Starter lifestyle on Bedford Rd

A hectare of land at 143 Bedford Rd makes this property an ideal introduction to a rural lifestyle.

The 10,000sqm (almost 2.5 acres) of flat pasture here is a manageable size for someone wanting a first experience on a lifestyle property, suggests Bayleys consultant Marty Suchy.

Or it could suit a farmer wanting to downsize from a larger property while remaining in a rural setting, he adds.

The land is level and fenced into five paddocks, which makes it easy to look after and ideal for grazing a choice of animals, from sheep or beef to goats or alpacas.

On the north-eastern corner of the property is a quarter-acre patch of bush and mature trees that could be an adventureland for children.

The property includes a comfortable three-bedroom home, a three-bay garage with extra workshop space and firewood storage, and plenty of off-road parking.

There are two 25,000-litre rainwater tanks, so a constant supply of water is guaranteed.

Location is an obvious attraction, Marty notes.

This end of Bedford Rd North is in the Kaimiro area, close to Inglewood. It’s just over 6km, or just six minutes or so driving, to the centre of the town and urban shopping and services there. The larger urban resources of New Plymouth are 20km away, about a 20-minute drive.

And if this is intended to be a retirement property, the fairways of Inglewood Golf Club might have serious appeal; they are only a couple of kilometres away on Lepper Rd.

Life will be comfortable in the well-maintained, well-presented 1950s weatherboard home, says Marty. It is currently tenanted, he explains, so is up-to-spec with the necessary insulation standards.

Visitors arriving at this home will find the front door off the generous timber deck that spans the face of the house. At the driveway end of the deck, a large conservatory room sits out to create a sun-trap that can warm the chilliest days.

Marty points view out an eyecatching of Taranaki

Maunga’s graceful slopes and the Pouakai Ranges, an outlook owners here can enjoy from inside the conservatory, or on the deck outside. ‘‘It’s in your face,’’ says Marty.

The conservatory and living areas are positioned along the sunny north-west face of the house, which means they are pleasingly light and airy spaces.

The kitchen-dining space balances the crisp white look of the modern kitchen with the warmth and grain of polished timber floors. A blue-glass splashback adds a dash of colour to the decor in here.

In the adjacent lounge, the ceiling features decorative plaster detailing in both the central rose and the coving around the perimeter.

The lounge originally showed two bay-window features to visitors; one of those bays now opens into the conservatory that was later added on to the house.

In the lounge, a freestanding woodburner pumps out the heat in winter, but the home also boasts a heat pump as another option that can also cool it in summer.

The home’s three bedrooms and family bathroom are located along the hallway from the living areas, with the master bedroom opening out at the end, through French doors, on to the timber deck.

The family bathroom is a contemporary space with a large shower cubicle, bath and toilet. A second toilet adds family convenience to the home.

This Bedford Rd property is versatile and that adds to its appeal, says Marty. ‘‘There is a strong demand for properties like this. It has an attractive size and location, with a comfortable home and extra garaging.’’