THE BLACK BOOK | current to 18 May 2021

Current to 18 May 2021

THE

BLACK BOOK. FOR THE

Art Deco LOVERS

RD 41 M C IN TY RE

C E L E B R AT I N G

awesome

Black Group Realty Awards

Off The Market

It’s The Little Things

Perfect Lighting

Auckland’s oldest surviving home sells

What vendors need to know now

Choosing the right pendant

R AY W H I T E N OW

Introducing Ray White Now, an insight to provide clarity to all our customers on what is happening in the market now.

If you are considering selling we explain how you can take advantage of the current conditions to achieve the best possible sales outcome.

The resilience of the New Zealand housing market has never been more evident than over the past three months. Most New Zealanders would be surprised at the level of activity and prices achieved, even though it has operated under restrictive operating conditions.

As Australasia’s largest real estate group, we are uniquely placed to provide our clients with the most relevant and timely information and data to assess current market activity and outlook. And as a family-owned and led business with 118 years of experience including operating through two world wars, the great depression and recessions, we know that we can deliver you the highest quality solutions in the current market.

C L I C K H E R E TO R E A D T H E L AT E S T I S S U E N OW

contents.

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THE BLACK BOOK.

Black Group Realty Ltd. Contents

Selling Principal

Inspire

Franchise Owner

It’s The Little Things: Our unseen work

Group General Manager

Auckland’s Oldest Surviving Home Is Sold

Sales Manager

Celebrating Awesome: Black Group Awards

Heather Walton 021 432 167 heather.walton@raywhite.com

Mark Bycroft 021 968 946 mark.bycroft@raywhite.com

Jacki Lane 027 556 7042 jacki.lane@raywhite.com

Jeff Tubman 0274 558 717 jeff.tubman@raywhite.com

Black Group Property Management.

General Manager

10 and 10 in 10 with Maggie Gao

Mac Bycroft 021 223 6893 mac.bycroft@raywhite.com

Business Development

Finding The Perfect Light Pendant Property Feature: 41 McIntyre Road Properties For Sale

Josh Smith 021 235 8802 josh.smith@raywhite.com

Ray White Epsom Ray White Matakana & Omaha Ray White Takapuna Black Group Realty Ltd. Licensed (REAA 2008)

The Black Book is subject to copyright in its entirety and the contents may not be reproduced in any form, either in whole or in part, without written permission.

Opinions expressed in The Black Book are those of the contributors and not necessarily those of Black Group Realty Ltd or Ray White Epsom. No responsibility is accepted for unsolicited material.

M IS S I NG O UT?

Get every issue, direct to your inbox Issue One | 22 April 2020

THE

BLACK BOOK. ou ie launch ’

‘Blackr T

60

Bold and Breathtaking 39 Spencer Street, Remuera

pages of properties at your fingertips

How high can you go?

Bite Size

Locked In, Not Out

Liam Bratton talks pre-approval

Get ready to sell post lockdown

Our first online auction success

For most, their Black Book is a tightly guarded secret. In contrast, we want ours to advise, inspire, or just give you something nice to flick through on a Sunday morning with your coffee.

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inspire.

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THE BLACK BOOK.

I T ’ S

T H E

little things...

Selling your house is a huge deal – and if you haven’t done it for a while, a lot has changed in in the world of real estate.

From drone footage to 3D walkthroughs, marketing your home to find the perfect buyer now takes so much more than slapping a sign on the street front and popping a listing in the Property Press.

And while it can be a massive undertaking, there are scores of ways that Ray White helps protect and guide vendors through the exciting process, says Ray White Epsom sales manager and auctioneer, Jeff Tubman.

“Looking at it from a protection and a compliance standpoint – a ‘once it’s sold, it’s sold’ situation – that’s what we’re after,” he tells.

“The market is hot, and it might not be what a lot of vendors are used to, particularly if they haven’t sold in the last seven or eight years. Plus, there’s been a massive move away from print marketing – so much of everything is digital now, and we’re far more proactive about marketing. But, we’re on-hand to walk them through every step of the way.”

From checking the LIM report and Title (and advising accordingly) and running AntiMoney Laundering checks, through to liaising with solicitors, protecting vendors is the number-one priority within the sales process, Jeff says – and there’s many parts.

Long gone are the days where agents simply turn up to an open home and plonk a flag on the driveway, he laughs.

“There is a lot that we do behind the scenes to make sure this process goes as smooth as possible.”

Preparation, he tells, is key – from thinking about digital footprints (how many platforms and portals your home is listed on) through to scrubbing any old or unfavourable digital information about your property (such as previous prices from old listings).

“We call it a digital health check – making sure that when people Google that house when it comes onto the market, it’s as clean and accurate as it can be.”

Of course, LIM (Land Information Memorandum) reports are crucial, he says – unconsented work that hasn’t been signed off from the council can be a common hurdle to selling. Getting that process underway early is important, and making sure those consents can be accounted for and signed off before the property hits the market.

Then comes the AML – or Anti Money-Laundering – checks with the owners, to make sure everyone is who they say they are. It’s a relatively straight forward process Jeff nods – but a formality that protects all parties.

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“It’s been around for a few years, but might be new to you if you haven’t sold your house in a while,” he says.

“What we’ve learnt now is that not all plaster homes are created equal,” he says.

“It’s just another way to protect everyone – just like how we do when we register buyers at auctions and do proof of identity checks. I know, perhaps with older people, who worry about people just turning up on the day, buy the house and they’ll never see them again!”

“There’s different ways of managing that process, and experienced agents – someone that understands that market and maintenance, and the history of it – are able to work through concerns. Disclosure is a big thing – at the end of the day we want them to know that when the hammer comes down, they don’t have to look backwards and think, ‘oh, I’m going to get a knock at the door’”.

And while they take care of the official and legal matters, Jeff says it’s not uncommon to see agents mucking in to help with, er, less professional tasks.

“I’ve seen our guys get out the lawn mower and get cracking, when needs must,” he says, smiling. “We liaise with handymen and the likes if we see something that’s not quite right, and make sure we get homes up the best sellable standard before they hit the market.”

Plaster houses are also an area where Jeff and his team are able to pay special attention, especially since intense media scrutiny and coverage in recent years.

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No matter what type of home you’re selling, from the minute a vendor decides to list their property, through to the minute new buyers walk through the big yellow bow on the door to their home, vendors have a team of experts behind them helping them through.

“It’s a wrap-around kind of thing, really,” says Jeff.

“And we’re happy to do it!”

n

Step Up To Better Property Management Get in touch with us today to talk modern-style property management.

Mac Bycroft 021 223 6893 mac.bycroft@raywhite.com

Black Group Property Management Ltd.

Josh Smith 021 235 8802 josh.smith@raywhite.com

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sold

AU CK LAN D’ S OLDEST SURVIVING HOUSE

Auckland’s oldest surviving house - a fivebedroom colonial homestead in Parnell - has sold for an undisclosed amount.

The renovated mansion at 24 Ruskin Street had been listed with a price tag of just under $5 million.

Ray White agent Ross Hawkins, who marketed the property, posted news of the sale on Linkedin at the weekend.

“Sold today in Parnell. One of New Zealand’s oldest homes.

Congratulations to our new owners,” Hawkins wrote.

The vendor - who lives in Australia - had been motivated to sell after the house passed in at auction in March.

Hawkins told OneRoof that the buyers were Australians who were returning to New Zealand. He said they had admired the house for some time.

The house, which is more than 170 years old, has a 2017 CV of $4.7 million and sits on a 1292sqm section. It had been used over years as a police hostel, a kennel, and even a brothel.

In its earliest days, the property was referred to as the “city farm” because of the amount of land it covered.

“The beauty of this home is that it looks like it could still step out of the history books and into 2021.”

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For this , an

Hawkins told OneRoof last month that while the house had been upgraded and boasted a luxury finish, it still retained much of its original character.

OneRo d more of.co.n conten z t, c lick her e

“Many people have done horrible ‘70s add-ons to houses of this era which destroys the character of the home,” he said.

“The beauty of this home is that it looks like it could still step out of the history books and into 2021.”

The grandson of one of the past owners of the house told OneRoof last month that he was surprised how little had changed.

Gary Stanborough, 77, who attended the on-site auction in March, said his grandfather had first moved into the house in 1928 as a tenant before buying it in 1942. The family had sold the house after he passed away in 1975.

Stanborough said it was touching to see the house now, and was surprised to see what had changed and what had stayed the same.

What was now the dining room used to be the main bedroom, and although there were plenty of luxury touches throughout the house, Stanborough said a lot of original features had remained intact.

“It was a huge property all the way to Windsor Street, with gardens and trees, and a honey house,” Stanborough said. n

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“Many people have done horrible ‘70s add-ons to houses of this era which destroys the character of the home.”

e m o s e Aw CELEBRATING

The three offices that make up Black Group Realty recently came together to celebrate the Quarter Two and Quarter Three Awards

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1. Community Contribution Award winner, Cheryl Whiting, with selling principal Heather Walton

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2. Number 2 Top Performer for Epsom in quarters two and three was Ross Hawkins, pictured with his team members. From left; Caleb Rufer, Ross Hawkins, Tracey Patching and Richard Bull 3. Matt Corin was awarded the Top Auction Lister for Ray White Takapuna in quarter two. Pictured with Sales Manager and Auctioneer, Jeff Tubman 4. Ray White Epsom's Number 1 Top Performer for quarters two and three - Team Richard Thode. From left; Anna Bloomfield, Lucy Dugan, Richard Thode and Andrew Milne. This team was also awarded Top Auction Lister for Ray White Epsom (Q2 + Q3) and the NPS 10/10 award 5. Bill Myers and Maree Shaw were recipients of the second Community Contribution Award. Pictured with team member Holly Cassidy 6. Franchise owner Mark Bycroft with the winner of Ray White Takapuna's Number 1 Top Performer for quarter three, Maggie Gao 7. Popular winner of the Team Spirit Award - Karen Chambers THE BLACK BOOK.

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5 1. C.O.O. of Ray White New Zealand presented our Chairman's Elite Members for the year 2020-2021. From left; Ross Hawkins, Ruoxi Wang, Daniel Coulson, Heather Walton and Richard Thode 2. Maggie Gao and Matt Corin - Number 1 Top Performer for Ray White Takapuna in quarter three 3. Ray White Takapuna's Number 2 Top Performer for quarters two and three was awarded to Rachael Bridger along with the Top Auction Lister for quarter three 4. Dickson Lee and Ruoxi Wang were awarded Number 3 Top Performer in quaters two and three for Ray White Epsom

6

5. David Kennedy was a popular winner of the 'MVP' Award for his contribution to Ray White Takapuna 6. Black Group Management. From left; Jacki Lane (Group General Manager), Jeff Tubman (Sales Manager and Auctioneer), Heather Walton (Selling Principal) and Mark Bycroft (Franchise Owner).

7. Our superstar administration team. From left; Debbie Godwin, Petko Petkov, Sophie Bennett, Laura Cassin, Lucy Dugan, David Kennedy, Tayla West, Tracey Patching and Michaela Nicholls

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ten and ten, in ten with Maggie Gao

Getting an agent to sit still can be difficult, so we bribe them with coffee to spend 10 minutes with us. This week we pulled Maggie Gao from Ray White Takapuna aside to ask her ten personal, and ten professional questions.

Personal

What's your coffee order?

Almond latte What song is on repeat on your playlist at the moment?

Whatever my son sings from time to time.

“Mood” at the moment

What was the last book you read?

Game of thrones

Which App do you spend the most time on?

Wechat

What is your greatest fear?

COVID restrictions never ending!

How do you start each morning?

Getting my son to school. No time for anything else

Where in the world do you wish you could head to for a holiday?

I would like to go to a different Country every year after covid

It's date night - where are you making a reservation for dinner?

Hees Garden Mt Eden - my Husband's restaurant What's your go-to ice cream flavour?

Chocolate

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If you were to win a reality TV show, which one would you have the best shot at winning?

The Block NZ!

THE BLACK BOOK.

Professional

What was your first job?

Beauty specialist for a cosmetic company

Share with us your property must-have?

North facing, good sun!

What did you want to be when you grew up?

Fashion designer

What do you wish you’d known before you started out in your career?

That it can be a lonley business and to surround yourself with as many positive people as possible

Tell us the thing you love the most about working in real estate?

Helping people with their real estate moves throughout their life and helping them make good choices. Made lots of friends Give us some advice to pass on to someone thinking about joining the industry?

You are always on call so you must be ready to make sacrifices What would you consider to be your greatest achievement?

To still be working in this business and have a nice balance with family What motivates you?

Creating a successful team and business with my business partner Matt Corin

Tell us someone who inspires you?

Jacki Lane - our Group General Manager - What separates you from other agents?

I work with Matt and we are a really good team! We work well together as I can focus on the Chinese clientel and Matt can focus on the Kiwi’s, Matt’s very efficient and good with marketing and technology. I have done a lot of work on developments as well, we both have a good balance of strengths. This really benefits our clients as they are getting two really good agents who are really focused on getting the best results n

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CA S TI N G L I G HT O N T HE LATE S T DES I G N T R E ND :

Decorator Pendants

Why is choosing a light pendant so hard? The designers in our practice often get asked to help with selecting just the right light pendant for a room.

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THERE ARE SO MANY OPTIONS TO

consider - the styles and shapes, the materials and the function. It’s even harder if one decision-maker might like something and the ‘other half’ doesn’t. Then everyone gets all confused and nobody can make a decision. Sound familiar?

In our design consultations we like to start first with style.

Unfortunately, the biggest mistake we see is that people buy a pendant impulsively because they like it, often because it is on trend and not because it’s the right pendant for the context.

If your home’s style is Scandinavian, look for a light fitting with a wooden trim and structured frame.

THE NUMBER ONE THING IS TO IDENTIFY THE STYLE OF THE HOME

and decor and stick to that for the lighting. Is your style modern? Scandinavian? Eclectic? Industrial? With many many styles to choose from, and a fortunate over-saturated market of lighting suppliers in New Zealand, it is easy to find the right one. Right now, the decision more likely come down to knowing if the style is in stock, given our post-Covid supply chain difficulties.

If your home’s style is Scandinavian, look for a light fitting with a wooden trim and structured frame.

IF YOUR HOME IS RUSTIC ,

I would lean towards metal frames perhaps with wooden accents if there isn’t too much other wood in the home.

Sometimes if I find the perfect pendant but the wood is the wrong shade, I re-stain it myself. The birdcage look also works well in this style but be aware that it will throw shadow lines.

The glass bulbs pendant look, available in lots of colours and shapes, works because with no shade the bulbs distribute light evenly. Be aware, though, that the lumen, or volume of light emitted, seems to be quite low. Stylish bulbs would be suitable for eclectic, modern or contemporary homes.

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THE NEWEST TREND FOR THIS STYLE is opaque round glass bulbs instead of clear. The bonus with this is that you can’t see the dust as you can on the clear bulbs (and doesn’t everyone forget to wipe down bulbs regularly?) These look great in a contemporary or eclectic home surrounded by strong pieces of art.

ON THE FUNCTION SIDE, A GREAT interior needs varied amounts of lighting ambience for different spaces. For example, pendant lighting in an entrance or dining room can be a bit softer than the lighting over a working kitchen island.

Feature lighting doesn’t always have to mean feature pendant, better to have a sleek understated pendant that replicates the lines and architecture of the home.

In our practice we don’t specify a pendant with a shade over an island as the shades produce distinct circles on the bench top and not a huge distribution of light.

AT THE MOMENT, MY FAVOURITE GO-TO is the long linear LED rail lights as they are a classic which seems to suit most kitchen styles.

Feature lighting doesn’t always have to mean feature pendant, better to have a sleek understated pendant that replicates the lines and architecture of the home. But if you want to go for something a little bit off the beaten track, don’t be afraid to.

Pendants are a cost-effective way to change the look of a room in an instant. n

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THE BLACK BOOK.

“It’s all about support. After just a few weeks in the industry, I’ve already secured my first [multimillion dollar] sale. It’s the start of something great at Black Group.”

- Azel Saralaeva Ray White Epsom

Black Group has a proven track record of giving salespeople the right tools to achieve the best from their business. Health, wealth, work-life balance and the occasional award?

Heather Walton Selling Principal 021 432 167

Mark Bycroft Franchise Owner 021 968 946

Jeff Tubman Sales Manager 0274 958 717

Ray White Epsom 349a Manukau Road, Epsom 09 638 8640 | epsom.nz@raywhite.com www.rwepsom.co.nz Ray White Takapuna 87 Hurstmere Road, Takapuna 09 488 9191 | takapuna.nz@raywhite.com www.rwtakapuna.co.nz Black Group Realty Ltd Licensed REAA 2008

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A KIWI

Grand Dame

Be a Part of Something Special

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There’s so much that’s special about 41 McIntyre Road.

The art deco, obviously. The corner section, of course.

But the best thing, says listing agent – and owner! – Bill Myers, is the feeling of success.

“This house was built on the foundations of victory,” he says with a smile. “It was started in 1945 and finished in 1946, just as the war had finished and where the Depression from the previous decade had passed and people wanted grand and luxurious things. This is what this house is. People gaze and admire the cornicing and detail and it’s such a wonderful tribute to the era. It really is a representation of success.”

Sometimes people look at me a little funny when I say ‘thank you!’ when they say the house looks great!

Bill and his partner Maree have poured their hearts and souls into their beloved piece of paradise in Māngere Bridge over the past five years, thoughtfully renovating their gem of a home while making sure it retained its remarkable character and charm.

And as the owners, they’re keen to see their efforts loved by a new family as they look to build their own dream home – and Bill says being the listing agent for his own property has been wonderfully weird!

“Sometimes people look at me a little funny when I say ‘thank you!’ when they say the house looks great!” he laughs.

“It is a bit weird. But it’s also been quite refreshing from the emotional point of view. It’s been great to experience what a vendor’s going through. I do it so often, sometimes I forget the emotional connections. So this has been a wonderful reminder – and of course, there’s so many emotions when it comes to selling homes!”

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It was started in 1945 and finished in 1946, just as the war had finished and where the Depression from the previous decade had passed and people wanted grand and luxurious things.

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Bill and Maree have “burnt the candle at both ends” when it came to getting the house ready for the market after living in the property for five years – but in a sure-fire sign that this house is a rare gem, Bill says he actually had his eye on the home for more than 10 years before the previous owner wanted to sell.

“I was on his doorstep for about two years, asking him if he was keen to sell it to me!” he says.

“It was when I started selling in Māngere Bridge when I first saw it, it reminded me of where I grew up in California, you know – a cool kind of 1970’s Hotel California vibe! It was love at first sight. And Maree’s great grandmother had an art deco house too, so it really struck a chord.”

Bill and Maree have since painstakingly renovated the three-bedroom, one bathroom home with love and attention, with the trick of keeping colours and lines simple as to not distract from the architecture.

They even took a four-day trip to Napier, the deco capital of New Zealand, for some inspiration.

“It features three curved walls, which is very rare for an art deco house; usually they’d have one or maybe two curved windows,” says Maree. “There’s so many curved walls, our whole bedroom has a curved wall – but it also features a 2.7m stud which makes it feel so grand and spacious. It’s grand, but not opulent.”

Kiwi grand, would you say?

“Absolutely!” laughs Bill. “I say that it’s like a mini grand piano!”

Walking up the stairs of the home, situated on a north-facing section, does indeed feel a little grand – as does the elaborate cornicing, 2.7m high ceilings, and the native timber (rimu) flooring that has been restored to its former glory.

“You always get the sun,” says Maree. “Just sitting here in the lounge now is wonderful, and later on we’ll have a lovely sunset.”

The kitchen and bathroom specifically have had wonderful makeovers that allude to the glory of a bygone age, while providing the new owners with 21st century ease of living – there’s even a dual butler’s pantry/laundry!

The home has also been completely re-wired, and of course you’ll be living in one of Auckland best and most community-minded suburbs, Māngere Bridge.

“I’ve been selling here for 15 years and I’ve never seen a community like it,” says Bill. “It’s been a wonderful experience, living here – you have everything you need.

The water, the village – and the best coffee in Auckland!”

I’ve been selling here for 15 years and I’ve never seen a community like it.

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The home is something of an icon in the community – indeed when Bill and Maree first moved in, Maree noticed many people stopping outside and pointing.

“I thought something was wrong,” she laughs. “So I asked someone one day what they were staring at, and he just said, ‘Oh, I’m admiring the grand old lady.’ I was very glad he was talking about the house and not me!”

Leaving this house, the pair say, will be tough.

“It’s been so great to have been a part of this home’s history, to have been a part of something special,” tells Bill.

“It’s been really beautiful living in it – even now as I’m talking, the light being thrown around by the 36 panes of glass in the lounge window is just so lovely. It’s like this classic car you’re sitting in, going down Tamaki Drive with a big smile on your face. It’s an experience, not just a home.

“It’s a house to be proud of.”

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It’s been so great to have been a part of this home’s history, to have been a part of something special.

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M IS S I NG O UT?

Get every issue, direct to your inbox

Issue One | 22 April 2020

THE

BLACK BOOK. ou ie launch ’

‘Blackr T

60

Bold and Breathtaking 39 Spencer Street, Remuera

pages of properties at your fingertips

How high can you go?

Bite Size

Locked In, Not Out

Liam Bratton talks pre-approval

Get ready to sell post lockdown

Our first online auction success

For most, their Black Book is a tightly guarded secret. In contrast, we want ours to advise, inspire, or just give you something nice to flick through on a Sunday morning with your coffee.

C L IC K H E

RE TO

SUBSCRI

BE

THE BLACK BOOK.

| 3