January 2024
“Using WiseOne has benefitted us in so many ways. We had to transfer our old mortgage over to our new Story home and this meant ‘porting’ our mortgage. Our Mortgage Advisor Damien from WiseOne was fantastic at guiding us from start to finish and was efficient in his replies.
“Damien was keen to find the best rate and deal for us and would go to great lengths to secure this. Due to the interest rates in the current climate, WiseOne were often checking that we had the best rate and making sure the deal was right for us, and affordable. The level of service has made a potentially daunting process straight forward and a breeze!”
Paige added: “Damien has been there for us at the end of the phone from start to finish. He was great at communicating with us regularly and we didn’t feel like we had to hassle him – nothing was a chore for him. He has a friendly and calm manner and was very approachable which created a good working relationship.
“This high standard of service has meant that the hassle of finding the best mortgage rate has been taken away from us and made it feel so easy. It hasn’t felt stressful at all, and this is great as Callum and myself both work full time and to have this done for us has made a big difference. We would recommend anyone to use WiseOne and we will be using them again in future.”
Damien Byrne, Mortgage and Insurance Advisor at WiseOne, said: “Using myself and WiseOne allowed Callum and Paige access to their own personal advisor, seven days a week. They had their existing mortgage with Santander and we managed to stay with this provider which allowed them to get their early repayment charge back as they were in a fixed rate deal – this was over £5,000.
He continued: “We did everything over the phone and by email, so the customers didn’t have to take time out of their diary for long appointments. All the way through the application we reviewed interest rates to make sure they secured the best mortgage rate based upon their borrowing needs. We’re delighted to have helped the couple make their move to their dream Story home.”
When discussing their choice to move to the Oakleigh Fields development, Callum explained: “I was brought up not too far from the development and it was always a good, friendly area. Paige and I met and then bought our first home a short distance away from Oakleigh Fields. We always liked the idea of a Story home, so therefore when Story Homes decided to build at the top of the hill which had great views over the city, we couldn’t resist ‘just having a look’. This resulted in us buying!”
Paige continued: “The development has some fantastic views over Carlisle and also towards the fells. The location is great as we’re still on a bus route to get into town for some drinks, close to a shop and a pub as well as a primary and secondary school. It’s also just a 2-minute walk out into the countryside which we love, yet the bypass isn’t too far away either, meaning great access to the M6 and the Lake District and soon to be Carlisle Southern Link Road to Junction 42. It’s perfect.”
The couple chose to move to a 3-bedroom ‘Spencer’ house type as they wanted more space and the potential for a ‘forever’ home. Paige said: “The layout is what made us choose The Spencer; it’s the perfect semi-detached home! I really wanted an open plan kitchen/diner that was a good size, and The Spencer has space for an island and a large dining table. We also wanted a nice hallway that didn’t feel claustrophobic with a separate living room.”
Callum added: “We especially love our kitchen – the vast choice of upgrades and the space which you can play with is fantastic, and really made Story Homes stand out from other builders. We spend the most time in the kitchen/diner and it’s a good family area for entertaining. Paige loves cooking and entertaining, so she will be cooking with a glass of wine, whilst I’m enjoying the view of the garden through our patio doors. The beauty with this layout is that we are still able to ‘have a craic’ about our day at work and share anecdotes over a glass of wine whilst tea is cooking!”
When discussing the decision between choosing a new build or a second-hand property, Paige explained: “We did consider a second-hand property, however a new build property meant we could relax and wouldn’t have to come home from work and do the house up. We were dubious that a new build might be a lot smaller than a second-hand semi-detached home, however The Spencer surprised me and still does. The low maintenance element is the main benefit of a new build home for us, but also the layout and the fact that our home can be future proof in case we decide to start a family.”
The couple concluded: “We never considered buying from another builder. We always said if we were going to buy a new build it had to be Story. If we were to buy from one of Story Homes’ competitors, then we might as well have bought a second hand home to do up!
“We have recommended and would continue to recommend Story Homes. The service comes with a smile from the sales team and site teams, and the quality of the build and customer service is great. We are proud to say we own a Story home!”
