Worth The Wait

Patience was a virtue for James and Sarah Ainsworth when it came to finding their new home in the countryside.

- Jennifer Goulding

When James and Sarah Ainsworth were househunting for their new home in Dorset, they decided to rent while they searched for their new property. ‘We were relocating from London and weren’t familiar with the area,’ says James. ‘Past mistakes had taught us to wait for the right house. Our home is very important to us.’

The couple’s choice of rental property allowed them to fine-tune their wish list. ‘It came with outbuildings, 27 acres of land and no immediate neighbours,’ says James. ‘After living there for a while, we realised it wasn’t right for us. Yes, we wanted peace and quiet, but we also wanted to be near shops and within walking distance of our daughters’ school.’

It took a year for the family to find their new home, which is tucked away in a peaceful cul-de-sac in a quiet part of town. ‘On paper, it didn’t meet any of our criteria, but the agent suggested we look at it anyway,’ says James. ‘I suppose you just don’t know what you want until you see it and, as we liked the feel of the house, we decided to go ahead.’