From Searching to Finding Their Perfect Space

Moving with a toddler is  no small task, so when Sarah Garty and her husband were looking for a new home it had to be really stand-out for them to consider making the big move. While initially the house they looked at was a ‘no’, thanks to dated décor, Tommy’s helped them to see past aesthetics to reveal the home’s potential. With great bones, sun and walkability to the local shops, the property has turned out to be an ideal spot for the young family. The one storey house is great for raising young children, they are now more connected to their community, and that dated decor? Long gone.

Can you describe the moment you knew you had found the right home with Tommy’s?

When we first came to the house it was a ‘no’ from us – we were put off by the tile floors, the dated paint work and the carpet that had seen better days. It just didn’t stand out to us. We had a small child at the time and moving house with him at that age would have been a big deal, so the house had to be something special for us to want to go through the effort of moving. Tommy’s helped us to see past the dated aesthetic to see the real potential the house had – it was in our price point in a great location for us, and had good sun throughout the house.

What was it like stepping into your first home for the first time? What was the best moment?

The first night in our new home was a magical moment. When you walk into your house for the first time with the keys in your hand — that’s when reality sinks in. You realise, “This our home now!”

Have you celebrated any milestones or created any special memories in your home yet?

We had our daughter here just before Covid. It was a big challenge not being able to see family and without easy access to services. But it was also an amazing opportunity to have our little family bubble, getting to know her and our toddler during the lockdowns. Bringing her home as the last member to join our family made it feel like our real home.

What would you say to someone looking to buy a new home?

Trust in the experts, listen to their advice and let them do the heavy lifting. Buying and selling homes can be risky financially and stressful. By putting your trust in Tommy’s, with their expert knowledge of the state of the market, the journey is a lot smoother.

How did Tommy’s help you to manage any possible obstacles to buying your new home?

We had a house to sell before we bought our home, there were some risks associated with buying, especially at the time, as unconditional offers were the only ones that were accepted. Thankfully, Tommy’s is very experienced with this situation and helped us navigate any obstacles. They supported us and advised us on how to make an attractive offer for a fast sale. This meant that we sold quickly, and were able to settle the sale and purchase of both houses on the same day.

How has your home changed your life?

The house we were living in previously had heaps of stairs, and managing a little kid with all his various props and toys up and down those stairs was quite difficult. It was a game changer in our new home with just one storey, suddenly everything was a lot easier. No more baby gates to manage on the stairs, and our little boy couldn’t believe his luck that he could run around in a kind of loop between the rooms, like a built in obstacle course. We also had much more outdoor space for him to play in the garden with a soccer ball, and his friends live nearby – so he’s very happy with the new home!

In our previous house we were quite out of the way, so we were dependent on cars to get anywhere. Now I can walk my son to school, and we are a stone’s throw from the local shops. This is great to have both now and in the future, because both of my kids will have the ability to walk to school or catch a bus themselves rather than relying on me to drive them everywhere, which is important to build independence and confidence as they grow up.

Do you see yourself staying in the house for the long-term?

Since being in the house we’ve done a small renovation to add another bathroom, and now feel we have everything we need to future-proof the house and stay here for a long time. We are more connected to the community and we are in a sunny neighbourhood near great parks – which has boosted our wellbeing as a family. We now feel completely set up for the future in this house – this is our long-term home.