Charlotte Yea, 25, saved up to buy a new-build home during the pandemic and moved into her two-bed apartment in 2023.
After living in a houseshare with friends in Shoreditch, the Senior Account Manager moved back in with her parents as the nation locked down during Covid.
“I had the most fabulous time living in Shoreditch and it was a shock moving home,” she says.
“But all of a sudden, I was saving a small fortune after having partied hard in London.”
She decided to buy a place of her own and started looking around Winchester, as she loved the city and its boutique stores, restaurants and cafes.
Having looked at a handful of older flats, she felt dejected and decided to check out the two new build schemes by Berkeley and Cala Homes.
“I wanted to go to see the new-build homes as a benchmark to the resale market,” she says.
“I went with my mum and dad to see Knights Quarter, which is an easy and well-lit walk to the station.
“We walked into the apartment and it was just perfect. My Mum was convinced almost before I was. She said: ‘Charlotte, you are buying this one.’
“To be honest after seeing the Berkeley show apartment, nothing else even came close.”
She bought her garden flat, which is just half a mile from the heart of Winchester.
“There were simply no negatives to the home, we both loved it. It has two beds so I have set one up as a study with a sofa bed so friends can come and stay.
“All of the utilities are very high spec – I had to have quite a long lesson to learn how to use all of the equipment!
“And I particularly love my wine fridge – that is a bonus to good living.”
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Knights Quarter is set just up the hill from the High Street and Charlotte’s apartment has French doors out to a communal garden area.
“I have a private patio area and this spills out onto a lovely garden with a lawn and beautiful plants – it’s really pretty and it’s wonderfully quiet here, which I love.
“I have neighbours but I don’t hear them which is perfect. I’ve said hello to a few but I’m looking forward to meeting them properly at a drinks event that Berkeley is hosting for us this summer.”
“I also can’t wait for the communal gym to open at the end of the summer. I think I’ll use it a lot and it will be a good way to make more friends at Knights Quarter and keep fit.
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“My job is completely flexible and I work from home quite a bit, so it will be great to have this added luxury on the doorstep.
“I was also relieved that the service charge here is relatively low compared to what we get.
"I have a secure underground parking space for my car, a lift up to the apartment and a concierge who is brilliant for taking in my parcels when I’m not here.”
Talking about the local area Charlotte commented: “About once a week I have a night out in London and catch the last train home.
"But there are loads of fabulous pubs and restaurants right here in town so I never run out of things to do or places to go. Winchester is buzzing at night with a warm, friendly vibe that I love.”
Speaking of her buying experience, Charlotte comments: “The sales and customer care teams at Knights Quarter have been so helpful throughout – they made buying with Berkeley an easy and smooth process.
“If you’re looking for a beautiful new home that is fully equipped to move into, I would highly recommend buying with Berkeley.”
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