Henderson Valley: Villa thriller

10 Opanuku Rd, Henderson Valley

CV: $445,000.

Sold for: $541,000.

Sold by: Paul Peach and Rex Gilbert, Harcourts Henderson, ph 838 0921.

Falling in love can happen fast. Jenny and Warwick, the new owners of the Queenslander style house in Henderson Valley had no intention of moving. But they were intrigued by the look of the renovated 80-year-old house, featured in Heraldhomes on May 21, looked at it on the Tuesday and bought it the following Saturday.

"We've always been villa people, which we've done up ourselves," says Jenny. "We walked into this and it just felt like home - but nothing needs doing. Although I might have fun playing with the landscaping with all that garden."

With Warwick away on a business trip, Jenny braved the auction herself with her father as support. She was determined the house would be theirs, already envisaging where the trampoline and tree house for the kids would go on the 1561sq m site.

Husband Warwick is a chef, so the professional quality kitchen drew his attention. The couple love entertaining and think the wide wrap-around verandahs are unbeatable. They are large enough for dining, with plenty of options to shelter from Auckland's fickle winds and rainy summer evenings. The bedrooms opening off the verandahs also won the villa-lovers' hearts. And after doing up seven houses together, Jenny and Warwick are delighted someone else has done all the hard work this time.

The couple have not lived in the Henderson Valley area, but like the neighbourly feel, the appeal of the school and their handiness to family in the area.