Jo Banks put together a PowerPoint presentation to help convince husband Trevor to move into their first family home on Mt Albert’s prestigious Summit Drive.
So, when they discovered an even better house on the same street, you can be sure that not even the fact it was initially withdrawn from the market was going to discourage her.
Jo says: “I had my heart set on it. I kept a picture of the house up on my wall and visualised living there, even imagining where our furniture would go.”
When its owners decided they were definitely ready to sell a year later, Jo and Trevor snapped it up as an enduring home for them and their two sons.
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Trevor says: “We had walked past this address so many times and I had always wondered what lay behind the end of that tree-lined driveway. When we finally went there, we found a gorgeous character villa which was like a slice of Fiji with its lovely pool and palm trees.
“It certainly had the wow factor, with the house opening to the pool, expansive decks, pool house and stunning garden. It just had everything we could ever want for our two boys, who were aged 12 and 8 then.”
That was 14 years ago. Sons grown, the couple are now relocating to Arrowtown, and this fantastic property is available for sale.
An early 1900s-character villa, the then previous owners extended and renovated it for modern living, adding the pool, decks and poolhouse. Set on a generous 1012sqm, this home offers the very best in indoor-outdoor flow and is extremely private.
The vendors, who bought the 1900s-character villa 14 years ago, have meticulously maintained the property. Photo / Supplied
The living-dining-modernised kitchen opens wide to outdoors. Photo / Supplied
Fully fenced with CCTV, it is ideal for families zoned for well-regarded Gladstone Primary and MAGs.
During the Banks family tenure, it became a magnet for their sons’ friends, water polo in the pool (solar and gas heating options), football on the astroturf and sleepover parties in the two-storey poolhouse.
In later years, both sons have lived in the poolhouse which is a special versatile space that suits guests, a separate income stream or a home office. The poolhouse deck offers a stunning vista across the property.
This property offers many unique features. The living-dining-modernised kitchen opens wide to outdoors, as does the main bedroom which has its own ensuite, office and walk-in wardrobe.
Two of the three other bedrooms in the main house also open to the outdoors with a large fourth bedroom, family bathroom and laundry completing the main home’s layout. There’s a cinema style projector plus surround sound in the living area, a gas fire and underfloor central heating throughout the home.
Set on 1012sqm, the home offers the best in indoor-outdoor flow and is extremely private. Photo / Supplied
Three of the four bedrooms open to the outdoors. Photo / Supplied
Outside the tropical garden includes many native and palm trees including a circa 100-year-old palm, over 30m high, which is a well-known neighbourhood landmark. Native birds are a common sight with kereru, tuis, fantails, and the occasional owl as visitors to the many trees and the fishpond and waterfall feature.
Tiling around the pool, driveway and back patio is by Morris & James and extensive outdoor lighting adds to this home, being perfect for entertaining.
While they are saddened to leave the property, Jo and Trevor are keen to see another family enjoy this house as much as they have and feel they are leaving the property “with nothing left to do”.
Bayleys agent Kris Bright says: “This home has clearly been the backdrop to 14 years of family life and unforgettable memories. Its privacy, established grounds and indoor-outdoor flow create a sense of calm that’s incredibly hard to find this close to the city.”
1A Summit Drive in Mount Albert, Auckland, goes to auction on March 4.
- Sponsored by Bayleys
