Featured Guide – Auckland Houses for Sale

Trying find the right Auckland houses for sale can be a challenge. According to QV, the values of Auckland houses for sale have been constantly increasing throughout 2011, especially with in the ‘old Auckland’ area, which is up by 5.4%. What this means is that its easy to pay too much for Auckland houses for sale, but end up with a lemon! And while it may take weeks or even months to find the right property,  this website is here to guide you on finding the best Auckland houses for sale, and not the ones that’ll cause you a major hassle in the future!

When Looking at Auckland Houses for Sale, Research is Key!

Whether you are looking at new Auckland houses for sale, older ones, or ones that haven’t even been built yet, its extremely important to do the right due diligence. This is likely one of the biggest purchases you’ll ever make, so its worth taking the time and effort doing the research on the hundreds of Auckland houses for sale. The key is, when looking to buy Auckland house for sale, always try to find out as much as possible about the property, such as any defects, problems, or areas that need fixing. This will save you from any huge and expensive headaches down the track!

Buying Older Auckland Houses for Sale

Unfortunately when you are looking to purchase older Auckland houses for sale, there will always be the potential for problems. Often there has been neglect over the years which could affect the integrity of the framing, the pipes and plumbing, the roof, the flooring, and electrical wiring. Not only do these lower the value of the property once discovered, but they can pose a risk to your health and safety. Plus, there might even be cosmetic issues that will cost you a lot of money to get looking just the way you want. The plus side of older Auckland houses for sale though is that once you’ve determined they’re free from faults (or have only minor ones), they will likely stand the test time.

Buying Newer Auckland Houses for Sale

As you are probably aware, the biggest thing to look out for when buying newer Auckland houses for sale is leaks. Unfortunately, many Auckland houses for sale that were built from the early 1990s to the mid 2000s have inferior design and construction that allows water to seep into the internal structuring of the house. This can cause major, sometimes irreparable damage. The most common style of Auckland houses for sale to be at risk of leaks is known as the ‘Mediterranean style’. Thousands of people have collectively lost millions of dollars through buying Auckland houses for sale that weren’t properly built, and subsequently developed leaks. Don’t let this happen to you when you finally decide which of the many Auckland houses for sale you want to buy!

Avoid leaky Auckland houses for sale by keeping an eye out for:

1. Handrails, gutters & fixtures going into cladding
2. Plaster walls going down into the foundations (or the deck)
3. Curved window tops (which may allow water in)
4. Walls that finish into each other
5. Roofs that run parallel to the ground, or have a very low angle
6. Untreated timber used in framing (untreated, kiln-dried  wood was commonly used in Auckland houses for sale build between 1997 to 2003)
7. Plaster look, textured cladding on the outside
8. Complicated arrangements of roof and wall joining

A Mediterranean Style House

If you noticed any of these occurring in any of the Auckland houses for sale that you’re looking at, you should seek a professional’s opinion first. You can also check with the Weathertight Homes Resolution Service (WHRS)  to see if a claim has been made on any of the Auckland houses for sale that you’re considering. Alternatively, you can get a Land Information Memorandum on most Auckland houses for sale from the local council, and it should provide information on whether any of the Auckland houses for sale have been the subject of a WHRS claim. One thing to be aware of though is that if any of the Auckland houses for sale have had proceedings through the courts, or private actions, these don’t have to be identified within the report.

Legal aspects to consider when looking at Auckland houses for sale

There are a number of legal and financial issues to consider when looking at Auckland houses for sale. These include

1. A satisfactory title search
2. A Code of Complicance Certificate (if any of the Auckland houses for sale were built after July 1992)
3. Land Information Memoradum
4. Valuation
5. Property Inspection
6. Finance

Details of these are outside the scope of this website, and again you should seek a professionals opinion on these.

Basic Things to Look for When Inspecting Auckland Houses for Sale

Before making the final decision on which of the Auckland houses for sale you want to purchase, you should get a registered building surveyor. This will ensure that everything about the Auckland houses for sale will be 100% above board. These can be expensive to carry out though, and should only be used when you’re certain on which of the Auckland houses for sale you want to by. In the meantime though, when you’re still in the research phase, this checklist can help you weed out all the unsuitable Auckland houses for sale:

1. Is there a wet, musty smell  when you walk around inside? Or is there stained ceilings, bubbled paint, or warping of roofs or walls? If so, there could be a moisture problem, which can be very expensive to fix.
2. Are there any cracked tiles around the kitchen and bathrooms?
3. Ensure Included Appliances are working
4. Ask about the age of the hot water cylinder
5. Turn on all taps and showers and check the pressure. Keep an ear out for any strange noises coming from the pipes.
6. If any of the Auckland houses for sale have cladding, ensure its at least 255mm above the ground.
7. Externally, check for broken gutters, pipes, roof tiles, rust, rotting panels, sinking and crumbling mortar.
8. Do all the windows and doors open easily and close snuggly? If not, it can be evidence of settling.
9. Buy a power point tester from your local hardware store, and check all power points are working fine.
10. Check wooden piles under the house by poking them with a screwdriver. If the wood is soft enough for you to push it, there is probably a problem with dampness.
11. Check any ventilation systems go directly outside, and just into a wall or ceiling cavity.
12. If the house is two storeys, check to see how much upstairs noise can be heard between floors.
13.  As Auckland is mostly suburban, many Auckland houses for sale will be in close proximity to neighbours. Always check the section boundaries for any potential issues, such as barking dogs, broken fences or overhanging plants or trees.

Using a Real Estate Agent to Help Find Auckland Houses for Sale

When looking at Auckland houses for sale, many buyers can feel that real estate agents work for the sellers of Auckland houses for sale, rather than buyers, but nothing could be further from the truth. With so many things to consider when looking at Auckland houses for sale, its easy to get overwhelmed and make a bad decision. That’s why a qualified real estate agent, armed with years of skills and knowledge can help you find the best Auckland houses for sale, and at the best prices!

Key Benefits include:

1. Real Estate Agents have deeper access to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). For Auckland agents, this database lists all the Auckland houses for sale, and can be searched according to a number of criteria, such as two bathrooms, three bedrooms etc. And while the general public only have limited access to this tool, agents are unrestricted.
2. Real estate agents can also help simply the contract signing process, and help you fully understand each part of the contract. The agent can also advise on and arrange services like appraisals and inspections on any of the Auckland houses for sale you are seriously considering for purchase.