Apartment lifestyle: Terrace couple happy with move

By Alice Shopland

SPACE, security and price were all vital factors when Judith Percival and Matthew Sheehan were deciding on their first home.

They have now been settled in their three-storey Mt Albert terrace home for more than a year, and are very happy with their choice.

"Terrace housing appealed to us because it was like apartment living, but with more room inside, as well as a little paved courtyard and backyard," says Judith Percival, who works in accounts for an Auckland company.

"It felt more homely to us than a high-rise apartment."

Judith Percival admits that buying the 130 sq m $220,000 home off the plans was a bit nerve-racking.

"It was a strange feeling not being able to see what you were buying," she says.

But she enjoyed seeing the development progress and they were able to choose from three colour schemes provided by the developer.

There are 40 units in the complex, in four blocks, and Judith Percival was initially concerned that there might be problems with sound transferring between units, and feeling as "though you're living on top of each other."

These fears proved to be unfounded.

Some units in the complex have a bedroom and internal garage on the ground floor, but the couple chose to have the ground floor dedicated to parking and storage.

The first floor has a living and dining area which opens out to a deck overlooking the garden, as well as the kitchen, bathroom and spare bedroom. Upstairs is the master bedroom with en suite.

Mr Sheehan, an alarm technician, has installed an alarm in their home but Judith Percival says the complex feels so secure it is not strictly necessary.

"There is a security gate which is opened by a remote control you keep in your car, and a coded security gate on the pedestrian access. When we have visitors they punch in our unit number and we let them in."

Having an additional car park virtually outside their unit is another benefit for the couple, which they would not expect in an apartment development.