NEAREST SCHOOLS:
Pokeno Primary, Pukekohe High School.
CONTACT:
Mark Fourie, Bayleys, 021 349 530.
TENDER:
Closes 4pm, April 26 (unless sold prior).
It took two years for Sharon and Peter Robertson to find this piece of land to build their four-bedroom home that they would run as a B&B.
The 7ha property at Bombay has access to the motorway north and south, making it easy for travellers to get to the Robertsons' home.
Their 300m long concrete driveway leads out to Jimeda Rd and up to Nikau Rd and then on to SH1.
"It is probably just over a kilometre to the motorway. I like going to work in Ramarama, I am on the motorway in two minutes, my husband works in Manukau City," says Sharon.
The couple had bought the bare land 21 years ago when they were living in Glenbrook. They built the home in 2004 and moved in during January 2005.
"We built it with the intention of running it as a bed and breakfast lodge, hence it has four bedrooms with four en suites. And a large kitchen and scullery. But it could easily be a family home," she says.
This is the second home they have lived in, in 44 years, and Peter has designed both. "He did the plans and then took them to council. He is good at doing that," says Sharon.
The exterior is brick and Palliside, the windows aluminium, all chosen for their low-maintenance characteristics.
The home has two levels. Macrocarpa stairs lead up to the second level, which has Peter and Sharon's bedroom with a large balcony, en suite and walk-in wardrobe.
41 Jimeda Road, Bombay. Photo / Supplied
On the ground level are the main living areas with the kitchen, lounge and dining all open plan and with access to outside, the laundry, office, three bedrooms and the internal entry three-car garage.
A double-sided wood burner keeps this area toasty warm during the coolest months, and the three downstairs bedrooms (all with en suites) have heat pumps.
"My favourite part is the kitchen, being me," says Sharon. "It is a lovely big kitchen and the scullery is amazing.
"I use the scullery for preparing everything. The dishes are done out there so the mess is out there.
"All the utensils, the toaster, the cake mixer, the whizzer, everything is stored in the scullery and easily accessible with big bench spaces."
The two bedrooms at the front of the house have access to the outdoors and the one at the back is a family room and wheelchair-friendly.
41 Jimeda Road, Bombay. Photo / Supplied
"We have a ramp outside because we have had wheelchair guests," says Sharon.
There are ranch sliders in the lounge and in the dining room. The kitchen has bifold windows that open outside.
"We wanted this to be like a family home for our guests, to feel comfortable," says Sharon. "And we wanted a kitchen that was large and easy to work in.
"In our visitors' book the one thing that keeps coming through is the hospitality and how comfortable they feel.
"Our bedroom can accommodate a little lounge area but we prefer to stay down in the lounge and talk to the guests.
"They can join us in the lounge and the dining room. Before they go out to dinner they can join us for a wine or a beer or have a cup of tea. I've always got muffins or some sort of cake.
41 Jimeda Road, Bombay. Photo / Supplied
"We get a lot of guests from the airport who stay here because it is out of the rush of town. It is peaceful and quiet, they get on the motorway and they head south for their holiday. It is very accessible."
The couple are moving because they are in their 60s and have decided it's time to sell.
"We have a place at Whangamata and will slow down a bit. We also do spit cooking for a living and we get busy with that."
She thinks their home would be ideal for a family or for a farming couple wanting to retire but still have enough land to graze some stock.
"It is a family house; it is big and roomy.
"I will miss sitting talking to people about their countries and what is happening in their part of the world. We have had the most magnificent people - wonderful and kind-hearted."
