Long summer nights in the garden of her new home at The Reserve of Eden are on the horizon for Dr Linda McIntosh, marking the start of an exciting new chapter.
Originally from London, she had spent many years living and working as a professional across the United States, from Texas and Arkansas to the Carolinas, Georgia, and Washington, D.C.
Most recently, she had lived in Kemnay in an older property with an acre of land. With her children now grown up, she felt ready for a change. Downsizing was important, but so was flexibility.
She needed a home that could comfortably accommodate her adult son, still living at home, and other family members if needed. It also had to be close to the hospital for any necessary appointments and public transport, while still offering the peace of the countryside.
After initially looking at Bancon’s new homes at Lochside of Leys in Banchory, she visited the Reserve of Eden, and had a tour of The Fernhill, a spacious four-bedroom home set across three levels, and immediately knew it was the right home for her.
“As soon as I walked in the door, I thought wow, I love it. The house had no one overlooking it and was surrounded by beautiful countryside, with views across the nearby Maidencraig Nature Reserve. If you head four miles south, you arrive at Aberdeen Beach; driving north, you take in the surrounding mountains and beautiful Scottish countryside that I love so much.
“Yet I’m only two miles from Aberdeenshire’s largest NHS hospital. There’s a bus stop nearby. I’m walking distance to Tesco, the pharmacy, and the garden centre, which is across the street. There's even a walking path and a pond as part of the neighbourhood.”
With multiple living areas, the home also offered a flexible layout that perfectly suited her lifestyle and extended family. When the sales assistant mentioned that there were garden rooms, with French doors that led onto the garden, Dr McIntosh thought, ‘Yep, this is it.’”
“I have my own space on the top floor, my son has his space in the garden room on the bottom floor which I’ve converted into a bedroom, and we meet up in the middle!
“The house has a living room and an open-plan kitchen on the middle floor, so I can entertain, enjoy morning coffee, have wine, or even set up a little reading room - whatever I want it to be! Upstairs, the bedroom suite offers a walk-in wardrobe and an en-suite, creating the perfect retreat for me.
“If I feel like it, I can go downstairs to the garden room and watch TV or lie in my bed and enjoy the Maidencraig Nature Reserve view from my third-floor bedroom.”
Another major advantage was the turnkey finish, something her previous property lacked. With a brand-new induction hob, built-in oven, and microwave, and contemporary finishes throughout, the house was ready to enjoy from the moment she moved in.
“The kitchen in my old house was huge, but it was not upgraded. But I came to this, where it was all modern and finished to a high standard. I wanted a new home, one ready to enjoy without thinking about upgrades or renovations. They even gave me induction top pots and pans as a housewarming gift!”
An unexpected bonus of the property was the substantial storage.
“The house has a large garage and a storage area in the back garden outside, underneath the external stairs. So, all my stuff that was in the shed at my old house is now stored in a space under the stairs outside. It’s like a shed built into the house, and it runs the length of the house.”
The team from Bancon Homes guided Dr McIntosh through selling her previous home using their assisted support service with a clear, step-by-step schedule.
“The deadlines helped me sell my house before the time was up, making the process smooth and stress-free."
With summer on the horizon, Dr McIntosh is already planning ahead.
“Once summer comes, all my garden furniture will be out. I’ve got a fire pit table and everything, so I can’t wait to start enjoying it.”
With only a few three-storey homes remaining at The Reserve of Eden, now is the perfect time to discover these homes. The Fernhill, featuring a south-facing garden and uninterrupted views over the Maidencraig Nature Reserve, now has just one home remaining. We also have a limited number of similar Derry house types available, with only three homes left.
For more information on The Reserve at Eden, email thereserve@bancon.co.uk or call 07557 192940. The show home is open from Thursday 10am to 7pm, and Friday to Monday from 10am to 5pm.