No matter how old you are, there are times when the maintenance that comes with owning a home can get a bit much.
That is why condominium bungalows are in such high demand.
"They allow you to enjoy all the conveniences that come with living in a bungalow -- in particular having everything on one level -- but you can come and go as you please. Someone else does all the exterior maintenance. That leaves you free to go out and do all the things you enjoy doing," says RE/Max Professionals' Alan Reiss.
One of these rare (Reiss's description) condominium bungalows is up for sale -- a 1,300-sq.-ft unit in Charleswood at 7-480 Chalfont Rd.
It's rare for several reasons, Reiss said.
"This isn't your run-of-the-mill condominium bungalows," he said. "Really, it's just like a house, right down to the fact that you get your own backyard, double garage, basement and three bedrooms. The only thing you don't get is all the work that comes with owning a home. It's also been remodelled throughout.
"The result of all the remodelling work -- the unit was built on piles, with a wood structural floor in the basement, in 1997, making it only 14 years old -- is that no area of the interior is outdated. So not only is there no work to do outside, there's none (or very little) to do inside. That's about as turnkey as you can get."
All the updates have been done in good taste. Take the foyer: When you walk in, you think you've entered a foyer decked out in grey tile. It's actually a high-end vinyl that brilliantly mimics the look of tile.
"It looks like tile, but is warmer on the feet and much easier to maintain," said Reiss. "It runs through the foyer, hallway and kitchen. The glass block window over the lower level stairwell was also a nice touch."
The generous foyer runs into a wider-than-normal galley-style kitchen that -- with the new grey faux tile flooring, new granite countertops and (abundant) white cabinets -- is functional, modern and fresh.
The functionality of the kitchen is heightened by a pair of thoughtful features, Reiss said.
"There's a dinette area for four off the kitchen that's been placed by a huge bay window that gives you a view of pines and other trees and shrubs outside," he said. "It's just a great spot to eat breakfast or lunch. To the right of that is a main-floor laundry room that also has a door for garage access. It's a very handy feature -- not all condominium bungalows have main-floor laundry rooms."
While the kitchen is divided from the great room, flow between the spaces is seamless thanks to an extra-wide hallway. With an open-concept design, the great room is larger than expected (after all, the home is "only" 1,300 sq. ft.), with a big dining room that seats four and a spacious living room that's separated neatly from the dining room by a five-foot buffer of open floor -- oak hardwood, to be exact.
The great room needs to be studied for a moment to appreciate the subtle yet significant design features: the aforementioned oak hardwood floor, which is in pristine condition; the tray ceiling above, which provides extra ceiling height; large windows on the right-hand wall that allow loads of natural light to pour in, making for a bright space; and a deck door (that's right) on the rear wall.
"It leads to a deck and your own private backyard," Reiss said. "You don't often see that. That's one of the features that makes this condo feel so much like a house."
Another feature that gives 7 - 480 Chalfont a house-like feel is the fully finished basement.
"Because this is a bungalow, it's about the same size as the main level, 1,300 sq. ft. Take out the space that the stairs and storage take up, and that still leaves about 1,000 sq. ft. of livable space. There's room for a computer nook, media area and games area -- plus there's a big third bedroom (with huge closet that extends under the stairs) and full bathroom. Having a full basement makes a huge difference."
Other notable features include a big master bedroom with an oak hardwood floor and ensuite (with low-step-over shower), good-sized second bedroom and third bathroom with step-in bathtub.
Then there's the location.
"You're close to everything here: Safeway, shopping, Portage Avenue, all kinds of amenities on Kenaston Boulevard and the Assiniboine Forest," Reiss said.
"Condominiums like this don't come along very often."
lewys@mts.net
DETAILS
Location: 7-480 Chalfont Rd.
Size:1,300 sq. ft.
Year Built: 1997
Style: Bungalow condominium
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 3
Taxes: $3,522 (gross 2010)
Condominium Fees: $300/month (includes cable, parking, landscaping, snow removal)
Price: $349,900
Contact: Alan Reiss, RE/MAX Performance Professionals @ 477-0500
