Couple take the sting out of energy prices by moving into a brand new Dandara home

With energy prices going up 10% in October, saving on fuel costs is at the forefront of many movers’ minds. For Chris Craine, 31, and his partner Pippa Kennaugh, 27, knowing that they were moving to a warm, well-insulated and eco-friendly new home was a big part of their decision to buy a Dandara home in Parkfield at Reayrt Mie, in Ballasalla, Isle of Man.

The couple had been living in a 1970s three-bedroom bungalow that was becoming increasingly costly to repair and maintain. The constant need for upkeep, combined with rising energy bills, made the idea of a low maintenance, trouble-free new build home, which would also help reduce their energy costs, incredibly appealing. 

"We wanted to upsize for more space, but with the bungalow, we were constantly pouring money into repairs that didn’t add value to the property. With more expenses on the horizon, it felt like the right time to move to a new build, where everything would be easier," says Chris, Head of Sales at Dandara Isle of Man.

When Chris, who has been working at Dandara for 7 years, and Pippa began their search, they were immediately drawn to Parkfield at Reayrt Mie, impressed by both the attractive location and the quality of the homes. "We're both from Douglas and have family there, plus we work in the capital, so we wanted to stay nearby. But living in the quiet village of Ballasalla feels almost like being on holiday! It's just a ten-minute drive to work, yet so peaceful," says Pippa. The new development will also feature a convenience store and nursery on site, with a pub nearby, and it's conveniently close to the amenities of Castletown.

“Working for the housebuilder internally, I knew the homes at Parkfield had been built to an extremely high standard. I was confident that moving to the development was a great fit for us as I’d seen it come to life at every step of the way,” adds Chris. 

Buying a new property came with a whole array of advantages, the couple discovered. Their new four-bedroom home was much more energy efficient, with a fantastic level of insulation and solar panels on the roof – a few months after moving in they were already seeing savings on their energy bills. “Not only are the utility bills much cheaper in the new build than in our previous home, but also we know exactly what we are spending on mortgage and bills every month rather than constantly thinking about the next round of repair costs.”

Buying new also gave them the ability to personalise their new home. “We were able to choose the tiles, kitchen, worktop and flooring, as well as extras like bathroom cabinets and additional fitted wardrobes, which was a big plus for us.”

Chris and Pippa chose the Beech 21 house type at Parkfield at Reayrt Mie; a spacious four-bedroom detached home with an integral garage and the added bonus of a sunroom with bi-fold doors into the garden – a unique feature of Dandara’s Isle of Man properties, designed to make the most of the island’s sunshine. Downstairs, there’s a spacious kitchen diner, utility room with direct garden access, separate lounge, and WC, while upstairs features an en suite main bedroom with a generous dressing room, a second bedroom also with an en suite, two further double bedrooms and a family bathroom. Their home also benefits from an extended, south-west facing garden – ideal for their 18-month old dog, Gunner.

“The bills are significantly less, especially as we don’t need to have the heating on as much as it’s warm and draught-free thanks to the house being so well insulated. We love the bi-fold doors, and the dressing room fitted with shelves and rails is Pippa’s dream room! The community is really friendly, and we are enjoying taking Gunner out for some long walks together,” says Chris.

Homes currently available at Parkfield at Reayrt Mie include three-bedroom properties starting from £324,950. Nearby, two-bedroom bungalows are available at Station View at Reayrt Mie from £319,950, with a four-bedroom semi-detached property with solar panels, heat pump and garage available from £454,950.