Personal assistant Aimee Shipp has bought her first home after she began saving for a deposit at the age of 18.
Aimee, who is now 26, has purchased a one-bedroom Countryside Homes apartment for £228,000 at Base at Newhall in Harlow.
As a teenager, Aimee left school on a Friday, started her job as a personal assistant the following Monday and began putting money away so one day she could buy her own place.
“I knew what I wanted to do,” she said. “I didn’t want to go to university and get saddled with debt. I wanted to get a job and save to buy a home of my own. So that is exactly what I did.”
Aimee was living with her parents, Mark and Louise, and her younger sister Sophie, in Great Dunmow. In 2023, she decided she had saved enough money to put down a deposit on a home of her own so started to search for a likely property.
image012.jpgimage013.jpg“I wanted to live somewhere not too far away from mum and dad and close to a railway station which could me get into central London easily for my job in the City, whilst still being able to enjoy the green spaces around the area.” she said. “I was looking at older properties because I thought they might be more affordable, but mum spotted Base at Newhall, a Countryside Homes development in Harlow.
“After chatting to mum and dad I realised that a new build was a great option because it would offer savings on renovation and DIY costs and the property would be much more energy efficient, meaning lower energy bills.”
Aimee and her mum went along to Base at Newhall where they viewed a two-bedroom show apartment.
“It was lovely and Nicole the sales advisor was fantastic,” said Aimee. “I knew they were offering a deposit contribution which brought a one-bedroom in the Nova Apartments building to within my budget.
“I reserved an apartment off-plan and this meant I was able to choose the carpets, flooring and kitchen, which has allowed me to put some of my personality into the interior. Nicole kept me in the loop throughout the whole process and I was allowed to go along three times to see the apartment before it was finished. It was really exciting.
“When I received the keys for my very own home, it felt amazing. I owe so much to my parents who allowed me to live rent-free at home so I could save up to buy my own place. Mum spent the first night with me at the apartment and after we had spent all day unpacking, we shared a Chinese takeaway and crashed to sleep.
“I love the open-plan layout and living on one floor is so convenient and really suits me. I work from home two days a week and set up my laptop on my desk which is separate from the dining table, so it feels I have a specific zone for work.”
Aimee is enjoying living back in Harlow where she grew up and where many of her friends live.
image014.jpg“It is nice to be back here as I know the place and it’s lovely to be able to have friends round, who can stay over as I have an inflatable bed and a comfortable sofa. My nan also lives in Harlow, so I pop round to see her once a week for a chat.
“The location also really works for me because it is only a 10-minute drive to the town’s railway station where I can catch a train to London. My commuting time each day has been reduced from three hours to two hours, which is great as it gives me more time in the evenings.
“I really love living here and love my apartment. It is light and airy and the finish and specification is top quality. Being able to close my front door after a hard day in the office is wonderful, as I can please myself about what I do.
“Some nights, I look around this stylish modern apartment and have to remind myself that it’s actually my own home. That is a great feeling.”
Countryside Homes, along with Bovis Homes and Linden Homes, is part of Vistry Group.
There’s currently a choice of two-bedroom apartments and three and four-bedroom houses available to reserve with bespoke tailored incentives at Base at Newhall, with prices starting at £332,000 and £460,000 respectively.
