H OME to James and Sylvia Pickerill for more than 30 years, this two bedroom terrace has been loved, cared for and recently modernised by the couple who say they are only moving because at their age they want to live in a bungalow.
The house at 10, Lynam Street, Penkhull, has only just gone on the market in the past couple of weeks and would make an ideal property either for someone who wants to be close to either the hospitals or Staffordshire University, or a landlord wanting it as an investment to take advantage of the demand for rented property in the area.
James, 79, a retired long distance lorry driver, says: "A lot of the houses around here have been bought by landlords because we are close to both the hospitals and Staffordshire University which is a few minutes away and the A500 too.''
As with so many properties in this area the house sits on a hill, and there are five steps up from the road to the front door – although some useful hand rails help ease the climb up.
The house has obviously been well maintained and indeed, the couple has spent quite a bit of money on it in recent years. In the past three years the roof has been renovated, a large walk-in shower has been installed in the downstairs bathroom, there has been a new fitted kitchen and a solid wood floor in the lounge, plus a laminated one in the front reception room, and around 1,000 has been spent on having a new brick wall built at the back of the courtyard behind the house and cobbles laid to make a really charming little garden.
With its position catching the afternoon sun it is ideal if you fancy growing plants or vegetables in pots or grow bags – there's even an outside water tap to make life easier for you.
It is a lovely feature of the house and appears money well spent.
It has double glazing throughout and even on the freezing cold day when I visited, the house is indeed as Sylvia says "very warm, quiet and cosy.''
D ownstairs are two reception rooms, the one at the front filled with light from the deep windows and the one behind used as the lounge which is really the heart of the home.
The solid oak floor and an electric fire in a feature surround make this a lovely room and there is a nice view of the courtyard behind.
A step up from the lounge leads to the kitchen which was only fitted last year and, as with the rest of the house, it is spick and span.
It has a built in electric oven and gas hob with an extractor hood, a ceramic tile floor and tiled splashbacks. Beyond this is a handy little storage cupboard and then the bathroom.
Following a fall James has decided that a large walk in shower is a safer option than a bath and the unit is virtually brand new.
Upstairs are the two bedrooms on either side of the stairwell and there is a large fitted wardrobe in the front one and a storage cubby hole in the back one.
James says: "We have lived here for 32 years and are only moving because I can't cope with the steps any longer and need to be in a bungalow.
"The house is in very good condition and we have spent quite a bit on it over the past few years, from having the roof done and the loft fully insulated to the kitchen, bathroom and the courtyard at the back which makes a nice little garden.
"It is in a very good location for the hospitals or university and the A500. We have loved living here because it is a good area and it's so quiet you don't know the neighbours are there. We have looked after it, modernised it where necessary and it is ready to be moved into.''
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