Michelle’s First Impressions of Homewood Grove

We were recently invited to visit a retirement village in Chertsey and we had no idea what to expect. But we loved every moment of our 24-hour stay. In this post, I’m sharing what life in a retirement village can really be like, a few thoughts on when and how to make such an important decision, and an overview of the facilities on offer at Homewood Grove.

​As you know, I’ll be 60 later this year and my husband will be 62 in the summer, so we’re right at the beginning of our own retirement journey. Rangeford Villages retirement properties are available to buy for anyone aged 60+ and there’s no sense of being ‘too young’ or ‘too old’. In fact, we met a lovely lady in her early 60s who’s still working and running her own business and she absolutely loves the lifestyle it gives her (more on that later).
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So if you’ve ever wondered what retirement village living might look like in real life, read on.

First impressions of arriving at Homewood Grove

Visitors and owners all arrive via a wide driveway and the village is enclosed by an old wall from its previous life as part of the walled garden of the former hospital grounds, which gives it character from the moment you pull in. There’s plenty of parking, with owners’ and visitors’ spaces clearly marked, and it’s a short, easy stroll to the main reception.  There’s also lots of disabled parking and a drop-off zone right by the entrance, so it feels very well thought out.

Walking into the reception was a joy.  It’s modern, light and bright and it felt more like a five-star apart-hotel than anything I’d usually associate with ‘retirement living’.  We were welcomed by friendly staff and immediately offered a cup of tea, which was perfect. The main reception area leads into the restaurant and bar, plus a private dining room, the owners’ lounge and doors out onto a sunny, beautifully cared-for patio and one of the gardens that wrap around the village. There’s even an old brick ice house, another little nod to the history of the village.  Outside space is super important to me so I loved the bright feeling of letting outside in and we made sure to make use of the patio for a drink later in the day.

Homewood Grove sits within a larger new housing development of stylish executive homes, and there’s a relaxed, welcoming community feel. Local residents can use the restaurant and spa facilities too, although owners are still given priority, which is a fair balance (although this will probably change once all the apartments are fully occupied).

We sat with a cup of tea and a homemade biscuit and chatted to James Grundy, the Village Manager, and it turned out we’d met before. He used to own our favourite boutique hotel in Bath, Grays, which was just a stone’s throw from Norland College, and we stayed there quite a few times when visiting Bath. Such a small world.

For our stay at Homewood Grove, we were shown to one of the show apartments and it really was impressive: two bedrooms, two bathrooms, beautifully spacious, with stunning interiors and a layout that felt perfect for later life. If we ever bought one, I’d be very tempted to buy it exactly as shown, fixtures, fittings, furniture and all. How amazing would it be to move straight into something finished properly, with no mismatched pieces or leftover clutter to deal with?
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After dropping off our suitcases, we were given a tour of the village and had the chance to look inside a few of the other apartments too, including the one designed by Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen. They were all absolutely stunning.  We especially loved one of the larger apartments with a vaulted ceiling and another one with doors opening onto a quiet garden at the back of the village.

Scroll to the bottom to see some fabulous interior photos of the apartments!

The location in Chertsey and the local area

The location of Homewood Grove feels calm and tucked away, but you’re not cut off either.  Chertsey is close by for day-to-day bits and pieces, and you’re within easy reach of bigger towns too, so it’s a location that gives lots of options.  The village offers a convenient shuttle service and there are regular trips to local shops and places nearby.  Plus if you need a little bit of extra support there is a driver available too, so you don’t have to rely on family or taxis for medical appointments or similar.  There’s even an electric car available on loan!

Overall, the village offers a quiet, peaceful setting with lots of green space but with practical ways to stay independent and connected to the wider community.  There are plans to involve local groups in social activities within the village and visitors are welcome to book the restaurant, pop in for lunch or hire out the facilities.

The apartments – for over 60s

There are 114 apartments at Homewood Grove and each one has been thoughtfully designed. There are one, two and three-bedroom homes available to buy across three floors, with full disabled access throughout, including lifts, wide hallways, wider doorways and secure entry.

The ground floor apartments have private patio areas opening onto communal gardens, while the first and second floor apartments have spacious balconies.  The gardens all have seating, so you can enjoy them with family, friends or other owners if you wish.

The specification is very high with level-access, walk-in showers, neutral décor and carpets in the bedrooms and hallway.  There’s also a 24-hour emergency support system, plus video and audio door entry for added peace of mind. Heating is thermostatically controlled in each room and every apartment has underfloor heating.  There is also a lot of storage space with fitted wardrobes (some apartments have a walk-in wardrobe) and large hall cupboards.

We were genuinely impressed. My husband works in building services and construction and even he commented on how good the specification is.
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And importantly, nothing about the apartments makes you ‘feel old’. They’re modern, stylish and calm, but with the unobtrusive, practical details that make life easier as the years go on.

Homewood Grove has that five-star hotel feel, but there is still a real sense of home when you open your own front door.  Even the communal hallways are warm and cared for, with carpets and beautiful touches like quality furniture, lamps and plants that make everything feel welcoming and cosy.

The community spaces and facilities

This is a big one, and probably the most important part when you’re deciding whether a retirement village is right for you. Once you close your apartment door, it’s your private space, your home and you don’t need to talk to anyone if you don’t want to.  But having a community on your doorstep, whenever you feel like it, can make such a difference, especially when it comes to the worry of loneliness as we get older.

The communal areas at Homewood Grove are genuinely impressive, but they don’t feel like an ‘older person’s community’.  We joined a Race Night in the restaurant and it was full of all ages: toddlers, children, teenagers and adults, all joining in with family members who own apartments.  It was such a fun evening – but we won absolutely nothing!!

Facilities that stood out for us include:
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• Restaurant, bar and lounge (as well as a private dining room / snooker room).
• Outdoor terrace with village green.
• Outdoor seating including shaded areas.
• Swimming pool, sauna and steam room plus gym and exercise studio (with regular classes available).
• Hair and beauty salon and treatment room with a full range of services.
• Owners lounge and cinema room.
• Village shop open for essentials.
• Guest suite for friends and family.
• Raised allotments and a gardening club.

There are also plans for a workshed, and currently under construction is a ‘Bark Park’ for dog walking (which will be fully accessible for mobility scooters).
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I had a thoroughly relaxing massage in the treatment room and later we went for a swim, which was just lovely.

The practicalities, monthly fees and ease of moving 

Michael and I spent a bit of time getting our heads around the practicalities and the costs, and we chatted to both James (the Village Manager) and Susie (on the Sales team). First, there’s the cost of buying your apartment. If you have a property to sell, help is available and the sales team can also support you with the realities of moving, downsizing and decluttering, which is often the hardest part.  I know the thought of it overwhelms me.

The next big financial consideration is the monthly community fee. This covers the day-to-day and long-term management of the village, including staffing, maintenance and looking after the communal buildings and gardens. The community fee has two parts: a regular monthly amount and a lump sum payable on purchase or resale. What we appreciated is that there are flexible options, including the ability to defer some of the cost, depending on what works best for you financially.  

Rangeford Villages includes a lot as standard, which is impressive. The community fee covers things such as:
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• 24-hour emergency support.
• Village manager and the support teams.
• Concierge-like transport.
• Wellbeing activities such as exercise classes, health checks, nutrition advice.
• A serviced guest suite for family and friends to rent.
• Subsidised food and beverages plus courtesy newspapers.
• External window cleaning.
• Resale agency service.
• And more!

There are also additional services available, and I thought these were especially reassuring. Things like personal care, medication management, companionship visits, help with meals and drinks, shopping and paying bills, IT help, cleaning, laundry and ironing. These are all areas I’ve had to think about with my own dad, and it’s a huge comfort to know support like this is there when you need it, rather than scrambling to organise it in a crisis.
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It’s definitely the kind of decision you really must talk through with family or a trusted close friend before you commit. It’s a big move, and you want it to feel right, both emotionally and financially.

If you’re not sure whether it’s quite right for you, prospective buyers are invited to stay at Homewood Grove before making a final decision, so you can experience life in a retirement village for yourself.

Who is a retirement village ideal for?

There isn’t one ‘right age’ to make a move like this.  We met the lady in her early 60s who’d moved in while still working and is loving the lifestyle, and we also met an 84 year old gentleman who said the timing felt perfect for him too. It really is personal.

​But if you’re wondering whether a retirement village could suit you (or someone you love), here are a few signs it might be a good fit:

• You want to futureproof your next move rather than wait for a health scare or a crisis to force your hand.
• You like the idea of a smaller, easier home with less maintenance, less worry and more time back.
• You want independence, but with support quietly in the background if you ever need it.
• You’d enjoy having facilities on your doorstep such as a restaurant, gym, pool, classes and gardens.
• You want the option of community without obligation. Close your door and you’re in your own world, but step out and there’s company if you fancy it.
• You’re thinking about loneliness later on and want to stay connected and socially active in an easy, natural way.
• You’re ready to simplify life, downsizing, decluttering, freeing up headspace and energy.
• You don’t want to rely on family for everything, especially for lifts, appointments or day-to-day practical support.
• You want to stay in control of your choices while you feel well and confident enough to choose what’s right for you.

And just as important – it might not be for you if you prefer being quite remote, want complete separation from neighbours, or you know you’d never use the communal spaces at all (because part of the value is having them there, even if you only dip in occasionally).

Throughout our visit we thought about our own circumstances and about my dad (he will be 89 in August) as well as younger family, my sister-in-law in her mid-70s for example.  Our conclusion … read on!

Our thoughts on retirement village living

We were honestly really impressed with the facilities and the design. There are a couple of things that would bother us right now (at around 60) like not having a private garden, and my husband definitely isn’t ready to give up his big garage and workshop. But we also loved the spacious apartments and that five-star hotel feel. Having a swimming pool, gym and fitness classes all in the same building is hugely appealing too, and we really liked the location, the gardens and the outdoor space. We also enjoyed the community feel, especially with younger generations coming and going.
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One of the loveliest conversations we had was with a younger resident who told us she’d been on holiday to an all-inclusive hotel in the UK and found herself saying to friends, ‘I could live like this full-time.’ When she got home she started looking into it, found Homewood Grove and decided to go for it. She was so positive about her decision. She lives with her partner, their dog, and her grandson stays over regularly. They all love getting involved in the events.

I also spoke to an older lady who’d moved out of London. She admitted she’d worried about the monthly community fee at first, but decided deferring it was the right option for her, and she now says it’s one of the best decisions she’s ever made. Her sister was visiting when we were there, and they both loved having the guest suite available for family.
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And one more thing worth mentioning: Homewood Grove is dog-friendly. Owners are very welcome to bring pets with them, and the Bark Park gives that away. It’s designed for real life, not a version of life where you’re expected to give everything up.​

The overall feedback was that everyone we spoke to said they wished they’d moved sooner.

There’s never a perfect time to make a move like this, and I do think we’re still a bit behind in the UK when it comes to seeing retirement villages as a normal, positive option. They are far more established in places like the US and New Zealand.

The visit certainly left us with a lot to think about. There were so many positives and having had a difficult ten years with my own parents, I couldn’t help wondering whether something like this might have made life easier for them.

My mum is 82 now and has had Alzheimer’s for most of the last decade. She’s been living in a care home for six years. Would things have been different if my parents had moved into a retirement village earlier, while they were still both managing? It’s impossible to know, but I do wonder.  One of the big turning points for mum was her ‘running away’ so maybe an apartment with secure entry, plus support close by, might have allowed her to stay at home with my dad for longer.  And for my dad, who now needs more help at home, having support available to build up gradually as needed would have been invaluable. But financially it’s complicated, as mum’s care is funded while dad still occupies the family home, and at nearly 89 it feels a little late to be making a big move.

Would we consider it ourselves? Not yet, but I can definitely see it as something we’d think about.  From chatting to staff and owners, it seems that many people start considering it in their 70s but everyone is different. There was the lady we met in her mid-60s who’s still working but loving the lifestyle, and a gentleman in his mid-80s who said the timing was perfect for him too.

Our biggest takeaway is that it’s very individual and depends on what you want your next chapter to look like.  Certainly, part of our own discussions has included whether we might one day want to move into a close-knit community… we currently live a little more remotely, without suitable facilities on our doorstep or within immediate walking distance.  Marlow is 5 to 10 minutes away by car.  Whereas my dad in Beaconsfield benefits from being able to access community facilities (doctor, pharmacy, church, shops etc) using his mobility scooter.

And I do know this: I’d rather live in a retirement village with help on hand than be in a care home. I’d still like my own front door, but with the reassurance of knowing someone is close by.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on retirement villages. Is it something you have any experience of?

Do take a look at what Rangeford Villages offer, they have different villages throughout the UK as well as Homewood Grove in Chertsey.

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