CONTACT:
Sarah Garlick, 021 146 1565, or Estee Zeng, 021 911 412, Barfoot & Thompson.
AUCTION:
10am, Dec 8.
Tom Harrison and Mel Utatao have never had a problem renting out their second-level apartment in Parnell's Heather Rd.
In fact, they have never been without a tenant in the four years they have owned the freehold unit.
"It has been really easy to rent. We have been lucky to have only one tenant change in the four years," says Tom, who puts that down to a number of factors.
One is the location. Parnell is central, handy to the CBD, close to a range of cafes and shops, and the Link bus stop is just across the road.
Also, the 93sq m northeast apartment having three bedrooms opens it up to a wider range of suitable tenants.
It's ideal for young workers willing to share the rent and other living costs. The number of bedrooms also appeals to young families or older professionals or retirees who have downsized but want to have extra bedrooms should visitors come to stay.
The couple bought with the intention of renting the apartment out as they live in Melbourne now.
Theirs is one of 22 apartments in the concrete boutique building.
Tom likes the character of the building, having been converted to apartments in about 2005. "It's like a retrofitted office building, with old floorboards. It's not your standard apartment block.
"It has a bit more character, a bit more room and the high ceilings."
When they bought the apartment, the layout was best described as having two and a half bedrooms, he says. They made a few cosmetic changes, including cribbing back some wasted space in the corridors to make the smallest bedroom larger. All bedrooms now easily take queen-sized beds.
18/30 Heather Rd, Parnell. Pictures/Supplied
The apartment's layout has the entrance leading to a hallway with one bedroom on the right, a bathroom with bath on the left, and the second bedroom.
Turning right from the hallway there is a third bedroom, then the kitchen, with breakfast bar, sharing the open plan space with the dining and lounge areas.
The deck is accessed through a glass slider door off the lounge, looking out to the greenery of neighbouring Fraser Park.
"The apartment pretty much gets all-day sun," says Tom.
The sale includes a carpark on site. And being in a double grammar zone means it is a few minutes' drive to motorway on-ramps, the city and Newmarket, and within walking distance of the city centre, universities, the Domain and Parnell village.
The couple has enjoyed a stress-free run while they have owned the apartment, which is on the market as Tom and Mel are building a home in Melbourne and also want to have a place in the country.
Tom imagines the property will appeal to a young family starting out who want a place that is close to the central city.
