Aspen Homes: Q & A

I set up Aspen Homes in 2009 following 8 years of working within the industry and realising I had a love and passion for property.

I have always loved doing deals and the excitement you get from completing the purchase of a new site is still amazing to this day.  However, as we treat all our homes as if they were our own, the real pleasure is seeing the excitement of our purchasers being given the keys to their new home and the beginning of what we hope is a new adventure for them.

Controlling costs is always a vitally important aspect of the build process and not always easy to manage but knowing who your potential buyer is, is always key.  Ensuring the design, layout and specification is right for our target market will always mean the difference to being able to maximise the value of the homes when finished.

I believe that every development has to be different and bespoke to the market we are developing in.  We don’t have any standardised unit types and design each home specifically for that market and location. I also like to think our attention to detail and use of high-quality specifications differentiates us from our competitors. We also have a fantastic team, where we all share ideas and make sure we spend time on site to ensure that the homes we build are perfect for modern day living and stand the test of time.

The design and character of the houses, I believe, sets our homes apart from other developments in the area. We’ve drawn on the detail of existing Victorian houses locally, incorporating stone cills, brick porches and traditional touches.  Internally, we’ve provided underfloor heating, wiring for SONOS music speakers, data points and a range of luxurious specifications across the kitchens and bathrooms that you would expect to see in a high-end luxury property.

Buyers are far more discerning and knowledgeable these days and understand property and know what to look for. Furthermore, with the effects of the coronavirus, it is clear that people are starting to value home office space and gardens far more than they would have done previously. There is certainly a trend appearing whereby families are now looking to move out of the city and settle in more rural locations, where they have vibrant towns and local amenities on their doorstep.

We always want to engage with the local community prior and during the development of our sites to ensure we are taking on-board their perspective and thoughts. Additionally, the design, layout and quality specification of each house is vitally important. However, a key issue for us now is sustainability and reducing the carbon footprint of our developments. This does not only come from what we use in the fabric of our building alongside the renewable energies we incorporate on site, but also where we source our materials from. As we evolve it is key for us to deliver environmentally friendly homes.

I’m not sure there is one but two that sit side by side and that’s the design and specification of the homes twinned with their proximity to Ash Station giving new owners access to London in less than an hour.

Do your homework, look and compare the specification with comparable homes and make sure you take appropriate financial advice before you start looking. Knowing exactly what your budget is will pay dividends when negotiating on the purchase of your new home.

The development from start to finish took just over 14 months.

We are always looking for new opportunities and have loved developing homes in Ash. It is such a fantastic area with great links to rural hotspots as well as vibrant cities and towns north, south, east, and west of Ash.