A Clean Slate: Couple Leaves Renovation Behind For A New Start In Bedfordshire

The cost of renovating a house varies on the size of the house, labour costs and materials but reports suggest that the average three-bedroom home now fetches from £43,530 to £110,350 to renovate, dependent on scale[1]. As renovation TV shows such as Grand Designs and Renovation Rescue will tell you, sometimes projects do not go to plan which was the case for married couple Jay (40) and Jo (42) Jennings, who had a poor experience when renovating their previous home in Stevenage.

Jay, a Recruitment Manager, and Jo, a Health & Safety Director, decided that they wanted a new start which led them to hunt for peace of mind, discovering that a new build home was for them. After searching for five years, the couple sold their three-bedroom terraced home in Stevenage for £377,500 and upsized to a four-bedroom Windsor house type at Dandara’s The Willows development in Willington from plan in January 2025, purchasing it for £585,000. 

Jo commented: “We had been living in Stevenage for 21 years and after a negative experience renovating our terraced home resulting in money losses, we decided that a fresh start was on the cards. Our renovation in Stevenage took six weeks to complete and cost £60,000, which is just over what we paid for our deposit on our new home. It just goes to show that sometimes making the move to a new home can be cheaper than renovating and can be more convenient, especially with a new build which is fresh and ready for you to move in easily!”

Jay and Jo used the equity of their previous home to purchase their new four-bedroom house and put down a total deposit of £58,500, 5% of which Dandara contributed to. The couple secured a 5.18% mortgage rate for 31 years, amounting to £2,732 per month. 

Though their water bill (£60 per month) and council tax (£260 per month) has doubled since moving into their larger home, Jay and Jo have however found their gas and electric monthly costs have decreased from £270 to £170, with the house’s energy efficiency proving to be the difference and their solar panels earning back 10%.

The couple were able to make their move by taking advantage of the striking difference in property prices between Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire. With the average home in Hertfordshire costing £534,698[2], compared with just £373,274 in Bedfordshire[3], they found they could upsize to a larger property while at the same time saving money. The move not only gave them more space, but also greater financial flexibility.

Jo added: “We decided to leave Stevenage as it was a lot more expensive to buy a bigger home compared with Bedfordshire. Since moving we have managed to save £100 on our electricity and gas. Though our water and council tax has increased, which was to be expected, we are really pleased with the affordability and savings our new build home has provided us with.”

Rachel Lindop, Sales Director at Dandara Northern Home Counties, commented: “Bedfordshire is a fantastic place for people looking to make a move, not only because of its great connectivity and lifestyle benefits, but also thanks to its relative affordability compared with neighbouring counties. With average prices here far lower than in Hertfordshire, buyers can often upsize or secure more value for their money. New build homes are an especially attractive option as they offer a blank canvas that you can make your own, allowing you to personalise the space to suit your lifestyle from day one.

“The Willows is a superb option for buyers looking for a quiet exclusive development in the scenic countryside just a short drive from Bedford. There are a range of couples and families already on the development and it is truly a great community to be a part of. We have just launched our Charleston three-bedroom view home, so I would encourage those interested in the area of Willington to come and take a look at The Willows!”

Currently available at The Willows is a selection of three-, four- and five-bedroom homes with prices starting from £395,000.

 
[1] https://www.checkatrade.com/blog/cost-guides/cost-renovating-house/ 
[2] https://www.rightmove.co.uk/house-prices/hertfordshire.html 
[3] https://www.rightmove.co.uk/house-prices/bedfordshire.html