KEY POINTS:
Sue Doherty knows her home has a lot going for it. After living with her family in this apartment for 20 months, she appreciates its quietness, top quality fittings and great position so close to the Remuera shops. Sons Ben, 17, Alex, 15, and Joel, 4, make full use of the complex's tennis court and swimming pool.
With two living areas and four bedrooms inside the 255 sq m floor space, there's plenty of room for everyone indoors, too.
Sue is a tenant in the apartment, but she's also the real estate agent selling it on behalf of her landlords, Jane and Neil Haines. "But if they weren't selling it, we'd be staying on indefinitely," she says.
Built in 2000, the apartment complex is set down a long driveway, well away from road noise and traffic. Apartment five is on the second level of the three-level solid masonry building, which houses seven apartments in total.
The building is kept in immaculate condition by its body corporate. "It's an awesome body corp. They even vacuum the car park," Sue says.
Jane Haines concurs on how well the building is taken care of. She bought apartment five in 2003, during a trip back to Auckland when her family was living in Indonesia. When she and Neil returned to New Zealand a couple of years later with daughters Lucy, now 9, and Kate, 8, they moved in.
"It's so convenient. The building manager will collect the mail while you're away. They'll put out your rubbish and recycling and even water your pot plants."
Young Kate has fond memories of what the apartment's location offers. "I used to go to the library a lot as it's only across the road."
The controlled entrance to the apartment building leads to an elegant foyer, from where you can go up via a lift or stairs. Once inside the front door of apartment five, your eye is drawn along the jarrah-floored hall through to the large formal living room beyond and the north-facing balcony and its leafy view outside.
Immediately inside the front door is a guest powder room, while along the hall are bedrooms and the tiled main bathroom, which has a bath. There are also three large storage cupboards, which in addition to a storage unit downstairs, mean there's always room for everything.
The L-shaped hall leads to a full-size, separate laundry, as well as the highly specified kitchen and an informal living area. This is turn connects to the formal living room which is also large enough to house a dining area. "You could put your dining table where we have our informal living. It would work equally as well," Sue says. She speaks very highly of the kitchen, which has a granite benchtop. "It has all the bells and whistles, including a rubbish compactor."
The master bedroom suite, which is separate from the other bedrooms, has a balcony and walk-in wardrobe, as well as a large bathroom, complete with spa bath and double basins.
The apartment has ducted heating, air-conditioning and a feature gas fireplace in the living room. "This is a very easy place to heat. It's always warm in winter," Jane says. "And in summer you can be out on the balcony or down by the pool, listening to the native birds in the trees."
5/456 Remuera Road, Remuera
Size: 255sq m.
Price indication: Interest expected above $1.7 million. Auction November 21.
Contact: Sue Doherty, Ray White, ph 520 9100, 021 667 758.
Inspect: Sat/Sun 12-12.30pm. Visitor parking available down the driveway.
On the web: www.nz.open2view.com
School zones: Victoria Ave Primary, Remuera Intermediate, Auckland Grammar, Epsom Girls Grammar.
Features: Spacious, quality apartment in block of seven. Use of pool, tennis court and gym. Solid masonry construction with north-facing balcony. Feature gas fireplace, air conditioning and ducted heating. Visitor parking, secure undercover parking with storage locker. Easy walk to Remuera village.
