In 2015 they bought a plot of land at Broughton, near Preston and building work on Cherry Tree Cottage started two years later.

When what they describe as their ‘forever home’ was nearing completion they realised that they needed expert help.

That’s where Murton & Co came in. The firm had been recommended to the couple by another trusted tradesperson and Managing Director Jonny immediately made a favourable impression.

“We liked Jonny instantly when we met him,” said Eileen, 68. “He was a nice, caring, informative guy and very professional.”

Murton & Co always advises that Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) calculations – needed to analyse the property’s energy consumption and ensure a building complies with stringent building regulations – are carried out at the design stage of any development, as this saves time and money over the course of the project. In this case initial SAP calculations had been carried out by an assessor but that person had since moved companies. It was agreed that, even though the house was nearing completion, Murton & Co would start the SAPs process again from scratch.

The couple, who have been married for 31 years, had project managed the building of two of their former homes but the last one had been back in 1994 and these days there are far more rules and regulations to be met.

“We needed expertise on that,” said Eric, 71. “Having Murton & Co involved took a lot of pressure off as the technical side of things were taken care of.”

And Eileen added: “We felt right from the start that Murton & Co understood our needs.”

Jonny liaised with the heating engineer installing the home’s air source heat pump and gave the couple advice about applying for the Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive, which gives financial incentives to domestic properties that install renewable heating systems.

The air source heat pump was an MCS approved, newly manufactured product but was not on the SAP database.This caused delays at the end of the project in getting the Building Control Officer to sign off the building works. So Jonny suggested Eric and Eileen apply for a temporary occupation order. It was successful and they were able to move into Cherry Tree Cottage earlier than would otherwise have been possible.

“Jonny excelled in advising us which certificates we needed to comply with the various regulations,” said Eileen. “The company kept us informed throughout the project. A lot of people like emails but I find it necessary to actually speak to people and they were always available at the end of the ‘phone to answer any queries. Nothing was too much trouble for them, which made us feel reassured.”

The couple are delighted with their new detached home, which includes a light and airy open-plan lounge, dining area and kitchen, as well as three bedrooms, each with en suite facilities. The house has a lovely garden and the garage roof features seven energy-saving solar panels. Eric and Eileen are happy living in what they call a ‘nice, friendly community’.

As Eric put it: “The completion of the house means we feel settled and can enjoy our retirement here.”

And they cannot speak highly enough of Murton & Co and the help the company provided. “I think the key words I would use are professional, approachable and caring,” said Eileen. “I would highly recommend them.”