Added Value

24 Woodbine Avenue, Greenlane. 

 Tucked away in a winding back street behind Greenlane's busy car yards is the house that time forgot. Untouched by paintbrush or hammer for almost three decades, it presents an unwelcoming face to the world, but for all its appearance of decay and neglect, 24 Woodbine Ave is as sound structurally as the day it was built 60 years ago. Mouldy paint and giant privet notwithstanding, here is a house that wants nothing more than a lot of love, hard work and a medium sized renovation budget.

Owner Jennifer French passed away about six months ago after living there alone with only two large cats for company. Upon her death, the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind and the Brian Injury Association of New Zealand found themselves to be the recipients of an unexpected windfall. Miss French had specified in her will that the proceeds of the sale of her home were to be divided between them, although she had had no prior contact with either organisation to anyone's knowledge. As Harley Pope of the latter organisation expresses it, "We are so grateful. This is like money from heaven. There are in excess of 55 people per week in New Zealand suffering a brain injury, and money like this will do wonderful things in giving support to our members and their families."

Geoff Warne from RNZFB is equally delighted. "This is an extremely generous bequest -we have to raise $15m per year to provide services for our members and this year as usual it's proving very difficult. This will go some way towards meeting our goals."

Bayleys Remuera was asked by Tina Wilson, of Wilson McKay, the solicitors handling the estate, to market the property, as Bayleys is the principal sponsor of Guide Dog Services. John Lantz, from the Bayleys Remuera office, has even got down on his hands and knees to rip up old carpet revealing the untouched beauty of the heart matai floorboards, and he has organised workmen to clear waist-high weeds from the garden and pathways. What is now revealed is a strong little house, true in every detail to the time it was built, and ready for a new lease of life. It has three bedrooms and a sunny east-facing rear living area still in surprisingly good condition, and the kitchen, bathroom and laundry facilities, while needing major work, are generous in size and lend themselves to an easy repositioning as part of a renovation project. The home's buyer will have a head start on the bathroom renovation after Clearlite Bathrooms donated a basin, vanity unit, toilet and bath with overhead shower to help the sale, following an approach from John Lantz.

In both Cornwall Park Primary and Remuera Intermediate school zones, the house may be seen as an entry level opportunity to create a cosy family home, complete with a generous backyard for the children to play in. Others might see it as bare land in a position so handy to transport links north and south that it calls out to have their dream home erected on it. Whatever is around the corner for the house in Woodbine Ave, there might soon be lolloping guide dog puppies named Jenny and French keeping the memory alive of a quiet little lady who lived out her days in the house that time forgot.

Vital Statistics

SIZE: Land 683sq m, house 106sq m.

PRICE INDICATION: CV (2002) $295,000. Auction September 7.

INSPECT: Wed and Sun 1pm-1.45pm or by appointment.

CONTACT: John Lantz, Bayleys Remuera, ph 520 8888 bus, 027 543 3224 mob.

FEATURES: Exceptional opportunity to add value. Traditional bungalow with original features intact in an area handy to transport links, the Ellerslie Racecourse and in good school zones.