Tag the friend who wants to get on the property ladder, because this two bedroom stone mid-terrace on Witchfield Hill, in the popular village of Shelf, could be the one for them. I'm pleased to bring it to the market at offers in the region of £125,000. It is freehold, in council tax Band A and well presented throughout, with double glazing and gas central heating throughout. That means a buyer can move in and make it home without a list of jobs on day one.
A walled, paved yard sits in front of the house, with steps up from the pavement and room for a few planters. The uPVC front door opens into a carpeted entrance hall with its own radiator, a small buffer that keeps the draughts out of the lounge in winter. The lounge runs across the front of the house, and this is where the character is. Two dark exposed beams cross the ceiling, a feature fireplace with a pale surround and hearth gives the room its focal point, and the leaded, double-glazed window looks out to the front. There is space for a sofa under the window and a second sofa along the far wall. The carpet is soft and light, and a feature wallpaper wall keeps it cosy once the curtains are drawn.
Beyond the lounge, the galley kitchen runs across the back of the house. It is neat and practical, with oak-effect shaker-style wall and base units, a speckled worksurface and a tiled splashback in soft greys. The stainless steel sink and drainer with mixer tap sits under the rear window. There is an oven and a four-burner gas hob with a stainless steel extractor hood, and ceiling spotlights keep the whole run bright. Patterned vinyl flooring with a tiled look adds some personality, there is room for a tall fridge-freezer and a washing machine, and a radiator keeps it warm. A uPVC door opens straight out to the rear yard, so the bins, the washing and the barbecue are only a step away.
Below the house is a cellar, 2.7 m by 1.7 m on the floor plan. It is ideal for the extra storage every smaller home needs: the suitcases, the hoover and the Christmas decorations, all kept out of the rooms you live in.
Upstairs, the carpeted landing has white panelled doors with brass-effect handles, and the loft is accessible from here too. The main bedroom is a genuine double at the front of the house, with a leaded window looking out over the street and the trees. It easily takes a double bed, bedside tables, a chest of drawers and a wardrobe. The second bedroom is smaller and works well as a nursery, a home office or a single room for a guest. It has its own radiator, a leaded window and a handy shelf above the stair bulkhead. The bathroom is fresh and white, with a panelled bath and a rainfall shower over, a pedestal basin and a low-level WC. It also has tiled walls with a mosaic border, a frosted window to the rear and vinyl flooring.
At the back, the yard is fenced for privacy. There is a flagged area, a raised flagged step where the barbecue sits and a pebbled spot that takes a table and chairs, with an ivy-covered stone wall to soften it all. It is a sheltered place for a coffee in the morning or tea outside on a summer evening, and there is very little to maintain. Parking is on the street.
For a first-time buyer, this is a freehold house at a sensible price, with Band A council tax and nothing that needs doing before you settle in. A couple will find that the double bedroom and the beamed lounge make it feel like a proper home rather than a stopgap. A young family has a primary school 0.1 miles from the front door. It would also suit an investor looking for a well presented, Band A home in a popular village. The floor plan measures 48 sq m (517 sq ft) across the ground and first floors, with the cellar on top of that.
Witchfield Hill lets you do everyday life on foot. Lidl is about a 6 minute walk for the weekly shop. Further afield are Tesco at about 1.5 miles, Co-op Food at about 1.7 miles and a Tesco Express at about 1.9 miles. For a drink, The Duke William is about 2 minutes' walk, the Prince of Orange about 5 minutes and the Bottomleys Arms about 7 minutes. Bethel Chapel (about 2 minutes) and St. Michael & All Angels church (about 6 minutes) are both on the doorstep. Shelf Hall Park, about 8 minutes' walk, is the green space for a morning run or a weekend kickabout.
For families, St Michael and All Angels CofE Primary & Pre School is just 0.1 miles away, Shelf Junior and Infant School is 0.5 miles and Home Farm Primary School is 0.7 miles. For older children, Buttershaw Business & Enterprise College Academy is 1.0 miles away, Trinity Academy Bradford 1.6 miles and Appleton Academy 1.9 miles.
Three bus stops are each about 2 minutes' walk: Wade House Road Brow Lane, Witchfield Hill Carr House Lane and Wade House Road. The nearest stations are Low Moor, about 2.4 miles away, and Halifax, about 3.0 miles. By car, Halifax town centre is about 8 minutes away (3.6 miles), Bradford city centre about 12 minutes (4.3 miles) and Leeds city centre about 25 minutes (15.5 miles). Odsal Top, on the motorway network, is about 2.0 miles away, with Staygate Roundabout (Junction 3) at about 2.7 miles and Euroway (Junction 2) at about 2.8 miles. The M62 at junction 26, Chain Bar, is about 16 minutes away (7.2 miles).
Please note that an AML fee is chargeable to the buyer once an offer is accepted. It covers the cost of carrying out the required identity and anti-money laundering checks. Once these checks have been completed, the fee cannot be refunded, even if the purchase does not go ahead.
REF: MB1092