Relocating made easy with a move from Scotland to London
Posted 16/12/2024
Tim Lewis faced a significant life change when his work required him to relocate from Scotland to London. With a strict timeline and the pressure of finding the right home in a new city, Tim needed a seamless transition to minimize stress.
“It was all a bit crazy relocating for work and then needing to find somewhere to live very quickly,” says Tim. "Myself and my partner are completely new to the area and originally we really didn’t know what we were looking for. The only thing I was sure of was that we had a very tight timeline, and it had to be as hassle-free as possible.”
Although Tim had never bought new before, he had some experience with family members who had and was keen to enjoy the benefits of new build as he explains: “I’ve done plenty of renovations before, covering up holes in walls and that sort of thing and I really didn’t want to do it again, especially with the pressure of moving to a new city and starting a new job. I loved the idea of starting fresh with a lovely clean property with neat edges on the walls and a totally blank canvas.”
The couple quickly narrowed down their search, realising they needed a home with excellent transport links to central London and beyond, while also being affordable for the London market.
Their search took them to a quiet corner of Wandsworth, Earlsfield with its strong transport links, relaxed vibe and affordability for the London market. “We had a look at a few new build developments but once we visited The Garratt Collection by Higgins Homes, it ticked all the boxes for us,” added Tim. “The quality was immediately evident, not just in the build itself but also in the spacious layout of the apartment. Even the communal areas, like the bin and bike stores, were thoughtfully designed and far from being an afterthought.”
The development is located in Garratt Lane, a vibrant street which connects Wandsworth High Street to Tooting Broadway. In terms of accessibility, it it offers excellent transport links, with nearby train stations and bus routes providing easy access to central London and surrounding area. By rail, regular trains from Earlsfield station to Waterloo, take just 13 minutes. Alternatively, it’s 19 minutes to Victoria with a change at Clapham Junction. Nearby Southfields and Wimbledon Park are both on the District Line and about 25 minutes’ walk from Garratt Lane.
After choosing the two-bedroom apartment, the priority was ensuring that timelines were adhered to as closely as possible, as Tim explains: “Higgins Homes were great to deal with and were very helpful. I was selling in Scotland and buying in England, which meant there were a few complications in terms of exchange, but they were very accommodating throughout. In terms of keeping to timelines, they were great and kept closely to the agreed dates.”
The couple recently moved in and are enjoying many aspects of life at The Garratt Collection. One pleasant surprise has been the peace and quiet of the development, something they hadn’t anticipated. “We’ve been quite amazed at how peaceful it is here and really enjoy sitting on the balcony and enjoying the surroundings,” says Tim. “We are very happy with every aspect of the apartment from the appliances to the design, layout and specification; the quality is excellent and gives us the space we need.”
In terms of comfort, the apartment's energy efficiency has been a major plus. As Tim adds: 'We’ve barely needed to turn the heating on, and it stays wonderfully warm. The underfloor heating eliminates the need for radiators, giving the design a sleek look and making the most of the available space.”
The community at The Garratt Collection is steadily growing, and Tim and his partner are enjoying getting to know their neighbours through occasional meetups at the local pub. When asked if he would recommend the development to friends and family, Tim didn’t hesitate to say yes.
