Ray White agents Steven Liang and Raj Sharma have got a challenge on their hands. Their vendors have committed themselves to another home and so have to sell before their deadline. So far, so tricky. But adding to the pressure is the fact the house they are selling belongs to their boss.
“No pressure at all, selling the boss’s house!” Liang laughs.
He tells OneRoof that interest in the four-bedroom bungalow in Auckland's Glendowie has been strong, with potential buyers keen on the location and the views.
Owner Tom Rawson, who is co-owner of Ray White Manuaku, says the house is seriously priced to sell.
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Rawson and his wife Anna bought the mid-century family home seven years ago for $2m and set about bringing it up to modern standards.
“It was a great house where an older couple had lived for many years, so the decor was rather dated,” Rawson says.
“Luckily Anna is an architect, and she took on the task of transforming it completely while I just added a bit of muscle when required and paid the bills. Basically, what we’ve done inside is mostly cosmetic – no major building work was needed.”
The couple have cleverly enhanced the light-filled rooms with extensive use of crisp white paint and the living, dining and kitchen area, which segues into the family room and runs almost the length of the house, works incredibly well, Rawson says.
The front bedroom with its striking bay window is very elegant, and the boys’ bedrooms are fresh and fun while the fourth bedroom, at the rear of the house, has its own stylish bathroom. The main bathroom is cool and contemporary – as well as being practical for a family that includes two small sons, and a smart modern laundry with a striking tiled splashback is equally convenient.
The couple are keen entertainers, with many family members and friends living nearby, and so added a giant covered deck. The outside swimming pool, which is flanked by established palm trees, is especially popular with the children.
Rawson says he’s proud of the rock-solid concrete driveway, which is strong enough to handle a truck or a boat.
“We’re fully-fenced and gated, so it’s very secure and our boys have loved having plenty of space to run around in.”
Having originally intended this to be their forever home, the couple recently surprised themselves by taking on another renovation project nearby.
- 277 West Tamaki Road, Glendowie, Auckland, is for sale, deadline closing November 26