There’s good news for families whose search for a spacious home has so far been fruitless.

They need to head for Orchard Cottage in Matthews Close at Bedhampton, a chalet-style property that offers far more than it might at first appear – a true pick of the crop as the autumn market gets ready to open up.

Orchard Cottage is set back behind a double driveway leading up to the integral double garages, joined internally by a sliding door. From the front it looks much like any other chalet but step inside and its secrets will be revealed.

At the front, beside the entrance door, is a living room with a large window looking out towards the road and a second, box bow window facing south and throwing plenty of natural light into the room.

At the rear of the house on the same southern side is a dining room with sliding patio doors onto a raised terrace that’s separated from the lawned garden by decorative dwarf walls and a flight of steps.

Sandwiched between the living and dining rooms is a large kitchen / breakfast room with a breakfast bar and a large hatch connecting to the dining room. It’s a shrine to modernity, with black gloss units, ample appliance space, and sufficient room for an American fridge / freezer with cold water supply.

On the opposite side of the ground floor from the living room are the fourth and fifth bedrooms, each with a built-in double wardrobe and a hand basin. Adjacent to them is a family bathroom with both a corner bath and a corner shower cubicle.

Stairs lead up to the first floor landing, which has doors to three further bedrooms. There is access to eaves storage through both the airing cupboard and a door in the en-suite shower room that serves the master bedroom.

“Orchard Cottage is a fantastic family home, with good living and sleeping accommodation so there’s plenty of opportunity for the family to be together or have their own private space,” says Colin Shairp, of Town and Country Southern estate agents.

“The rear garden offers excellent relaxation and play space while the wide drive and double garages will be useful for families as children grow older and want their own car or motorcycle. Not that car ownership is essential as there’s good access to both local facilities and public transport as well as the wider roads and rail network.”

Guide price is £425,000 (EPC Band C). For more information, contact Town and Country Southern on 023 93 277 288 or email sales@townandcountrysouthern.co.uk<