture together may have caused the occasional disagreement, but seeing everything come to life has made the whole process worthwhile.

What is your favourite part of your new home?

We love the entire house, but our favourite spaces are the living room, kitchen and bedroom. The generous bedroom size is also one of the first things visitors notice, along with the colours we chose for our kitchen.

What has been the best part of homeownership?

The best part has been making the house feel like our home. We’ve enjoyed building our furniture, choosing where everything belongs and gradually bringing each room to life. It’s rewarding to know that we’re creating the space together.

What do you like about living at Wood Hall Chase?

We like that Wood Hall Chase is away from noisy roads and busy motorways, which helps the area feel more peaceful. Everyone we have spoken to so far has been lovely. We haven’t lived here for very long, so we’re still looking forward to meeting more of our neighbours and becoming part of a new build community.

Would you recommend buying a Gleeson home?

Yes, we would recommend Gleeson to friends and family. The sales team worked hard to make the buying process as smooth as possible, while the site team made us feel comfortable as soon as we moved in. The team continued to check on us after completion, and whenever we had a problem, they responded quickly and helped us resolve it. We felt supported before, during and after our move.

How would you summarise your experience with Gleeson?

As first-time buyers, purchasing a home sometimes felt overwhelming because everything was new to us. However, the Gleeson team put us at ease and supported us from the moment we started looking for a home through to completion and beyond.

Complete this sentence: “Buying our Gleeson home was the start of…”

… Creating a home filled with new memories, laughter and love, while building the future we have always dreamed of!

With a range of 2, 3, and 4 bedroom homes available throughout the Midlands and North of England, your journey to finding your dream home could happen sooner than you think. Find your nearest Gleeson development and enquire with our Sales Executive today.