Geoff Hammond
“My father Victor was in his late eighties when he moved to Bennett Lodge in 2014. He downsized from a small village where he’d become a bit isolated, so being in the heart of Wimborne was great for him. He made friends, played golf every week, and would regularly go into town for a coffee.
“I live at the other end of the country, so it was reassuring for me to know that Dad was living somewhere safe, with all the amenities close by and help on hand if he ever needed it. He remained an active member of the Bennett Lodge community until he sadly passed away in 2023 at the age of 96, having spent nine happy years there.
“Once probate eventually came through for his apartment, we decided to put it on the market with Churchill Sales & Lettings, as we could see that they understood the market and would be best placed to sell the benefits of the retirement living lifestyle as well as the property itself.
“We felt that the Churchill team were utterly professional and helpful throughout, and Caroline the Lodge Manager was absolutely superb. They gave us good support, helpful advice, and secured a good level of interest from potential buyers. In fact we had a sale agreed within just a couple of months of putting the apartment on the market.
“Unfortunately due to market factors beyond anyone’s control, including a couple of chain breaks, it took a while to complete the sale. However, we eventually got there and achieved the full asking price of £380k which represented a good increase on the £325k we had originally paid for the apartment. On completing the sale I was also delighted to learn that Churchill had scrapped the 1% exit fee which would previously have been payable. This is a very positive move and should be applauded.
“Although I was pleased to achieve a good price on the resale, we had never gone into the original purchase thinking about making any money on it. It was more about helping Dad to make the most of his later years, ensuring he could enjoy his independence and taking the worry away for all of us. Churchill certainly helped achieve that, and completing a positive sale was the icing on the cake at the end of a very positive experience for all of us.”