At auction: 1960s Lawrence Abbott modern house in Frimley, Surrey
Not up for sale that often these days, with this 1960s Lawrence Abbott modern house in Frimley, Surrey, potentially being something of a bargain.
That’s because the house is up for sale via auction. That’s always a positive and a negative. The big positive is the potential to get the house well below market value if you get lucky. Looking at the guide price, it is considerably lower than the last one I saw for sale on the open market.
But the downsides are worth noting, too. You’ll need to be a cash buyer, able to complete in six weeks, and of course, you will need to be familiar with the legal pack and have a viewing. Because it does look like a house in need of work.
Not that work has to be a downside. This mid-1960s modern/brutal design looks to have had some work carried out, but by and large, seems to be in original condition. It’s very much the ‘blank canvas’ that appeals to buyers, and if you like the look, then this might be your dream project.
Talking of the design, it is an award-winning and locally listed mid-1960s Lawrence Abbott design, and very much in the ‘love or hate’ category. But from experience, love wins out with this one, not least in recent years with the appreciation of brutalism on the rise.
All too often, these houses have been heavily updated within, taking away much of the original 1960s character. As you can see, that’s not really the case here. The wonderful feature windows are still in place, as are the featured staircase and the white walls. Yes, it all needs some work – possibly a complete restoration – but it is a great starting point. As I said, these houses are always popular, and with the right amount of work, it could be a perfect 1960s pad for relatively modest money.
The space within this semi-detached house might well be more than you expect too. The ground floor has an entrance hall and the living room with the first of those distinctive windows.
The first floor has a kitchen/dining room (plus another impressive window), along with the bathroom. A second floor has two bedrooms, and a third bedroom can be found on the third floor. You might also catch a glimpse of the courtyard garden, and further along is a detached garage in a separate block.
All of which should be viewed if you are even thinking of bidding. You can book a viewing via the agent’s website over the coming weeks, ahead of the actual auction on 29th September 2023 at 10am.
As for the guide, that’s set at £220,000. If you register with the agent, you can access legal documents and set yourself up to bid.
Images and details courtesy of First For Auctions. For more details and to make an enquiry, please visit the website.
