Western Springs: Added Value

41 Bannerman Rd, Western Springs.

Andrew McDade doesn't think of himself as a developer.

"I'm more like a doctor," he says with a grin. "The real estate agents bring me the sick patients, I examine them to see what's wrong, then I start surgery and fix them up good as new."

Although he's only 22, he's doing a pretty good job. Andrew's already been in the home development business for seven years - the first five with his father, Murphy McDade. Two years ago he branched out on his own, formed AMC Properties, and now has a nine-man team and a squadron of "subbies" doing up a clutch of houses at any one time.

The result in this early 20th century villa in Western Springs is a classic example of what he can do.

When Andrew bought it five months ago it had lost most of its original features and had hideous new ones in place of them, such as aluminium joinery.

"I knew it would be a lot of work. The floors were rolling around under our feet so we had to re-pile the whole place, as well as re-wire and re-plumb.

"A lazy person would have pushed to put two units on this site, but I could see there were a lot of big family homes in this area. So I decided to turn this into one and appeal to that market."

Andrew created four bedrooms in the house, the master with an en suite. He pushed out the back of the house to create a big dining and living area off the kitchen and TV area, which in turn opens onto a deck and a sizeable lawn. The new kitchen contains a 90cm Smeg oven with five hobs, and the bathrooms are similarly highly speced with imported European fittings.

Many of the home's original features have been replaced, from the fretwork along the top of the front verandah, to the embossed plaster archway in the wide hall, as well as dados, skirting boards, architraves and scotias to show off the 3.1m stud. The rimu floors have been stained dark brown to complement the neutral colours on the walls.

A creative touch is a water feature by the front entrance. The path forms a bridge over a rectangular pond lined with riverstones.

"It's just something a bit different, and it wasn't hard to do," says Andrew.

A shed at the bottom of the garden has also been renovated to create a studio with its own bathroom - a great space for an older child or a home office.

"One of the neighbours told me this was one of the first homes built in this street, and the shed used to be full of saddles," says Andrew.

Only an ancient plum tree remains at the side of the yard to hint at the age of the house.

It's now waiting for a new owner, and Andrew's moving on to bring another "patient" back from the brink.

Vital Statisics

BEDROOMS: 4+

BATHROOMS: 2+

GARAGE: 2

SIZE: Land 735sq m, house 166sq m, studio 50sq m.

PRICE INDICATION: Interest expected above $850,000. Auction February 1.

INSPECT: Sat/Sun 12.45-1.30pm.

CONTACT: Andrew Gordon, Barfoot & Thompson, ph 021 416 500.

FEATURES: Newly and fully restored villa on big north-facing site. TV area by kitchen, stepping down to dining and living area. Separate garden studio with its own bathroom. Underfloor heating in bathrooms, gas fireplace in TV area. Central vacuum. Water feature at front entrance.