Brighton Road, South Croydon, CR2

***Vendor's comments:*** "When we first set foot in our home, we were struck by the sense of space and calm. The open-plan layout and generously sized front room were exactly what we were looking for, it was so much bigger than anything else we had seen and is one of the most spacious houses on our street. The large kitchen with its conservatory access was a joy, we appreciated the ample cupboard space and even had two fridges at one point! We also loved the garden, it was perfect for our nieces to run around in. We enjoyed looking out on it from our conservatory as we ate breakfast in the morning and it was also the perfect spot to unwind with a book on a sunny day. We also liked the rear access and gated off-road parking, it made moving in so much easier!

In terms of investment, we saw significant value growth potential with the exciting redevelopment plans for Croydon Centre, plus it being in the catchment area for a number of good schools meant we knew it would be popular with families.

Both being commuters to central London, being a 10 minute walk from South Croydon Station and having regular buses to East Croydon from close by was a massive plus. Transport links are excellent, with direct trains to London Victoria, London Bridge, and St Pancras International from South Croydon Station. The late-night trains from central London to East Croydon are very convenient. Gatwick Airport is easily accessible for weekend getaways, and we often enjoyed trips to Brighton. The location is ideal for walking and cycling enthusiasts, with routes to Box Hill, Biggin Hill and the South Coast.

Having chosen the location for the easy commuting, we fell in love with the South Croydon area. We worked our way up the restaurant quarter trying as many as we could, and being so close to central Croydon was great for going to the cinema and for a bit of retail therapy. Our favourite local restaurant, Little Bay, is a must-visit with live opera singers and a rather unique, theatre inspired interior.

In terms of local amenities, South Croydon has much to offer. Tesco and Sainsbury's Local are conveniently close, and The Crown and Sceptre is a charming pub with excellent food (and a weekly quiz night!) The area is rich with parks; Lloyd Park was a favourite of ours, especially for the Saturday morning Park Run.

We initially bought the house together, but after living there for three years, we decided to separate. The property has since been let to our tenants, a lovely family of six (plus three cats) who have happily made it their home for the last five years, It’s a testament to the house's family-friendly nature that our tenants have stayed so long. We're now reluctantly selling, as having rented for the last few years, we're both looking to buy again.

Our home has seen some lovely updates. The previous owner was a double glazer and personally fitted the property with double glazed windows, effectively shielding it from outside noises. We renovated the bathroom about six years ago, adding a jacuzzi bath, marble tiled walls, and a handy inset cubby for bath products. The kitchen floor tiling was recently updated, roughly 18 months ago. One of our first major improvements was replacing the roof, which is now about nine years old. We also added a new fence and gate at the back. The custom-made wooden shutters in the front room were the first thing we bought for the house in an effort to make it our own, and these helped make it feel cosy and private.

While we didn't extend the property, we always envisaged developing the loft area into a fourth bedroom with en-suite as there's planning permission precedence for this along the road, and also considered a glass side return extension to open up the kitchen even more.

The thing we will miss most about the property is the space both inside and out. Having both lived in small London flats, we really appreciated the size of the massive front room, the kitchen, the main bedroom and the garden, it felt so luxurious to be able to spread out, and to be able to have our own space when we needed it.

We hope that whoever moves in will love and enjoy this home as much as we and our tenant family have."