“Quality, calm, and community: Why we chose Abbots Vale by Hopkins Homes”
First impressions count, and when Chelsea and Matthew Shave first set eyes on their new home in Abbots Vale, they instantly fell in love with its luxurious feel and sense of peacefulness.
Eager to upsize, the search for their dream family home began. But the path to finding that home is never easy, and their plans quickly hit a hurdle when they unexpectedly lost their buyer. Yet, as often is the case with this, the right homes always seem destined to find their owners.
With support and reassurance from Hopkins Homes, Chelsea and Matthew held onto the belief that everything would fall into place. Fate did indeed step in, and the Shave family found their perfect home whilst securing a happy future at Abbots Vale.
The right place for us
Keen to move into a bigger home, Chelsea and Matthew viewed a three-bedroom property at Abbots Vale, situated in the market town of Bury St Edmunds. “We’d been looking to upgrade from a two-bedroom, and the home that immediately stood out to us was a new build at Abbots Vale,” Chelsea reflected.
“We were just drawn to the development. It felt peaceful, well laid out, and backed by the excellent reputation of Hopkins Homes’ quality.
“As for our new home, it wasn’t just the size – although that did tick our boxes. We absolutely loved its high specification and thoughtful design throughout. The location is also perfect, being close to town and not far from Nowton Park. It’s pretty ideal!”
A calmer, easier life
Coming from a smaller home, the appeal of more space and modern features was a huge draw. Chelsea and Matthew described their house as “wide and spacious, giving us so much room to live comfortably.”
Moving to the new build has completely transformed day-to-day life for the family. Chelsea noted: “We now have private parking with a car charger and a lovely, spacious garden with a shed, which makes life even easier! The garden finally gives us enough room for the BBQ area I’ve always wanted.”
Along with the freedom to entertain and enjoy family time, Chelsea and Matthew also appreciate their garden’s design, which welcomes lots of wildlife: “We even have a hedgehog hole in our fence, so wildlife can thrive. I’ve always loved and cared for hedgehogs in my old house, and it’s wonderful that I can still do that in our new garden!”
The ample space and bountiful garden make “life feel calmer, easier, and much more enjoyable”, says Chelsea.
Design features that feel luxurious
Since moving in, Chelsea and Matthew have been impressed by their home’s attention to detail and its build quality, which includes many premium touches. “The quality of appliances is excellent, and the underfloor heating adds a premium yet economical touch,” they stated.
Practicality is key to satisfaction. They praised the solid insulation that keeps the house quiet, noting, “We can’t hear our neighbours on either side, which makes our street feel very peaceful.” They also appreciate the thoughtful use of space, adding: “Ventilation works brilliantly, and the under-stairs area provides a perfect space for a tumble dryer, shoes, and coats.”
What they mostly love are the design features that bring a touch of everyday elegance to life: “We love the French doors from the kitchen-diner, our beautiful en-suite, and heated towel rails. They really do add to the luxury feel.
Settling into a friendly community
Even as a relatively new development, Chelsea and Matthew have already felt a strong sense of community emerging at Abbots Vale. “The atmosphere is warm, friendly, and already growing. We’ve already had our neighbours over for a get-together, which really helped build that early sense of community,” they said.
Looking across the “front gardens that look beautiful and tidy”, it’s the community that helps a development to thrive. Chelsea added, “It feels like a place where people genuinely want to connect and take pride in their surroundings.”
Excellent support during a nerve-wracking process
The journey to their home ownership wasn’t without its difficulties and delays. While the couple lost their initial buyer, the support from Hopkins Homes was invaluable.
“The buying process wasn’t easy for us, as we lost our buyer along the way,” Chelsea and Matthew explained. “However, Hopkins Homes was incredibly supportive and reassured us that we’d get there in the end… and we did!”
They commended the service received from Hopkins Homes’ Sales Executive throughout: “She has been amazing. She is always available, responsive, and reassuring, which is exactly what you need when things feel uncertain.”
This praise extended to the site team as well, who have shown interest from start to end. “The Assistant Site Manager, is fantastic. He takes the time to walk us through the property and answer our questions thoroughly.
They felt the entire team at Abbots Vale has been great: “Every member of the site team — from the builders to the plumbers and beyond is polite, respectful, and clearly takes pride in their work,” they agreed. “Their professionalism and friendliness really added to the experience.”
Chelsea and Matthew appreciated both managers’ commitment to their needs on-site, adding, “the Assistant Site Manager is fantastic; he is always on hand when we need him. The Site Manager has also been great – we are so pleased to have them both.”
A wholehearted endorsement from Chelsea and Matthew
When asked what they would say to others considering buying at Abbots Vale, their recommendation was clear: “We would absolutely recommend Abbots Vale to anyone considering a new home,” Chelsea and Matthew affirmed.
They noted that features like private parking and car chargers, spacious layouts, French doors, and excellent insulation feel like luxury. “All these high-end features show how much thought goes into these homes,” Chelsea added.
Both concluded that the combination of great quality and a great atmosphere make it an ideal choice: “Combined with the growing sense of community, the friendly neighbours, and the great location near town and Nowton Park, it’s a brilliant place to consider.”