Our Journey in
Property Investment
and Renovation

The Beginning

In 2012, we embarked on our property journey, searching for a home to live in. After extensive searching across Auckland, attending numerous auctions, and sacrificing many weekends, we finally secured a 2-bedroom house on Highland Road, Mt Albert, for just $483,000.

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The Vision

Our plan was clear: buy, renovate, and hold the property as a long-term investment. With this vision in mind, we commenced the renovation process.

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The Renovation

The renovation was comprehensive, covering every aspect of the house.

• Upgraded the bathroom

• Replaced flooring

• Enhanced lighting

• Repainted interiors

• Relocated the kitchen

• Added new walls

• Created a third bedroom

All renovations were carried out under Schedule 1 of the Building Act 2004, which allowed us to proceed without requiring a building consent. These works are known as exempt works, as detailed by the Auckland Council here.

 

Transition to Rental

After a few years, we purchased another property and began renting out the Mt Albert house. The renovations paid off, attracting a great tenant and generating high cash flow due to the improved layout and added bedroom.

 

The Next Chapter

In 2023, as our journey progressed, we sought to purchase another property and needed funds to make the deal work. This led to the decision to sell the Mt Albert property. Preparing it for sale involved updating the property files to reflect the current layout accurately.

 

Maximizing Value

As the house was still listed as a 2-bedroom property. We updated the property records to achieve maximum value from the sale. Leveraging our background in architecture and property, we ensured the plans now showed the house as a 3-bedroom property. This update significantly increased the property's market value.

 

Successful Sale

After a strategic sales campaign, we sold the Mt Albert property for $1.15 million, despite a slow market. This successful move allowed us to capitalize on the renovations and continue our journey, leading to our next purchase in St Heliers.

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Our process exemplifies our commitment to smart investment, strategic renovations, and maximizing property value, guiding our clients to achieve their own investment goals.