Pastime pleasures: The Canberra homes made for hobbies

Lockdown has significantly reduced our worlds. But, far from shutting us down, it has kick-started a host of new ideas.

Tony Trpeski of Blackshaw City & Inner North says planning for lockdown life has definitely become a consideration for buyers.

“Aside from ensuring a home meets major needs, buyers also want to see how it might meet other requirements,” he says.

“Top of those is work and study-from-home options, but also further uses like fitness workouts or room to tinker on a hobby.”

Trpeski says townhouse and apartment developments have also been responding by providing more shared spaces.

“The cover property, for example, offers a communal garden that really encourages a sense of community and brings owners together,” he says.

“Apartment developments are now offering shared amenities like dining rooms, theatres, gardens and more.”

Aaron Papahatzis, of Belle Property Queanbeyan, says spaces for hobbies or interests are definitely on the minds of buyers.

“People are putting a new emphasis on spaces that might be able to be dedicated to special interests,” he says.

“That space might be in the home or it might be a garden studio or, perhaps, a garage that might be converted into a workshop or hobby space.”

Papahatzis says one interest that has gained in popularity since lockdowns began last year is gardening.

“I think the restrictions brought people’s minds around to the wisdom of a food back-up and the sheer pleasure of growing vegetables,” he says.

• Flexibility: Space is not only at a premium, but flexibility is on the minds of buyers who need a home to serve more purposes since lockdown became a way of life.
• Utility: Buyers are looking at how rooms might be used for other purposes: an unused bedroom becomes a fitness space, a garage becomes a hobby nook, a courtyard hosts raised vegetable beds.
• Community: Townhome and apartment developments offer the flexibility to introduce spaces that bring residents together – perhaps communal gardens where they can share in the responsibilities and in the produce grown.

Check out our top pick of homes on the market:

Turner

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Here’s a townhome that not only has the X factor, but – arguably – Y, Z, and the rest of the alphabet, too.

Villa No.4 at The Haig in Turner is packed with what buyers need and served up with a rich topping of what they want.

Highlights include an internal atrium, custom joinery, integrated tech, bathroom underfloor heating, a plunge pool and rooftop solar panels.

A deal-maker, particularly for downsizers, may well be the internal lift that services all three levels from the triple garage in the basement.

The ground floor is flooded with light that streams in through a north-facing living room with custom storage and a gas fireplace. An engineered-timber-floored passage takes you past the atrium and into the central hub.

The kitchen is a scene-stealer with a quartz benchtop and breakfast bar that could double as a fashion-show runway. This home-chef central is fully armed with high-end appliances and a walk-in pantry.

Bedrooms are on the upper level, accessible by stairs or the lift.  The main bedroom is generously sized, as is its walk-in wardrobe and en suite with a free-standing stone bath. A private deck overlooks the outdoor entertaining area.

That area is highlighted by a heated in-ground plunge pool with spa jets, a six-burner barbecue and a fridge.

The new owners also have their own raised vegetable beds in the development’s communal garden.

Price guide: $1.75 million +

Auction: 10am, September 25

Agent: Blackshaw City & Inner North, Tony Trpeski 0413 168 733

Or try these:

Coombs

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Price guide: $1.45 million

Auction: 10am, October 2

Agent: HIVE Property, Bree Prince 0450 566 150

Monash

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Price guide: $1.2 million +

Agent: Belle Property Canberra, Amy Wilson 0405 130 332

Forde

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Auction: 9am, October 2

Agent: Luton Properties Gungahlin, Luke McAuliffe 0433 338 429