I N V E S T
&
d e v e l O P
It’s a huge house with 14 en-suite rooms of various sizes, a large communal
kitchen, lounge, library and dining area, and a huge garden with oodles of
parking. And, much like in the student digs the residents may have lived in in
the 1970s, each person has to muck in.
The rooms are serviced daily, and the communal areas cleaned, but the
cleaner (and, yes, there is only one) is not there to pick up behind residents.
As with most communal situations, there are some food cliques, in which two
or more people share food buying and prep, but each resident needs to do
their own cooking, or – as quite a few do – negotiate with Mr Delivery or
UberEats, wash their own dishes, and do their own laundry. The garden is
– avidly and keenly – looked after by the residents, with the assistance of a
gardener who does the heavy work.
Position is important in any real estate or residential situation, but
even more so when you’re downsizing and simplifying your life. So
Chapmans House’s position could not be better. Situated at the foot
of Ou Kaapse Weg, it is within a few minutes’ drive of some great
beaches and walks, and literally across the road from Sun Valley Mall
with Checkers, Dis-Chem and loads more. Another hundred metres
or so will get you to the Virgin Active, and another few hundred to
the huge Long Beach Mall with a sizeable medical precinct just
behind. Most residents do have a car, but they could get by without
one, as most essentials are within easy walking distance. And, for the
rest, there’s Uber.
E
Position, position, position