Walmer property ticks all the boxes

Helen Crooks

CHOOSING the suburb where you opt to live is just as important as finding the right house within that suburb.

Schools and shops are a consideration for some, proximity to our amazing beaches is important for others, while finding some peace and tranquillity within the heart of a bustling city might be a priority for yet others.

But there is a suburb which ticks all those boxes – Walmer, a suburb I somewhat reluctantly moved to 18 months ago. The house was perfect, but Walmer was a second best to the preferred Mount Croix. However, over the months, it becomes impossible not to love the open spaces, the established trees and the almost village-like atmosphere that characterises Walmer.

It may not be right on the beachfront, but even at the upper end close to Walmer Park, you are only 5km from Kings Beach, with Sards and Kini Bay options in the other direction.

There are schools and there are shops, and there is certainly also tranquillity, especially in places like Water Road which, to many prospective home-owners, is THE most desirable spot.

Water Road, if you like, is Walmer's equivalent of Mill Park's Hallack Road.

It's a hop-and- -a-skip away from Main Road, with its Spar and Prestons, but with gracious old trees lining the road, and living in Water Road somehow seems like a world on its own.

It is not surprising then that not many Water Road properties come on to the market and, if they do, there's usually a high price tag which is justified not only by the property in question but also by the location.

But every so often a property does come on to the market which, while being a comfortable and gracious family home, needs the odd bit of modernisation. The price tag certainly reflects this, allowing new owners to stamp their personality onto the house with one or two choice upgrades.

The house, 173 Water Road, is guarded by high walls and a remote- controlled gate, and offers a laid back interior and exterior lifestyle with space for all the family and more besides.

Fronting the house is a well-kept, pretty garden filled with a flurry of white roses in full flower right now.

A picket fence guards the covered entrance leading to the front door which opens onto a large entrance hall, boasting the first of many lovely old sash windows which are dotted throughout the house.

To the left of the entrance hall there's a spacious kitchen (functional melamine) with a separate breakfast nook, with the kitchen area servicing the lounge, dining-room and study which are all interleading, but which all have doors (some wood, some wood and glass) which can be closed, making for three separate rooms.

This is the kind of house which accepts that sometimes open plan simply does not work, so in the summer it offers the modern free-flowing idea, while in the winter there's the cost-saving opportunity of heating just one room, rather than trying to heat the whole house.

The spacious lounge has a fireplace with an attractive mantel piece and built-in wall units while the TV/room study has a large, sun-soaked bay window, the perfect spot for curling up with a good book and a glass of wine.

Both the lounge and the TV room open onto an attractive, covered outdoor entertainment area which has a built-in gas braai, a skylight for extra light, a ceiling fan and an attractive, soothing water feature.

The de-rigueur (these hot days anyway) pool is surrounded by a large, very pretty garden with ample lawn for the kiddies to play.

Sleeping accommodation in what will make the perfect family home, is divided from the living accommodation by a door which opens onto a long hall, with a polished wooden floor.

To the left of the hall is the first of the four bedrooms, which has its own study area and access to the pool area, while to the right is a cunningly concealed shower with separate guest loo. There's an additional family bathroom with bath, sink and loo. The double garage is also accessed from this hallway, via a cottage-paned door.

Adding to the family feel, there are two further bedrooms, one of which also has its own study area, and a master suite with access to the pool area and a bathroom concealed by the built-in cupboards.

Completing the exterior accommodation in this very neat and desirable house are two staff rooms.

The house, which is being jointly marketed by Anthony Swart and Larry Whitehead of Chris van der Walt properties, will be on show this Sunday. The asking price is R3 950 000.

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