House-sitting large, comfortable home of character near campuses and CBD

Description

We are looking for someone to house-sit our 4 bedroom, 2 study, 3 bathroom plus guest toilet, home in the sought-after, leafy suburb of Campbell, close to major campuses. We are a retired academic couple who spend Canberra winters in the UK and want a reliable house-sitter while we are away. No rent, just cover the outgoings and your own utilities. The house would suit a couple ideally but could accommodate a family with school age children. Built in the late 1960s the house has many period features, is spacious and striking. It is modernised enough to be comfortable to live in but not state-of-the-art. The upstairs bathrooms are not modernised, retaining their period character, but are fully functional with good showers and a bath. Downstairs bathroom and laundry are modern, though washer and dryer are not new. Kitchen has large fridge, fairly new wall oven and dishwasher and a gas cooktop. A microwave could be provided if needed. The main bedroom (furnished), studies and living spaces are upstairs at street level with a separate rumpus room or bedroom downstairs (perfect for guests). 2 additional bedrooms upstairs currently don't have furniture. We recently painted, carpeted and refurbished the house hoping to sell it but haven't found a buyer so we are looking for someone to cherish it for 6 months while we are away and live lightly in it so we don't have to repaint or recarpet. It has been our home for 20 years but we have decided to downsize. The house is partly furnished at the moment (2 out of 4 bedrooms, 2 studies, dining and living rooms have furniture) but we can advise about adding furniture if needed to furnish the other bedrooms. We are offering a rent-free, house-sitting arrangement where you would only pay the outgoings (rates, insurance, maintenance and repairs). Utilities are not included so you would need to set up electricity, gas, water and internet accounts in your own name (easy to do in Australia) and we are happy to advise on providers. The central heating is gas fired and there is ducted evaporative cooling. The major features of the house are its mid 20th-century character and its wonderful views south and west to the mountains beyond Canberra. Sunsets are stunning and there is a large deck for entertaining or just watching the sunset. We are leaving the house listed with our estate agent and she may want to show it to buyers occasionally, but it will not be listed for open homes, only viewing by arrangement so you would have ample warning if someone was coming through.