Making friends with neighbours in your new community
Persimmon homeowners Suzie and Lauren tell us about how their friendship has blossomed after moving into their new build homes on the same day.
Moving to a new place is always an exciting experience – not just for the home you’ll be gaining, but also for the community you’re going to be joining.
When you buy a home on a new Persimmon development, there’s the added benefit that all of your neighbours are new as well. There’s no worry about fitting into an existing community, instead you’ll be part of it from the very beginning.
We love to hear all about the friendships that form between neighbours on our new build developments. Whether they’ve started on a social media page for your development, through sharing interiors images on Instagram, or through a simple ‘hello!’ on moving day.
This International Friendship Day we spoke to Suzie and Lauren, next door neighbours on a Persimmon Homes development in West Scotland.
Hi Suzie and Lauren! Great to meet you, could you introduce yourselves?
Suzie: Hi, my name is Suzie and I’m 34 years old. I live with my husband and my son in a Persimmon development in the west of Scotland and I work for the NHS within the district nursing team.
Lauren: Hello, I’m Lauren, I am 30 years old and currently live with my soon-to-be husband and our little pup called Cash! I previously lived in a Persimmon flat in the Renfrewshire area, and when upgrading homes I wished for another Persimmon property and fell in love with the site we’re currently in!
When did you both buy your Persimmon homes?
Suzie: We bought our first Persimmon home in August of 2020, and since then we’ve bought our second which we moved into in October of 2022. We previously owned a house that we fully renovated and as much as that was fun, I wanted something brand new that didn’t need anything done to it which is why we bought a new build, and this house ticked all the boxes.
Lauren: I purchased my current Persimmon home in October 2022. We decided to move at this time as we had found an area that we loved, and the plot we wanted was ‘home of the week’ which was an added bonus.
So, what led you to choosing this area?
Suzie: We are originally from Renfrewshire but wanted a change, and with my son starting nursery in early 2021 we wanted to find a location slightly outside the area where we could settle as a family. This development is a short drive to my son’s school so it’s perfect. We didn’t know anyone in the area when we moved, but have since made some really good friends.
Lauren: As for us, my partner and I were looking for properties outside the Renfrewshire area. My partner is originally from one of the towns nearby, and we wanted to be closer to family and friends that already lived in the area.
How did you both feel about moving to a new development, with new neighbours?
Suzie: We were excited for the change, and were looking forward to meeting new people. We didn’t have any concerns at all and knew that travelling to visit family back in Renfrewshire was only a short drive away.
Lauren: We were also really excited about moving into the new development, meeting our new neighbours and starting many friendships!
It seems like that all worked out perfectly! What’s the story of how you met each other?
Suzie: We both moved into our new houses on the same day. My family got our keys a little earlier than Lauren and her partner, but when their removal van pulled up we came outside to introduce ourselves. We knew from then we would be friends!
Lauren: That’s right! I met Suzie and her husband on the day we moved in. Suzie was so warm and welcoming and introduced herself as our neighbour. I knew from then on we were going to be good friends!
How would you describe your friendship now?
Suzie: We’ve got a great friendship. We’ve spent many days sitting in the garden chatting. We often check in with each other to see if either of us needs anything from the shops, which is lovely.
Lauren: Yes, we’ve spent many days in the garden chatting through the fence! We also pick up things for each other at the shop, and I’m always asking Suzie for DIY tips and tricks.
Sounds ideal! What would you both say is your favourite thing about your relationship?
Lauren: For me, making a new friend in a new area was a bonus. All of my family and friends are mainly based in Renfrewshire so it’s been so nice to have someone to talk that lives nearby.
Suzie: It’s been absolutely lovely meeting Lauren. We’ve got a lot of similar interests and always have lots to chat about. I know if we ever needed anything Lauren would help us out, and vice versa.
What about the rest of your development – is it a friendly place to live?
Suzie: Yes, it feels like a real community. People are friendly and there are always lots of kids out playing. There’s also a Facebook page for the development, where people post if they’re looking for recommendations or asking questions, and other homeowners are always helpful.
Lauren: It’s a very family-oriented development. Everyone is really welcoming and lovely, and it’s nice to see the children out playing and having fun! We’ve never had any issues with the area, and are so happy we chose to live here!
Do you have any advice for anyone moving to a new development, who might be anxious about not knowing anyone?
Lauren: The best advice I could give is to get yourself out there and introduce yourself to your neighbours. Also to be added to the community Facebook page, and introduce yourself through that!
Suzie: Yes, definitely join the Facebook page for the residents if there is one! You’ll be able to get chatting to people on there.
Finally, looking back, what are your thoughts on your Persimmon homebuying journey?
Suzie: Both times we bought with Persimmon the buying process was very straightforward, and if we ever move and look to buy another new build, we’ll definitely be looking at Persimmon developments again.
Lauren: Simply, we have loved the past two years in our home and are looking to spend many more years here!
We wish Suzie and Lauren all the best in their Persimmon homes, and hope they enjoy many more happy years of friendship.
You can see more of Suzie's beautiful home over at @our_new_build_gaff.
To hear from more homeowners who have bought a Persimmon home, visit our Customer Stories page here.