Radio DJ Jason Reeves is a man of many talents but, he’s quick to admit, DIY is not one of them.
So when it came to buying his first home with wife Louise nine years ago, it made sense to buy somewhere brand new, rather than an older home that needed work.
“I’m just not good at that stuff,” says the Coast Breakfast host. “Louise is much better than me – she’s even got her own toolkit. My hands are way too soft!”
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In fact the house they ended up buying was so new, it was still in the process of being built when they became the proud owners.
“The foundations were down and the framing was up so most of the hard work had been done,” says Jason. “We got the professionals in to finish it off and we got to do the fun stuff, like choosing colours and putting our own stamp on it. It was the dream scenario.”
The couple are now selling the house at 56a Marlborough Avenue, in Glenfield, on Auckland's North Shore, with the property going to auction on September 17. By coincidence, his co-host on the Breakfast show, Sam Wallace, is also selling up. His house, in nearby Milford, goes to auction three days later on September 20.
Jason says the couple wanted to be on the North Shore – or at least Louise did.
The house was being built when Reeves and his wife bought it. Photo / Supplied
“She grew up over here and had a pull to move back,” says Jason, who’s originally from Hawke's Bay and, after moving to Auckland, had always lived on the city side.
“I thought, Oh, that’s ages away, but actually it is not. It’s easy to get into town and it’s close to lots of amenities over here. It’s not very far from beaches and Takapuna, and there are lots of shops and food places nearby. I love living on the Shore.”
Glenfield is a great community, says Jason, and, now that he’s dad to two young boys, he appreciates events like the local Santa parade, along with being close to lots of parks and the newly refurbished Glenfield Pool and Leisure Centre.
Since moving into the two-level house in 2011, Jason and Louise have “filled two of the four bedrooms with little people.” The home has proved to be the ideal place to bring up sons Max, 7, and Olly, 4.
A large deck that wraps around two sides of the house has been the perfect spot for the boys to play, and their parents to entertain. “We put a little deck out the back off the lounge but when we realised how much sun it got we built a much bigger deck and it gets used all the time. It is like another room in summer, and is a real sun-trap.”
Jason and Louise will miss their home, describing it as the ideal place to bring up their sons. Photo / Ted Baghurst
There’s space in the garden for a trampoline and a patch of lawn that is actually artificial grass. “It’s really cool – it never needs mowing, it can be used all year and it’s so soft that when I first lay down on it I didn’t want to get up!” recalls Jason.
He and Louise have planted trees that have grown into a hedge, making the back of the house very private, and also put in feijoa and olive trees.
Inside, they went for décor that was clean, crisp and contemporary.
“We like modern and minimalist so this house is ideal,” says Jason. The white walls are complemented by the different flooring throughout the house."
The all-white kitchen is stylish and sleek, with plenty of storage space and room for several people to be preparing a meal at once. It’s part of a generous open-plan L-shaped living space along with the dining and lounge areas.
There’s also a powder room on the ground floor, along with an internal access double garage and laundry. Upstairs is the family bathroom and four good-sized bedrooms, including the master which has an en suite and walk-in wardrobe.
Jason says they only initially planned on staying for a couple of years in the house, which still looks as good as new, but have enjoyed living there so much it has extended to nine. However, now the time has come for a change.
“We’re ready to move on but we’ll miss this place – it’s been a wonderful family home,” he say.
Ray White agent Rochelle Brinsdon, who is marketing the property, says it is a warm and contemporary home that has a lot to offer families, including a fantastic location. “It is walking distance to the revamped Marlborough Park which, according to the kids, now has the North Shore’s best skate park,” she says.
“And as for the house, it’s impressive how they have utilized every square inch of the backyard, making it perfect for keeping the kids busy outside and for entertaining.”
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