When you're a young family looking for a move-up home, two to three features tend to be top-of-mind.
First, that home needs to be affordable. Second -- if at all possible -- the location needs to be as family-friendly as possible. Third, the home needs to be solid and well-maintained, especially if it's an older home.
Those three attributes apply to 260 Winchester St., said Derek Daneault, sales associate with the Greg Michie Team.
"With young families, it's all about affordability and location," he said. "In this case of this home (a 1,522-square-foot, 11/2 storey dwelling built in 1940), it's very affordable at just under $330,000. It's also in a great location, and, just as importantly, the home has been well-maintained. It might be 74 years old, but it's got good bones, and has been upgraded in virtually every key area."
The appeal of 260 Winchester's location to young families is undeniable. For starters, the home is situated across the street from Linwood School, which hosts children from kindergarten to Grade five. Not only that, it's a block away from Deer Lodge Community Club and a short walk to Assiniboine Park.
"It's also walking distance to George Waters School and St. James Collegiate, and there are a number of restaurants and small shops within walking distance (such as Joe Black's coffee house, Sargent Sundae, Gus & Tony's and a host of quaint shops to browse in leisurely fashion)," said Daneault. "And if you enjoy golf or the kids play hockey, Assiniboine Golf Club and the St. James Civic Centre are only minutes away off Ness Avenue."
As fetching as the home's location is, it must be kept in mind it's nearly three-quarters-of-a-century old. That means it could need a host of upgrades to bring it up to contemporary standards. That's not the case with 260 Winchester, added Daneault.
"The owners -- the same family has owned this home since the early 1960s -- have kept the home up very well in all the key areas. The roof was re-insulated in 2011, and new shingles were put on the same year. A new 100-amp power box, wiring and mast were installed in August 2013, and a new high-efficiency furnace was installed in September 2013," he said. "New windows were put in the kitchen, main floor bedroom, upstairs landing and two of the three basement windows were replaced at the same time."
Other upgrades include a new sierra stone front sidewalk in summer 2013, a new three-piece basement bath and new back door in fall 2013 and french doors off the dining room (that lead to a backyard deck) in 2011.
"All the important improvements have been taken care of," said Daneault. "Even the original oak and maple hardwoods (the former on the main floor, latter on the upper level) are in excellent shape and don't need to be refinished. The only thing that new owners might want to do is replace some carpet in the bedrooms, update the kitchen and redo the lower-level rec room to their own tastes."
Granted, the home does require some updating, but the reality is no resale home is perfect. Some new vinyl flooring, laminate countertops and re-faced cabinets would breathe life into the galley-style kitchen, which as is -- with its good width, bright ambience (courtesy of a large window on its rear wall that overlooks the tree-lined back yard), newer appliances and white cabinets and blue laminate countertops -- is still very functional.
Most importantly, the main floor flows well (both traffic and light-wise), a characteristic that isn't always present in war-era homes. A sufficiently wide doorway deftly unites the kitchen with the dining room, while a five-foot-wide, arched doorway links the dining room with the living room.
Meanwhile, natural light abounds courtesy of the aforementioned french doors to the rear of the dining room and a large picture window on the home's front wall off the living room.
"This home is nice and bright, which isn't always the case with homes this vintage. The same goes for the floor plan; you could entertain with ease because all the rooms flow together so well. Both the living room and dining room are a good size, and the deck extends the entertaining area in the spring, summer and early fall."
Not to be overlooked is the fact the home has four bedrooms and 21/2 baths. On the main floor, a three-piece bath shares a tucked-away hallway with a two large bedrooms. Head upstairs, and there are two huge bedrooms and a handy two-piece bath.
"The potential for separation is excellent," Daneault said. "The kids could be upstairs, the parents would have their own private bedroom down the hall at the back of the home, and the front bedroom could be used as an office."
Unlike many homes built in the 1940s, the basement is not just good for storage but is livable, he added.
"It's partially developed with the new three-piece bath. The rec room is a bit dated, but can be personalized with a bit of work. Overall, this home is perfect for a young family. All major areas have been looked after; it just needs some personalization in a few areas. This is an affordable home that offers tons of potential in a great location."
lewys@mts.net
