Last month I sold a property for the first time — one I'd co-owned with my mother. She'd moved into a retirement village, and we needed to sell to fund her care. I tried to follow the advice I give clients: prep well, invest in the right places, match the method of sale to your buyers. We got 3 o...
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I've sat across from a lot of vendors over the years. I know the questions they ask, the anxieties they carry, the moments where they need reassurance and the moments where they just need someone to be straight with them. Last month, I was the vendor. The property was one I'd co-owned with my mot...
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A question I keep getting asked at the moment is: "How is all of this — the Iran War, fuel prices — actually affecting the property market here?" The honest answer is that it’s creating hesitation more than anything else. A ‘fear of overpaying’ has crept into some buyer conversations that wasn’t ...
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Autumn is creeping in — the mornings are cooler, the light is softer, and the market is giving us plenty to talk about this month. Here's your March update. 🏷 New rateable values — what they actually mean The city just received new rateable values — and honestly, a lot of them don't stack up.RVs ...
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February marks 15 years since the 2011 earthquakes — a moment in time that changed Christchurch forever.It’s hard to believe how far we’ve come.From empty lots and road cones to a city that now feels vibrant, confident, and quietly ambitious. New hospitality spots. Regenerated spaces. Families ba...
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January is when things start moving again. Not quickly. Not noisily. Just steadily. Buyers return, listings begin to surface, and conversations that paused over summer resume with more intent. It’s a useful time to pay attention because early patterns tend to stick. This newsletter focuses on wha...
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Every election cycle brings the same question: should buyers and sellers wait? With the 2026 general election now set for Saturday 7 November, it’s worth stepping back from speculation and looking at what’s actually happened in Christchurch over time. Using REINZ Christchurch City data from 1996 ...
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January has a different feel. The calendar flips, inboxes wake up, and there’s a collective sense of momentum returning. It’s less about reflection now, and more about intention. For many, the New Year brings a clearer view of what’s next on the property front. A family that’s outgrown its space....
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If your summer plans could use a bit more laughter, a bit more Middle-earth, and a lot less sitting indoors, here’s one for the calendar. For the second year in a row, the variety entertainment legends Lizzie Tollemache, Dan Pengelly (my partner), and Darlene Mohekey, will play a variety of roles...
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If you’ve found a great home but noticed it’s on a cross lease title, don’t be too quick to walk away. Cross lease properties can offer excellent value — often more home for your money — as long as you understand how they work and what to look out for. Here’s a breakdown to help you feel con...
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Bidding at a property auction can be both exciting and daunting, especially if you're new to the process. To help demystify the experience and prepare you for success, we've put together a comprehensive guide covering the key steps you need to take before raising your hand. 🏦 Confirm your...
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As we're now in the middle of summer, I've sought some helpful advice from Lauren Metcalfe at Acorn Landscape Design to provide some helpful tips to enhance your outdoor space this summer. As February rolls in, keep up the water for your plants and deadhead flowers to encourage repeat bloo...
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Great photography is one of those effective marketing tools we’ll have when it comes to promoting your home, so it’s important that we put our best foot forward when it comes to preparing for the photo shoot.When the photographer shows up, they will walk around the property and spend some time se...
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Most owners understand that presentation can have a big influence on their final sale price. When it comes to optimising that presentation aspect, owners naturally jump to the spaces where they spend the most time, like kitchens and bathrooms when deciding where to spend money. In reality though...
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When it comes to buying a home, one of the most exciting points in the process is when you realise you are going to make an offer. Suddenly your heart rate rises and you switch into action mode. Ready to do whatever is necessary to make the property yours. When you find yourself in that moment o...
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Purchasing a property can be a tricky process, especially when you're trying to sell your current home at the same time. You may already have your home on the market, or you may be working towards getting your home market-ready. Bridging finance these days is pretty difficult to obtain, and you’...
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Maximise your sale price. Leave nothing to chance. 12 months out from going on the market Decide if any pre-sale reno’s require consent. Consult with a draughtsperson to start the process (they can draw up plans and help you get approval from council. This is often required before engagi...
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Buying tip: When property investors start entering the market, that's the time to buy. Right now, we are seeing property investors re-entering the market, while owner-occupiers are becoming less inclined to take action. What's going on? It takes courage to buy in a falling market. To zig ...
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In the property world, online valuation websites have been a game-changer for information-starved buyers and sellers. But while these sites contain lots of useful property info, their estimates are still just one piece of the fair-market-value puzzle. Here are some key points to consider with on...
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When it comes to selling your home, the first and most important principle to understand is: You get one chance to do it right. Houses are at their most popular when they first go on the market. So you want to avoid making initial compromises that could have a negative impact on the final result...
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When you go to put your home on the market, your salesperson may offer you an opportunity to invest in extra marketing options. Over and above what their standard plan includes. At this point you might understandably think: "Hey, I'm already paying you a commission. Why should I pay extra for ad...
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Everyone loves a good deal. But when it comes to real estate, most buyers and sellers are just trying to avoid making a big mistake. Buying a home is not something most of us do regularly. There's no way to practice before you jump in, and you have to live with your final decision for years. So ...
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As we navigate through 2023, concerns about the stability of the New Zealand property market have been swirling. However, there are several key factors that indicate a collapse in prices is unlikely. 1. Population growth 🛬🧑🤝🧑⬆️ New Zealand is gaining more people. Stats NZ net migr...
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Why have Christchurch property values continued to hold their own despite a nationwide downturn in the property market? 🤔🏡 Read: 'Robust' Christchurch house values weather the storm, Stuff.co.nz Firstly, the post-quake years saw a very balanced market as we saw a proliferation of new home...
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