THE BLACK BOOK | current to 23 February 2021

Current to 23 February 2021

THE

BLACK BOOK.

Bathrooms Renos

House Plants

Record Highs

Getting them right

Bringing the outdoors in

House prices continue to climb

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

Black Group Realty Ltd. Selling Principal

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

Franchise Owner

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

hello.

Welcome to the first issue of The Black Book for 2021.

Our team certainly kept busy over the Summer months and this issue is bursting at the seams with fantastic properties!

We hope you enjoy.

Heather Walton and Mark Bycroft Ray White Epsom, Ray White Takapuna and Ray White Matakana & Omaha Black Group Realty Limited Licensed (REAA 2008)

Group General Manager Jacki Lane 027 556 7042 jacki.lane@raywhite.com

Sales Manager

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

Black Group Property Management.

General Manager

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

Business Development 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.

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

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NZ House Prices Reach Record Highs Top 5 House Plants How To Conquer The Bathroom Reno Properties For Sale

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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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RE TO

SUBSCRI

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Grey Lynn, in Auckland, has seen house values jump more $400,000 in the last 12 months. Photo / Fiona Goodall

NZ HOUSE PRICES REACH RECORD HIGHS

New Zealand house prices have reached a record high, outstripping pre-Covid prices by $130,000, new OneRoof figures show.

The nationwide median property value is now $750,000 after surging 13.8 percent in the nine months since the deadly virus hit New Zealand and resulted in an almost two-month long shutdown of the property market.

The latest OneRoof-Valocity house price index figures, covering the month to January 15, show that all 72 territorial authorities are in a better position now than before Covid-19. The biggest risers on the index were Ruapehu (+21% to $295,000); Hastings (+20.7% to $640,000); and Lower Hutt (+19.6% to $600,000).

The figures also reveal that there are 15 suburbs that “earned” more than $400,000 in the last 12 months.

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THE BLACK BOOK.

Wellington’s median property value crossed the $1 million mark for the first time - gaining $30,000 last month alone (and $220,000 in the 12 months to January 15) to $1.02 million.

The capital is now one of six territorial authorities where buyers can typically expect to pay more than $1 million for a home.

With a median value of $1.285 million, Auckland’s North Shore is the country’s most expensive housing market. The median value in Auckland City - home to 13 of the country’s 14 $2 million-plus suburbs - was up 24% year on year to $1.225 million, while Rodney ($1.095 million) and Manukau ($1.01 million) saw lifts of between 18% and 22% over the same period. Waitakere inched closer to the million-dollar mark, with a median value of $975,000

Of the major metros, Hamilton was the strongest performer post-lockdown, recording growth of 17.1% for a new median of $735,000, followed by Tauranga (up 15.2% to $815,000), Dunedin (up 13.8% to $605,000) and Christchurch (12% to $520,000).

In the months after the pandemic struck, Queenstown house prices fell sharply, with the town’s median property value dropping 7.7%.

The figures also show Queenstown has recovered from the near knock-out blow it suffered as a result of Covid-19.

OneRoof-Valocity house price index MEDIAN PROPERTY VALUE AS OF JANUARY 15.

Location

Current median property value

12-month change in %

12-month change in $

Change post lockdown in %

New Zealand

$750,000

21

$130,000

14

Auckland

$1,085,000

22

$195,000

13

Bay of Plenty

$745,000

19

$120,000

15

Canterbury

$520,000

16

$70,000

11

Gisborne

$515,000

34

$130,000

16

Hawke’s Bay

$640,000

27

$135,000

20

ManawatuWanganui

$510,000

32

$125,000

19

Marlborough

$555,000

22

$100,000

16

Nelson

$640,000

12

$70,000

9

Northland

$625,000

18

$95,000

11

Otago

$640,000

20

$105,000

11

Southland

$385,000

22

$70,000

8

Taranaki

$500,000

20

$85,000

12

Tasman

$735,000

17

$105,000

11

Waikato

$705,000

22

$125,000

15

Wellington

$845,000

28

$185,000

19

West Coast

$255,000

11

$25,000

7

TABLE: ONEROOF | SOURCE: ONEROOF-VALOCITY | CREATED WITH DATAWRAPPER

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The new median property value of $1.115 million is the result of heightened market activity by investors and first home buyers taking advantage of low interest rates.

But the latest OneRoof-Valocity house price index figures, covering the month to January 15, showed Queenstown’s property value was up 6.1% on where it was on March 25, 2020 - the day before the country went into lockdown and the housing market endured a two-month-long shutdown.

The stunning around occurred over the heated closing months of 2020. In the house price index figures for the month to December 15, 2020, Queenstown was down 0.5% on pre-Covid levels.

The 12-month gain for the town is a whopping $105,000.

OneRoof-Valocity house price index - major metros MEDIAN PROPERTY VALUE AS OF JANUARY 15.

Location

Current median property value

12-month change in %

12-month change in $

Change post lockdown in %

Wellington

$1,020,000

28

$220,000

14

Hamilton

$735,000

27

$155,000

13

Auckland City

$1,225,000

24

$240,000

15

Tauranga

$815,000

20

$135,000

11

Auckland North Shore

$1,285,000

23

$240,000

16

Dunedin

$605,000

29

$135,000

20

Auckland Manukau

$1,010,000

22

$180,000

19

Auckland Papakura

$845,000

22

$150,000

16

Auckland Waitakere

$975,000

23

$180,000

9

Christchurch

$520,000

16

$70,000

11

Auckland Franklin

$790,000

12

$85,000

11

Auckland Rodney

$1,095,000

18

$170,000

8

Queenstown - Lakes

$1,115,000

10

$105,000

12

TABLE: ONEROOF | SOURCE: ONEROOF-VALOCITY | CREATED WITH DATAWRAPPER

In Auckland, the best-performing suburbs post-Covid were Botany Downs, Manurewa, Grey Lynn, Panmure, New Lynn and Westmere, with the median property value in all seven outstripping preCovid values by more than 20%. Both Grey Lynn and Westmere also saw 12-month price jumps of more than $400,000, reflecting the house-buying frenzy in the city.

Thirteen more suburbs, all in Auckland, saw their median property value jump more than $400,000 in the last 12 months. The biggest rise - $665,000 - was in Waiheke Island, where the median value now sits at $1.73 million. The next biggest risers were Glendowie (up $505,000 to $2.045 million) and Herne Bay (up $475,000 to $2.92 million).

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OneRoof-Valocity house price index - The biggest earners The table shows the median property value in each suburb as of January 15, 2021. The suburbs are ranked according to the biggest dollar jump in median value in the last 12 months. The suburbs chosen are the ones that have “earned� more than $400,000 over the period.

Suburb

Current median property value

12-month change in %

12-month change in $

Change post lockdown in %

Waiheke Island

$1,730,000

62

$665,000

16

Glendowie

$2,045,000

33

$505,000

5

Herne Bay

$2,920,000

19

$475,000

1

Saint Marys Bay

$2,720,000

21

$470,000

16

Orakei

$2,030,000

30

$470,000

15

Point Chevalier

$1,890,000

31

$445,000

9

Mellons Bay

$1,917,500

30

$442,500

-1

Ponsonby

$2,135,000

26

$440000

19

Mount Eden

$1,845,000

29

$420,000

19

Mairangi Bay

$1,855,000

28

$410,000

15

Westmere

$2,160,000

23

$405,000

20

Kohimarama

$1,925,000

27

$405,000

7

St Heliers

$1,850,000

27

$405,000

17

Grey Lynn

$1,580,000

28

$405,000

21

Sunnyhills

$705,000

34

$402,500

7

TABLE: ONEROOF | SOURCE: ONEROOF-VALOCITY | CREATED WITH DATAWRAPPER

Outside of Auckland, there were 19 suburbs where the median property value outstripped pre-Covid values by more than 20%.

The top three performers were: Taumarunui, in Ruapehu (up 33.8% on preCovid levels to $245,000); Havelock North, in Hastings, (up 27.3% to $910,000); and Raumati South, Kapiti Coast (up 27.2% $815,000).

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Bring the outdoors

in.

House plants have never been more popular. If you’re looking for your perfect pairing, here are the 10 easiest house plants to care for.

1. ZZ plant/Zamioculcas 2. Heart Leaf Philodendron vine/Philodendron hederaceum 3. Peace Lily/Spathiphyllum 4. Devil’s Ivy/Pothos 5. Mother in Law’s Tongue or Snake Plant /Sansevieria trifasciata 6. Swiss Cheese Plant/Monstera Deliciosa​ 7. Rubber Tree/Ficus Elastica 8. Radiator Plants/ Peperomia 9. Cactus/Cactaceae 10. Giant white bird of paradise/Strelitzia nicolai

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THE BLACK BOOK.

We’ve got just the right team for the job.

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

rwepsom.co.nz | rwtakapuna.co.nz

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

Resene Olive Green, disappearing walls and a lowered ceiling add wow to this bathroom. Photo / Juliet Nicholas

How to conquer the

trickiest room in the house

Interior designer Liz Kerby, of LizzieKandCo, says people often underestimate bathroom renovations.

“It’s the trickiest room in the house. They might be small, but they’re high-use areas and a lot happens behind the scenes. The process of creating bathrooms involves many different trades which all have to be in there one at a time,” she says.

The list of tradies that have the potential to get involved is extensive – builders, plumbers, waterproofers, electricians, tilers, painters, shower installers, cabinetmakers and stone installers – and each needs to be managed to minimise delays.

OneRoof spoke to Kerby and other renovation and interior design experts to find out how to pull off a successful bathroom renovation.

Good help is important to find

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THE BLACK BOOK.

With a lot of unseen elements like pipework and waterproofing that cost a lot of money – and can cost even more if they’re not done properly – you don’t want to make mistakes. Set realistic expectations about what you can and cannot afford, says Shane, and be very clear about that number before you start.

“Some people are enlightened enough to realise they can’t necessarily do a renovation themselves,” Kerby says. “It might be tempting to have a go at the plumbing or tiling, but save yourself a lot of heartache and call in the experts from the start. Remember, they work better as a team.”

Essential to a smooth process is a really good plan with scale drawings and elevations. It needs to show everything from the positioning of the electrical plugs to the shower door width, especially if you’re going to reconfigure the layout. A good designer can provide one for you.

This fresh bathroom manages to take the essence of trendy Scandi cool and blend it with a distinctly local natural style. Photo / Wendy Fenwick

Kerby recommends employing a builder who specialises in smaller projects rather than entire houses. To simplify things, they can coordinate all the other trades to work to the same plan. There are many layers within the bathroom process and everything must be done to specific regulations.

With a builder managing the project, you’ll be able to avoid missing these crucial steps.

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Create a cohesive look Once you have a plan, you can decide on the style you’re after with the finishes, colours, fittings and accessories.

Spend time with your designer, says Shane George, of Kitchens by Design.

“Although it’s worth starting with catalogues, bring product home with you or go to the showroom to get a good feel for what you buy. If you find you don’t like the shape of a vanity, it might be too late once it’s on site.”

Make sure your fixture choices marry with the rest of the house for a cohesive scheme. A plumbing merchant can guide you and put cost-effective packages together.

While pricing ranges wildly when it comes to bathroom finishes, Suzanne recommends that you always choose the best you can afford. Avoid cabinetry made from MDF that turns to cornflakes when it gets wet, and pick good quality tapware that won’t corrode or leak in a few years’ time.

“Whatever you do, don’t skimp on quality,” agrees Kerby, as doing so may come back to bite you.

“Buy locally-made cabinets with good metal hinges and hardware.”

To save time and money, don’t use tiles on floors as that requires waterproofing. And adhering to the existing layout also saves money on building work.

Add a little eye candy To really knock the renovation out of the park, George suggests you find a focal point that you are drawn to when you walk into the room.

“Make a feature with interesting materials, textures or colour that give some real oomph to the space.

You can do this with different tapware. Some of the aged iron, bronzes and rose golds are just beautiful.

Budget comes into it, but if you just choose interesting tapware that will work for you.”

Creating a new bathroom can be tedious and expensive, but to make it as pain-free as possible, enjoy the planning phase at the beginning of the year, says Kerby.

“You definitely don’t want to do it before Christmas when everyone’s busy which is a nightmare. Relax over summer, come back from holiday, do the plan, then get going before winter.”

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Suzanne Allen, of Suzanne Allen Design, adds: “If you’re doing a complete renovation, including demolishing the old bathroom and changing the electrical and plumbing services, allow at least four to six weeks. Then there are building inspections required to obtain consents, which lengthens the process even further.

“If it’s just a makeover, such as replacing the vanity, toilet, plumbing fittings and some tiling and not moving anything, then allow a couple of weeks.”

Be brave with colour If you’d like to dabble in a bold or moody look, bathrooms and ensuites are the ideal place to try out dark or vibrant paint colours or wallpapers. If you’re investing the time, money and effort to do a complete renovation, why not make it one to remember? Try something courageous and it’ll surely be the talk of every guest you host.

Contrary to the popular belief that they make spaces feel smaller, fully saturated shades are amazing for bathrooms. Try dramatic dark blues like Resene King Tide, Resene Indian Ink or Resene Twilight Zone or near black greys like Resene Suits or Resene Porter.

While watery shades can seem like a natural fit for a bathroom, deep emerald greens like Resene Mother Nature, Resene Family Tree or Resene Atlas and rich terracottas like Resene Raging Bull, Resene Sunbaked or Resene Moccasin are a great bold alternatives.

And don’t forget about the ‘fifth wall’. The ceiling is a perfect place to use bold colours instead of the typical white.

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Top tips to take away Spatial considerations •

Spatial relationships between the toilet, vanity, shower and storage are important.

It’s not ideal to have a loo in full view of the door. They must be a minimum 400mm from any wall or vanity.

•

Floating vanities work well in small spaces giving the allusion of more room.

Consider a cavity slider rather than a hinged door in the entry and even across the shower opening. They can save a lot of space.

•

Think about where the toilet roll holder will be positioned so you don’t have to do awkward yoga stretches to reach it. Plan for a decent sized towel rail. If the budget is limited, singles look great, and low voltage options are available if they need to be close to the shower or bath.

•

Always allow a shower recess for storing shampoo bottles and so on. That needs to be in the elevation plan so the builder can make the recess in the wall before the tiling happens.

•

Don’t add a freestanding bath if it’s not practical.

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1.

Don’t rush the design phase and be sure to get a professional designer involved, especially if you’re changing the layout

2.

Always use registered tradespeople, especially when it comes to plumbing and electrical work

3.

If you want to invest in something special, be sure to check on lead times while you’re putting your plan together. Some of the nicer products may be on in-dent and have delivery times of a few months – likewise for custom-vanities that may take months to build.

4.

Allow plenty of storage – always plan for more than you think you’ll need

5.

Consider moving things from their original position if it makes for better flow. Plumbing and drainage can often be moved within a few metres without having to get a council permit.

6.

If you want the room to feel bigger, try hanging a large mirror over the vanity. Not only will this create the illusion of more space, it will bounce light around the room.

Windows can help to do the same thing.

7.

Use light to mid-tones on the floor to open up the space visually and make it seem larger. If you’re opting for bamboo or timber over tile, try Resene Colorwood Whitewash or Resene Colorwood Natural to let the natural woodgrain steal the show.

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“Leaving my previous office wasn’t an easy decision. But when I started at Black Group - everything fell into place.

It’s where I’m meant to be!”

- Andrew Milne 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

THE BLACK BOOK.

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