A landscaped garden featuring trailing wisteria, potted plants and buzzing bees, complete with a greenhouse full of cucumbers and tomatoes. It’s clear to see why Jae from Pulborough loves her garden.
At a recent Love Your Estate Day in Pulborough, we sat down with Jae to find out more about her experience with Saxon Weald and what a home means to her…
How long have you lived in your home and where were you living before?
I’ve lived in my house for about 10 years now with my husband and our daughter, Phoebe. I was previously a Saxon Weald tenant in West Chiltington. We had a lovely little cottage, but we were a growing family who needed more space. We found a lady on HomeSwapper, viewed each other’s houses and felt they were better fits for both of us – she was happy, we were happy, so it worked well all round! It took no more than a couple of months, so it was really quite smooth. We loved this property and saw so much potential in the garden!
What’s your experience as a Saxon Weald resident been like?
Whenever we’ve had any issues, they’ve always been fixed quickly. We’ve been lucky to never need anything other than minor repairs, but anything that’s needed sorting, HomeFix has been there right away. So, we’ve never had a bad experience. Communications have also always been great.
Has anything or has any team in particular stood out to you over the years?
A few years back we had a dispute regarding our fence. We were supported by our housing manager at the time who really helped us to manage this. She personally attended to look at the problem which we appreciated. When you have an issue to do with your home, it can have an impact on your life. Some people may see it as something minor, but to us it was quite a big deal. So, it was nice to receive a personal touch and feel like our issue mattered.
What’s your favourite part of your home?
Definitely the garden! I love my greenhouse with my little tomatoes and cucumbers, and being able to sit outside, read a book and have a cup of coffee. It’s really peaceful. You hear the dogs and birds and children, but they are all the noises that are meant to be there! Apart from the structure, none of our garden was here before. We did everything ourselves and we’ve thoroughly enjoyed the labour of love!
How has today’s community day helped you?
Chatting with people who work for Saxon Weald is really nice as it gives an insight into the other side. It makes you feel like you’re more than just a tenant and you matter. So, talking to us makes a difference. The service being provided today, like clearing rubbish, also really makes a difference for people like us who are busy and don’t necessarily have chance to make an appointment at the tip to get rid of it. Even the few bits that you’ve cleared today is appreciated.
Is there anything we could do in the future to make community days even better?
This is the first one I’ve heard of, but it would be nice to see these more frequently. You may not always know who to call with an issue, but having chance to speak with someone in person gives you the chance to talk things through and discuss things that you may not have thought of before!
When it comes to your home, how would you describe your style and décor?
We’re quite minimalistic and rustic, if they work together at the same time! We don’t like clutter and prefer things to be simple and natural. Lots of wood and natural things!
And finally, what does a home mean to you?
My home is my sanctuary, my safe place. It’s where I feel safe and happy.
