Roman Vale, Old Harlow, Essex, CM17

At a price point where plenty of buyers will also be looking at apartments, Roman Vale gives you something very different, a freehold two bedroom house, your own private garden, plenty of communal parking and Harlow Mill station only a short walk away.

And once you step inside, it’s got far more personality than you might expect.

The ground floor has been opened up to create one sociable living space, with the lounge flowing straight through into the kitchen. A distinctive bay window brings character and extra light into the room, while the feature wall, wooden flooring and vertical radiator give the space a modern feel without making it look like another grey and white house on Rightmove.

The owners are also having a brand new front door installed, incorporating glass panels which will allow even more natural light to flow through the entrance and into the front of the home.

The kitchen sits naturally at the other end of the room, with white units, wooden worktops and a breakfast bar separating the two spaces. It means you can be cooking while someone else is on the sofa without disappearing into another room and for a house of this size, I think the layout works really well.

Open the back door and you’ve got your own enclosed garden. Artificial grass keeps things simple, while the raised decking gives you somewhere for a table, BBQ and a few drinks when the weather decides to behave.

Upstairs are two bedrooms and the bathroom. The main bedroom is a great size, with a large mirrored wardrobe providing plenty of storage, while bedroom two gives you the flexibility for a second bedroom, home office or both depending on what you need.

But for me, one of the biggest reasons to consider this home is everything outside the front door.

You're in Old Harlow, with its High Street, shops, pubs, cafés and everyday amenities close by, while Tesco and the new David Lloyd are also nearby. Most importantly for commuters, Harlow Mill station is only a short walk away, with direct rail connections towards Tottenham Hale, Stratford, London Liverpool Street, Cambridge and Stansted Airport.  

There’s also plenty of communal parking immediately outside the house, something you can actually see when you arrive rather than having to hunt three streets away for somewhere to leave the car.

For a first time buyer, commuter, couple or someone moving out of an apartment, I think Roman Vale makes a lot of sense.

Because when similarly priced flats are being built all around Harlow, having your own front door, two bedrooms, a private garden and a freehold home within walking distance of the station suddenly looks like very good value indeed.

Guide Price £300,000 to £310,000