How to "Try Before you Buy" at Warminster's Imber Court

How to "Try Before you Buy" at Warminster's Imber Court.

What a great opportunity – not often possible when buying a new home - but McCarthy & Stone have just such a system right here in Warminster.   Imber Court, their block of retirement apartments in George Street was completed in February.  It stands at the junction of five roads, Ash Walk, Sambourne Road, George Street and Silver Street and is one of hundreds of McCarthy &  Stone developments across the country.

Its sales office is inviting anyone genuinely interested in moving to a retirement apartment to sample an overnight stay – for free.   So for one night only  (the system allows two) I took up their offer and moved into a one bedroom flat.  Everything is provided for the overnight stay – bed linen, towels, soap - even the milk and teabags.

The residents

Visitors arriving by car approach via Ash Walk and can park close to the front entrance where there are chairs and tables for sitting outside.  My stay began with a "meet the residents" coffee morning which happens every Monday morning in the lounge.  This is a large attractive room furnished with comfy chairs and has an adjoining  small kitchen for making coffee and tea on the spot.  Photos of Warminster in the 50s and 60s which have been elegantly framed to match the decor, give the room a positive sense of identity.   

Seven apartments are now occupied and interestingly most of the new occupants had moved from within the Warminster area - Chapmanslade, Corsley, and even within the town.  Reasons for moving ranged from "because the garden became too much", "loneliness after a bereavement", "public transport was limited" – and so that  "family did not have to worry about me."

Terry-Ann Miller, one of the sales team, says the average age for people to move is 75 – but she believes that it's better to move sooner than later.  "People should be enjoying their retirement while they are still fit and able to lead an active life," she recommends.

The big attraction of retirement apartments is allowing a sense of security alongside independent living. At Imber Court, house manager Kevin Bradley is on hand for maintenance problems.  An entry system ensures nobody has to open their front door to unannounced visitors and TVs can be tuned to provide a picture from a camera by the front door showing who is waiting.  It means that,  if you are away,  once your front door is shut your home can be left in complete security. All flats also have an emergency call system with floor length pull cords.    

The Apartment Comes with Today's Technology

Right down to the washing up liquid and shower gel the apartment comes fully furnished and equipped for a Try Before You Buy stay.  If every material comfort has been thought of, for me the discomfort came with the stress of today's technology!

First there's the door entry system to master – well they have tried to make that simple as by some miracle only one key is needed to enter the main door and your apartment.  Then came the lift – this system defied logic.  On one side of the cubicle is a helpful list of apartment numbers indicating which floor they are on – lower ground, ground, 1st and 2nd.  The problem comes on the press button lift panel - nothing on that about "ground" or "lower ground".  There are three buttons, 1, 0 and  -1.  I thought a minus meant it was owing or did not exist? How can a floor be -1? Luckily my apartment was on the ground floor!

Once inside the apartment the technology is everywhere.  Just inside the front door is the central heating control panel.  In the sitting room the TV will probably be familiar as it will be a known quantity but this one incorporates a system for seeing who is ringing your door bell.  I played safe by avoiding any attempt to use the microwave, hob or oven.  The kettle, toaster and fridge seemed pretty straight forward, but even the fire place has a remote control zapper.

In the bathroom there is a substantial hand rail to help with both bath and shower – but operating the shower raised stress levels again.  With two anonymous handles,  nothing in the way of instruction is visibly labelled.  Quite how the right temperature water eventually materialised I shall never know – was it because the hot water had then come through or perhaps because I eventually turned one of the taps in the right direction? 

Green Issues

A laundry in the basement takes care of all washing, drying and ironing needs.  Unused to the extravagance of tumble dryers it did make me wonder how interested McCarthy & Stone are in environmental issues? As well as tumble dryers how about providing some greener drying options?  An outdoor rotating dryer could be hidden behind some fencing and indoor rails provided - even if the final fling is done in the dryer?

McCarthy & Stone  tell me that currently their buildings are incorporating outdoor drying areas and even bicycle sheds.  Apparently Warminster plans were drawn up some time ago and due to the recession the building was delayed.  

Imber Court offers a selection of one or two bedroom apartments – all with the "Try before you buy option".  So if you or a family member is considering making the move sales consultants Mary or Shelley will be happy to answer your questions -  01985 215495.

An overnight stay will allow you to know how it feels to wake up in the middle of Warminster with all its facilities on your door step and be able to shut your front door without worrying about security or, if you feel like some company, knock on someone else's front door without worrying about taking an umbrella - and there'll be plenty to keep you busy learning how to make everything work!

One bedroom apartments start at £144,950 with a weekly service charge which includes upkeep and management from £41 a week.