When Georgia and Nick were looking for their first home, this freehold Te Atatu 1960s one hit the sweet spot.
Georgia, who works in marketing, says: “We weren’t keen to buy a new build and having flatted around Mt Eden and Grey Lynn wanted to live somewhere with a community vibe, not too far out.
“We bought here in early 2018 and it’s only about 15 minutes off-peak into the central city or Ponsonby and it’s an easy bus ride to the CBD. Changes had been made to it along the way so it wasn’t in original condition but there was still a lot of potential to improve it.”
Nick now has his own company manufacturing bio acoustic devices for wildlife. But he’s a qualified landscaper so tidying up the 506sqm level grounds and adding a west-facing deck to capture afternoon sun were obvious improvements.
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“We were here for about 18 months and really enjoyed the area but we were at that age that we wanted to do the overseas thing.”
They easily found good tenants for their home while they lived in Sydney and London. When the couple returned home about a year ago they undertook more substantial renovations.
Their home, one property back from the road, has an oversized separate single garage providing additional storage space for belongings such as their bikes, bolstered by open-air parking. The quartet of ficus tuffy trees they’ve planted along the front of the house adds charm, as does the front door they’ve painted navy, complementing the residence’s soft blue exterior.
They’ve added pool fencing along the side of the home to corral their dog Henry. They throw balls for him on the level lawn in front of the garage, where there is a raised vegetable garden and feijoa tree.
The three-bedroom, one-bathroom house has a 90sqm floor plan on a compact 506sqm section one back from the road. Photo / Supplied
The level lawn in front of the garage has a raised vegetable garden and feijoa tree. Photo / Supplied
Entry is into a generous area which used to be a separate living room, dining room and kitchen, which they’ve made open-plan. It showcases beautifully the original polished native timber floors they suspect to be tawa.
When they bought here the kitchen was fairly basic with formica benchtops, a separate freestanding stove and drawers which stuck. They’ve replaced it with a smart kitset kitchen with new integrated appliances, oak-look benches and new wood-look laminate flooring.
The kitchen harbours the laundry at one end which they’ve smartly integrated with a new benchtop and sink. A kitchen door opens out to the deck.
“We love the back deck, which is pretty private, having barbecues with friends out there or even morning coffee.”
They sometimes work from home so have used one of the three bedrooms at the other end of the home as an office. There’s also a renovated bathroom, which includes a bath, and a separate toilet.
The first-home owners installed a smart kitset kitchen with new integrated appliances, oak-look benches and new wood-look laminate flooring. Photo / Supplied
Ray White listing agent Shaun Vaughan says: “Solid and set in a great Te Atatū pocket, it’s move-in ready and good to go.” Photo / Supplied
The home has a new switchboard and its interior has been painted throughout with soft and natural looking white Dulux Cardrona.
They’re less than 100 metres’ walk from Te Atatu South Park, under 1km from Edmonton Primary School, 300 metres from Rangeview Intermediate and 3km from Henderson High School. It’s easy for them to nip to Te Atatu Peninsula’s cafes and off-leash dog park or to check out WestCity Mall or Westgate.
The couple have been very happy here but are selling as they want to move to a different area of Auckland to be closer to family and friends.
Ray White agent Shaun Vaughan says: “This home has served the vendors well, now it’s ready for its new owners. Solid and set in a great Te Atatū pocket, it’s move-in ready and good to go.”
27 Essex Street in Te Atatu South, Waitakere, Auckland, is for sale by deadline, closing July 30.
- Sponsored by Ray White
