SCHOOL ZONES:
Everglade School, Manurewa High School.
CONTACT:
Ann Lereculey, 021 976 136, and Phil Sulusulu, 021 976 137, Harcourts.
AUCTION:
Onsite, noon Sunday, May 14 (unless sold prior).
*PLUS OFF-STREET
A couple with a travel agency went hunting for a home with stellar views and found one, complete with the ability to check out if planes are arriving on time in the distance.
Kathy Coley says: "This house is very spacious but the No.1 thing people comment on is its panoramic views.
"We still marvel at the sunrises and sunsets. And the night lights look like a mass of twinkling fairy lights out there."
She and husband David bought here eight years ago.
David says: "Being elevated gives us a nice sense of privacy.
"You can look from Glenbrook on the left around almost to One Tree Hill. We see the Manukau Harbour, events such as Chinese New Year at the Vodafone Events Centre plus the airport. That's awesome, seeing I've always been interested in aviation."
Kathy says: "Actually a neighbour jokes we're a boarding house because we're 10 minutes from the airport so friends and family are always ringing up asking, 'Can we please come stay at your place the night before we fly out?'"
Kathy had already retired as a property manager when they moved here but initially David ran his office from home.
This helped use the spacious three-level 310sq m set-up, which was built in plaster by a builder as his own home in 1995.
Kathy says: "Naturally we had the watertightness checked before we bought here. And we've recently had someone else in before Christmas with very up-to-date equipment who was so thorough he pulled my shoes out of the wardrobe ... and I've got a lot of shoes. And he said we were fine."
David says: "We've found this area to be a safe and secure haven with lovely neighbours. It's a bit of a hidden treasure really."
Kathy tells a tale of mixing up the double garage's remotes one night. She woke the next morning to find the garage lights on, both its doors up and none of the many possessions inside touched, including two European cars with their keys in them.
The Coleys enjoy weekend drives in nearby countryside around Ardmore and Clevedon.
Neighbours' children have attended Karaka school ACG Strathallan which is within 15km.
Wood pigeons from nearby Totara Park gorge on the Coley's sculptural dragon trees' berries.
As well as its internal-access carpeted double garage-laundry with gym space, the home came with a carport suitable for a small boat and a kids' jungle gym.
They have done extensive renovations inside the home, where spaciousness is magnified by several cathedral ceilings and lots of indoor-outdoor flow.
David was sold on the property as soon as he saw the views. He is also particularly fond of the inclusive nature for entertaining of their open-plan kitchen-lounge-dining room with gas fire.
She revels in having a covered outdoor entertaining area after a previous home without one often saw functions rained on.
The master suite with walk-in wardrobe and double-shower head en suite are on this level as are another lounge, second bedroom, toilet and some of the home's vast storage.
The big upstairs lounge with Juliet balcony has hosted granddaughters' mass birthday sleepovers. Two more bedrooms, a toilet and a bathroom with spa bath complete the upper level.
Nowadays, David's travel business has an office offsite with several staff and the Coleys are downsizing.
