CLAYTON MUNTING UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL A Registered Valuer for 25 years, Clayton has worked in London and Hong Kong, and now specialises in residential property valuations in the greater Ponsonby area. The range of work includes finance valuations, purchasing or redevelopment/ renovation projects including Progress Payments and Completion Certificates, matrimonial disputes, transfers into trusts, compensation valuations, insurance valuations, LAQC and advice to potential sellers/vendors. WHERE DO YOU LIVE? I live in Grey Lynn (or as Alex Swney calls it ‘Cool Lynn’) with my wife of a year, Marianna, who has recently completed her Masters Degree (1st class honours) and works in social research. We have two cats, Jewells our Birman and Big Boy our Ragdoll. WHAT DO YOU DO TO KEEP FIT? A brisk (short) walk up to Occam for coffee. YOUR BEST FRIEND WOULD SAY OF YOU… Thanks for picking up the tab! YOUR MOTHER WOULD SAY OF YOU… He was dropped on his head as a baby! VIRTUES? Always have a very tidy sock drawer and happy to clean up the kitchen after Marianna makes dinner. VICES? Ponsonby bars and crème brulee. WHO IS YOUR ULTIMATE ROCK ICON? Elton John, oh and Martin Leach. WHAT’S YOUR SECRET PASSION? Well, it wouldn’t be a secret then would it? But it does involve sequins. WHERE DO YOU SPEND YOUR HOLIDAYS? Nelson, where I grew up, or in the Pacific Islands. WHAT’S YOUR PERFECT SUNDAY? Sleep in, breakfast at Occam, Sunday papers, gardening and one of the Bourne Identity movies. WHAT WERE YOU GOING TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP? Aside from grown up… perhaps the fifth member of Abba or an actor? HOW DID YOU BECOME A VALUER? A commerce degree in Valuation and Property Management at Canterbury. A year in the Valuation Department in Tauranga, followed by 25 years in private practice. IF YOU WEREN’T A VALUER YOU’D BE... A lot better off…. or a secret agent. FAVOURITE PONSONBY RESTAURANT? Cocoro on Brown Street, Buenos Aires for its steaks and Coco’s Cantina on K’ Road. FAVOURITE PONSONBY STORE? Fifth Avenue or Republic. WHAT HAS INSPIRED YOU RECENTLY? My father, a Civil Engineer in Nelson, coming out of retirement to help with assessing damaged buildings in Christchurch after the earthquakes. YOUR DESERT ISLAND DISTRACTION... Hank Moody – Californication – TV3. WHAT WEBSITES DO YOU BOOKMARK? Youtube, Facebook, Vine on Line, House of Travel, TV on demand, Bob Dey Property Report. ONE THING YOU HAVE LEARNT ABOUT LIFE IS... It’s short. so don’t take it too seriously! WHAT IS IT YOU MOST ENJOY ABOUT VALUING? The mix of indoor and outdoor work, wide variety of properties that I see each day, lots of client contact and the challenge of accurately predicting the sale price of unusual properties prior to auction for prospective purchasers. YOUR ADVICE TO PONSONBY HOME SELLERS? Maximise presentation - clean up all those incomplete odd jobs, chem wash the exterior and de-clutter the house. Seek the advice of your local reputable Real Estate agent. YOUR ADVICE TO PONSONBY HOME BUYERS? You are making a substantial investment get some serious independent advice from your Solicitor, Accountant and Valuer. PN
126 PONSONBY NEWS+ June 2011
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‘you can’t sell a secret... good marketing makes a difference every time’ www.ponsonbynews.co.nz PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)