A clearer, calmer way to approach your next move Selling later in life is rarely just a property decision. For some people, the home they once managed easily has become harder to maintain. The garden, repairs, cleaning, stairs, or general upkeep may now feel like more than they want to carry. For others, downsizing is […]
A personal reflection on buying young, selling for the first time, and the lessons that still shape how I practise real estate today. “What — are you stupid?” That was the response when I asked a question during the purchase of my first home. I was 22. A few years later, in my first year […]
What Auckland sellers need to know. Yesterday a friend sent me an RNZ article suggesting that on-selling activity in Auckland has increased since 2024. It reminded us of a scenario we had been discussing recently — an off-market sale we had noticed which later resold for more than $200,000 higher less than a year later, […]
What Buyers Will Ask — and How to Prepare Selling a property in a flood zone in Auckland? Expect this question early. Across Riverhead, Huapai and greater Rodney, buyers are now asking more directly — and earlier in the process: Does it flood?Where does the water go? And understandably so. With increasingly frequent extreme weather […]
In September, I sold a property in West Harbour. When I say “I sold it,” what I mean is that I listed it, managed the campaign, and guided the process from start to finish. The eventual buyer, however, was introduced by Yong Seok Chang from Barfoot & Thompson. Yong did a great job. The collaboration […]
What method of sale will achieve the strongest result? The highest price? An outcome aligned with your preferred timing? It’s a common and important question. Earlier in my career, I tended to think certain methods worked better than others. Auctions worked. Or they didn’t. Deadlines succeeded. Or they didn’t. Experience teaches something more useful. No […]
What happens next — and how to steady the process. When an agreement collapses at the Builders Report stage, it can feel like the property has been permanently damaged. It hasn’t. But the landscape has shifted. In New Zealand, agents are required to disclose to subsequent buyers that a previous agreement fell over due to […]
Last year I was referred to a seller who had fallen on hard times. He was thoughtful, open and easy to talk to. I prepared an appraisal for him and, as part of that process, highlighted some potentially non-compliant work in the home, along with the likely implications and possible pathways forward. He thanked me. […]
Weatherside is one cladding you should understand before you buy — or before you sell. Poorly maintained, it can cause serious issues. Well maintained, it can still perform well. Here’s how to spot it — and how to approach buying or selling a home with it. What is Weatherside? Weatherside (also known as oil-tempered hardboard […]
Four Points Sellers Should Weigh Carefully. Since the market softened in early 2022, we’ve seen a noticeable increase in sellers giving serious consideration to offers conditional on the sale of another property. Sometimes it becomes even more layered — your buyer needs to sell… to a buyer who also needs to sell. A chain of […]
Why Precision — Not Opinion — Protects Property Transactions It started, as many compliance debates do, in a Facebook thread. A group of buyers, professionals – and others with an interest in property – were discussing whether a newly tiled shower required a Building Consent. Several professionals were participating. Most were firmly in the “needs […]
Is the first offer the best offer? Many a seller has mulled over this old chestnut after receiving an offer in the first few days of a campaign — and the deliberations can be agonising. Do you wait until after the first one or two open homes? What if the buyer walks away? Can you […]
When the Victory Dance Stops. The offer is accepted. The conditions are ticking off. The Builders Report lands in your inbox. And the tone shifts. For buyers, it can feel like the dream just developed cracks. For sellers, it can feel like the ground just moved beneath a perfectly good deal. In Rodney and West […]
Has a low offer left you reeling? You might be wondering whether it’s serious — or simply cheeky. You may even be glancing sideways at your agent, questioning whether they are truly negotiating in your best interests. Should you negotiate — or walk away? Before reacting, it helps to understand who you may be dealing […]