Home insulation keeps your property warmer in winter and cooler in summer so it just makes sense to have at least the minimum depth of insulation in the ceilings and underfloors and also in the walls too if you can do it.

European countries are getting ready for an unprecedented heat wave of 40 degrees Celsius or more, and unfortunately, people perishing the heat is unavoidable.  The old and young suffer the most in extreme heat so a home that has good insulation keeps its inhabitants comfortable.

Newer countries with milder climates have seemingly avoided building homes with much consideration of insulation requirements.

Many properties have just the lining and cladding between them and a cyclone, hurricane or heatwave.  However, it’s becoming apparent that in countries like Australia and New Zealand, the rising costs in healthcare have their Governments focused on improving the quality of tenanted properties.

In New Zealand, the new Healthy Homes Standards has forced the hand of landlords to comply with insulation requirements by 1 July 2019.  All rental properties must have adequate ceiling and underfloor insulation.

Insulation Minimum Depth Recommendations

The recommendations for the minimum depth of insulation for the ceiling, underfloor and walls depend on the climate, and severity of weather conditions.

The UK, USA, Canada and countries like Australia and New Zealand all have depth requirements, therefore landlords need to beware that there is no ‘one size fits all’ should they decide to take on the job of fitting out a rental property for compliance.

All new homes need to be fitted with insulation in time there won’t be a residential property without it.

How Insulation Works

For the nerdy, you’ll find how insulation works fascinating.  However, for the purposes of this blog post, we can summarise it as a product measured in terms of its R-Value or depth, for its thermal resistance quality.

Insulating materials differ however their role is the same and that is to prevent heat flow.  Stop the heat escaping from within the home to the outdoors via the ceiling, walls and floors and also prevent hot and cold air transferring from outside into the home.

To keep homes healthy humidity levels must be kept at a normal level.  This can be dealt with by opening windows and doors, to air out the home.  Remember mould love a warm moist environment, but at high levels mould can be dangerous to mankind.

Insulation Types

There are many different types of insulation including radiant barriers and reflective foils which are both highly reflective so heat is not absorbed.  Bulky fibre materials can be blown into the cavity, which is great for walls and ceiling, and there are the standard sheets.

Some products are made from recycled materials, like plastic, and car tyres.  There are natural products like wool, cotton and straw and of course, there’s the stable material fibreglass.   The list of types of insulation is long and includes many other man-made materials usually byproducts of plastics, metals and minerals.

Insulation Costs

The cost of the product will vary depending on the quality and quantity required.  Natural products like wool will be more expensive than some man-made options and be aware installation costs will be driven by supply and demand.

When there is a Government initiative at play with a compliance deadline to meet, installers will raise their fees accordingly.  Landlords are recommended to get their rental homes insulated before their Government makes it compulsory and costs rise with demand.

The post Home Insulation Requirements first appeared on Property Blogs.

Lower mortgage interest rates is a big deal for most homeowners and buyers.

Existing homeowners can hunt around for a better deal with the same or another lender and in the process save hundreds, if not thousands of dollars on interest payments. Even if a borrower is locked into a fixed rate deal on a fixed term, it often pays to break it and reap the rewards of paying a lot less interest.

For first time home buyers, lower interest rates can be the difference between renting and owning a home. Existing homeowners trading up or down, see lower interest rates as a great time to sell and buy too, Therefore there is always a frenzy of activity in the mortgages sector when there is movement in interest rates and there will be winners and and there will be losers.

Winners and Losers

Lower interest rates sends a signal to vendors with homes to sell, that there are more buyers in the market. This can get unsold properties sold which is a win win for vendor and buyer.

More buyers in the market, however can also push the sales price up, as vendors aim to get the best price and there can be only one buyer, the one who is willing and able to pay the most.

In this situation it’s more of a win for the vendor. The eventual purchaser is likely to have paid more than they were comfortable with and thus borrowed more to get the property. Plus there were many buyers locked out by the higher price.

First Home Buyer Tip

The tip for first home buyers is to always be ready to take action as soon as the timing is right.

For first home buyers, it’s always a good time keep a financial advisor or broker up to speed on your personal financial position. This way when the timing is right, like a downward move in interest rates, you can just ask the question:

“What can I afford to borrow, now the interest rates are lower?”

There is no such thing as one size fits all when it comes to borrowing money. Your position will determine how high risk you are to a lender.

A trusted advisor in the know, can act fast on your behalf when lending conditions favour you. Lenders who see you a good ‘investment’ will be keen to move quickly too, to secure your business and thus beat their competition, i.e. other lenders.

Recent news of an OCR rate drop by the RBNZ, spread like wildfire around the country and the early worm is sure to get the best deals.

Homeowners with advisors already up to speed on their current position, will be busy acting on their behalf, to find the best deal saving their clients hundreds if not thousands in interest repayments over the term of their loan.

Property price increases have cooled in Auckland, increasing by just 1.7 percent compared to the previous year. Listings too have been lower, however that’s all about to change. More buyers, trigger more listings and with more buying power, higher property prices.

Timing is everything, so whatever your circumstance, talk to your mortgage advisor and act on the deal that’s right for you.

The post Low Interest Rates Winners and Losers first appeared on Property Blogs.

With the demand for housing in Auckland at peak levels and even smaller-scale properties showing substantial profit margins when sold, subdividing a lot into two or more sections has huge earning potential. Those with the means and capabilities to purchase land for the purpose of subdividing are almost certain to see a large return-on-investment, that is of course, as long as it is done correctly.

Choosing a property to subdivide while exploring real estate options requires the assessment of a multitude of factors. Whether or not a property is capable of being subdivided will depend on its size, its location and the physical layout of the property. It’s not always as easy as choosing the biggest section out there and splitting it down the centre.

Considerations are not just restricted to feasibility either. Property investors taking this route should always keep profitability at front of mind. The effort put into the property needs to be reflected in resale value. At times, just because you can subdivide, doesn’t mean you should.

Factors to Consider When Looking to Purchase a Property with the Potential to be Subdivided

The Size of the Property

When it comes to subdividing, size definitely does matter. Generally, the larger the section the better the earning potential will be. On the other hand, it’s important to keep in mind that section size will also affect overheads. Larger sections typically incur higher costs while performing due diligence.

Land Layout

Level land is important, it will be easier to build on and will be more appealing when it’s back on the market. If a potential section is uneven or has landscape issues, it can make property development more difficult. Choosing a property that is already level will allow a smoother process.

Steps should also be taken to assess how easy it will be for multiple households to live on the lot. Consider issues like driveway creation, road and utility access, and street frontage. These factors will affect council consent and appeal once you’ve placed your subdivided property on the market.

The Zoning Rules of the Area

How the area the property is located in is zoned will restrict the type of housing you are able to create and can even cancel out any plans to subdivide. Before purchasing a property, it is crucial to research council zoning restrictions and consider how they will dictate your subdivision plans. Choosing to work with a subdivision consultant will help you navigate this process if you aren’t sure about taking it on yourself.

Subdividing is one of the most profitable actions a property owner can take. The ability to sell two lots from the purchase of one can exponentially boost your earnings from your investment. Council restrictions and market appeal will have an impact on how your subdivision journey will play out. However, with these considerations taken into account while you search, it is entirely possible to choose a property that will offer worthwhile returns.

The post How to Choose and Purchase a Suitable Property to Subdivide first appeared on Property Blogs.

How scary is the new ring-fencing legislation?

Well, just ask any property investor, most of whom are ma and pa investors with less than three rental properties and they’ll tell you it’s outright frightening.

They are the investors, most likely to be among the 116,000 already declaring a loss on their properties and times look set to get tougher for them where selling up may be the only way out.

Ma & Pa Investors Are Not Greedy Landlords

Ma and Pa investors are not your ‘greedy landlords’ with huge portfolios.  They’re middle aged workers (GenX, Baby Boomers) and retirees, motivated by the need to provide their own financial security in retirement.

For years the message from those in the know has been: we’re living longer and the Government pension will not be enough to live on.

Taking matters into their own hands, ma and pa investors have heeded this advice and parked some savings in one or two rental properties.  However times have been tough in recent years and the not so greedy landlords have seen any profits they had eroded.

Weekly rental increases have been modest for months.  Some may balk at this but yes, the evidence is on the Trade Me Rental Price Index and on this blog too.

Property investors have been sideswiped with increases in running costs, which they have had no choice but to absorb initially, before passing them on in the form of incremental rent increases and now there’s another law to halt that with only one increase permitted every 12 months!

See this news item on Stuff, 116,000 rental property owners declared a loss for the year ending March 2017, and it was during the lead up to, and including, this financial year, that legislation changes really started to bite and property expenses started to far exceeded income.

On blogs, property accounting and finance professionals like GRA have provided their interpretation and opinion on legislation changes and forums like our PropertyTalk give a voice to investors and their sentiment.

Upside

The ring fencing law will stress out many property investors further, and some to the point of no return.  Yes, landlords will sell, so more properties will come onto the market and many first home buyers will happily snap them up.  For those amongst us that are politically motivative,  they’ll only see the upside.

However there’s a downside too, that’s not been mentioned much.

Downside

Rentals typically house more people that first home buyer (FHB) homes.  So for every rental property subsequently bought by a FHB, two people are left without somewhere to live.

Housing has been a hot political potato for so long it’s been one step forward and two steps back irrespective of which party or parties are in power and so there’s no end in sight to this housing crisis madness.

Not Just Local

Targeting the rental property owner has been popular not just locally, it’s been a justifiable fear for landlords in the UK, America, and Australia.  Check out the links below.

So is there a country getting housing right?  Let us know your opinion in the comments below or in a blog post on PropertyTalk or of course in our discussion forums.

theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/aug/18/no-fault-evictions-hundreds-of-families-homeless-each-week
domain.com.au/news/landlords-will-withdraw-homes-from-rental-market-in-response-to-new-laws-reiv-20180806-h13ma8-756733/

The post Another date NZ property investors are dreading first appeared on Property Blogs.

The coworking scene has done anything but slowed down. Coworking spaces in Auckland alone vary between your upmarket, corporate office to the trendier, chic ones. Certainly, investing in this type of commercial real estate has never been more attractive.  There is a space for everyone in this landscape and for businesses looking for new workspaces there’s not only variety available, there’s options at an affordable price.

When a business has finally found an office, in one of these buildings they have not only found a workspace, they’ve also found community as well. One coworking space – Servcorp – is a good example of the way work and networking have intersected to provide business with the chance to grow. This new way of leasing premises is highly attractive to the leasee and the property owner.  Here are some tips for moving into a new coworking space, so the business can prepare to maximise their working experience.

Continue reading to learn what you can do to prepare for your move to your new coworking space to ensure the move is as seamless as possible.

Purposeful Coworking

Coworking presents professionals with the chance to use the space to just work or to build on their professional network. Before getting comfortable in your new office, sit down and take inventory of the tasks beyond work that you would like to accomplish. When writing down your goals and objectives, keep in mind the types of activities that you would like to engage in the space.

Of the many activities, formal networking events and community social events are the types you want to pay attention to if you plan to use the space to build a social network. Not that you have to be out and about every night, but scheduling time to promote your business is one way to maximise the coworking space. Ultimately, if the purpose of coworking is to build a networking platform or to grow your business, find ways to incorporate the more social aspect of the space.

Tool Of The Trade

Another thing that professionals moving into a coworking space should prepare for is knowing what amenities the space provides. Standard spaces fit out the office with exceptional IT services and office equipment, but other amenities include programs and conferences that help teach entrepreneurs how to build their businesses. Before moving into your space, consider checking out all the perks of working in your coworking space.

Moreover, make sure you know what is available for use in the office, so as to bring supplies if necessary. While staplers and other office products come standard in a conventional office, some spaces might not make this available to employees. On a larger scale, make sure there is a receptionist available, and if not, know exactly how to retrieve any messages.

Change Of Business Address

Before leaving your conventional or home office, make sure that clients and other important people know your new location and phone number. One simple way to do this is to email clients of your relocation as to avoid any mix-ups. Furthermore, make sure to forward any business mail to your new location, as to avoid missing important parcels. Finally, make sure you know the building’s office hours for scheduling appointments.

Event Calendar

Check out the coworking space’s event calendar. In addition to the numerous networking opportunities in the day, many coworking communities hold events to get the professionals to engage with each other. Make an exerted effort to attend at least a few of the events every week to raise your business’s profile. You never know what opportunity awaits when engaging people from your profession and others.

Preparing And Putting Coworking To Work

Coworking makes moving effortless simply by alleviating much of the work associated with relocating. You can, however, maximise your move by putting together an agenda of how you plan to use the work to benefit your business. Your plan will help you use your space more effectively for building a platform for business success.

The post Coworking Countdown – 4 Things to Prepare Before You Move In first appeared on Property Blogs.

Investing in residential property has well and truly lost it’s shine in 2018, especially in the state of Victoria and New Zealand.

In the UK, Landlords are more philosophical about changes to tenancy laws.

A recent survey suggested around half are actually positive about Land-lording even with the obvious challenges ahead namely Brexit and the political climate.

As aforementioned, can not be said down-under where landlords feel they’re wrongly in the line of sight of politicians for political gain and thus the law changes are not balanced and swing too far in tenants favour.

So the question is would you be a new Landlord in 2018?

Hindsight is a wonderful thing as the saying goes, and many property investors who have been in the property investment industry for some time still love it and already do well by the tenants which really is just commonsense.

However going in now with your eyes wide open and in the knowledge of the recent law changes, increases in everything from insurances to rates and the talk of tougher times ahead – is property investing a good move? For long term investment – why not?

Speculative property investing (though it’s hardly investing) has always been cyclical and when it’s grouped under ‘property investing’ it gives long term buy and hold Landlords a bad name.

Speculators will come and go as the property market moves through it’s cycle and their activity is considered a business and incurs Capital Gains Tax.

Long term buy and hold investors know it’s always been about the numbers and making sure they add up and there is some fat left in for the unexpected expenses.

However the constant politicising and changing of the rules to suit political agendas is disruptive and it’s hard not to think there’s a conspiracy against Landlords and it’s not just in Victoria our New Zealand, it’s more far reaching and this must be putting off would be investors which will be problematic since private landlords supply most of the rental stock.

The UK Landlords must be made of tougher stuff though as 64 percent say they’ll carry on regardless, keeping their rental properties, focusing on the potential of long term profit. The idiom “soldier on” holds firm on the land of the white cliffs of Dover.

Back down under the confidence is not so high among the local property investors. It’s one thing after another and there’s been a lot of change thrown at Landlords in recent months.

The bright line test, LVR rules, and more recently revision of the bright line test to five years and legislation around the quality of the properties.

Insulation, heating, moisture extraction, you name it New Zealand rental properties are getting a hammering from Government. But none more threatening than what might come from the Tax Working Group headed by Sir Michael Cullen.

There’s a lot on the table aimed at raising the tax grab, including Capital Gains Tax and more recently talk of a Property Value Income Tax. If you screwing up your eyes at this one, you’re not alone.

It’s creative for sure, and if implemented, it’s likely to be the tipping point for Landlords unsure if they’ll ‘soldier on’ or sell up and run for the hills.

What’s most perplexing Landlords, is why the sole focus on them and not a balanced effort to improve both the conditions of the suppliers of rental properties i.e. the landlords and it’s inhabitants, the tenants.

Surely the relationship is symbiotic and thus both are needed, now that ever before with homelessness increasing and home affordability out of reach for first home buyers everywhere you look.

Here are some great discussions on various topics affecting the viability of landlording today in New Zealand.

Capital Gains Tax?

Consultation on proposed RTA changes

Tax Working Group

The post Would You Be a Landlord in 2018? first appeared on Property Blogs.

Business travellers are often considered the ideal Airbnb guest.  Booking properties outside of busy weekends and holiday periods, reliability and the potential for repeat return visits, targeting business travellers with your Airbnb listing can prove a lucrative and low maintenance niche.

But how do you go about attracting such clientele?  Well, there are several things which you can do to attract the business traveller to your Airbnb listing.

Location, Location, Location

The most crucial aspect of attracting business travellers is (unsurprisingly) location. With the vast majority of business travellers requiring access to the CMD, the closer you are to your city’s CBD, the better.

For Airbnb guests in NZ, the most popular destinations are Auckland, Wellington and Queenstown, for business travellers the most popular city is Auckland and with most searching for accommodation in the CBD, your property will need to be located here.

Create a space to work

With many business traveller working while they travel it is important to create and showcase an appealing workspace. A desk, comfy office chair, access to a printer and scanner, fast Wi-Fi – all paint a picture of productivity.

Be sure to portray this in your listing photos and highlight the existence of your work space in your property description.

Take a more hands off approach

While originally Airbnb was created to rent a room in someone’s home, it was since morphed into more of a solitary experience. While many still opt for the cheaper lodging alternative and enjoy the experience of getting to know their host, a business traveller expects more of a standoff approach.

In your listing description stress privacy and talk your property up as an excellent place to unwind after a long day.

Also try and make your check-in process as simple as possible as after a long flight or drive to the city the last thing a business traveller wants is a complicated check-in.

Amenities – recreating a hotel experience

Traditionally business travellers stayed in hotel accommodation. However due to the rising costs of this, many turned to the Airbnb platform. But these travellers are still used to the hotel experience, so the closer you can emulate this, the more likely you are to foster return business travellers.

Offering a broad range of amenities, keeping these restocked after each guests and providing hotel quality linens are all great ways to recreate the hotel experience.

Disposable razors are an oft forgotten amenities which is always appreciated by business travellers who mostly fly with only carry-on luggage and are therefore unable to bring one with them

Hire a property manager

Hiring a dedicated Auckland Airbnb property manager can go a long way in conveying the professional, productive experience you want to portray.

Taking professional listing photos, crafting a listing description which appeals to business travellers, streamlining check in, restocking amenities and keeping your property clean – all tasks which a specialist Airbnb property manager can take care of you.

Taking on a property manager will also increase your chances of receiving more positive reviews which will only push you further up the Airbnb listing rankings for accommodations in Auckland’s CBD.

The post Attracting More Business Travellers To Your Auckland Airbnb Property first appeared on Property Blogs.

It is not an uncommon fact that a well styled and well maintained house is sold easier and quicker in comparison to the one which is dirty and not looked after. Supplementing the resale value of your property may sound like a difficult task, but in fact it is a very easy thing to do. We have highlighted some of the most effective tips that will help you in improving the value of your home.

1. Proper planning

It will get a lot more easier for you if you do things in a planned and organised manner. Make a list of all those things you want to change or upgrade. Go through the list and evaluate how much are the renovating and repairing services going to cost you and plan accordingly.

When you have made an arrangement, conduct a thorough research and converse with the companies that provide renovation services in Auckland to perceive what kind of return those enhancements may bring. A few changes will enhance your home pretty effectively.

2. Paint the walls again

Painting the walls of your property using neutral colours such as beige, tan, grey etc can instantaneously enhance the overall look of your home and thus its resale value. Newly painted walls will add vibrance and exuberance to your room and make it smell fresher.

Keep in mind about outside paint, especially if your current paint is chipped, peeling or worn out. An excessive number of colours could make the home to seem uneven as opposed to coordinated by a typical sense of taste. Pick not more than three shades for the exterior of your house.

3. Keep it clean

Think from the perspective of a buyer, if your home is available for purchasing, a brilliant and sparkly home can draw in purchasers like a magnet.

A perfect spic and span property can offer a lot of benefits at once. To begin with, you don’t have to worry about maintenance issues, it becomes easier to identify potential issues before they transform into costly expenses. Also, you don’t allow dirt and garbage to develop if you keep the cleanliness of your property up to date.

Think past your standard vacuuming schedule. Contract a company that can offer profound cleaning services. You may need to contract a different company to steam-clean the carpets, as not every single home cleaner offers this service.

4. Modernize your kitchen

On the off chance that your cupboards are in great condition however obsolete, you can enhance their appearance by applying a new coat of fresh white paint and replacing the pivots and handles. You could also procure contractual workers to replace the cabinets, while leaving the cupboards themselves intact.

Use Stainless Steel. The frosty feel of steel is a hot ticket for purchasers. Replace your equipment as it becomes outdated and pick a similar metallic look in your light switches.

Replace your countertop with granite, for it will supplement the overall look of the kitchen greatly.

5. Update your washrooms

Of all the rooms in your home, the washroom is the most used one. There is a lot of wear and tear and damage involved, so you need to keep it well maintained and make attractive updates if required.

Keep it clean. Dirt and grime can end up accumulating on washroom surfaces rapidly. Spruce it up with new grout.

Exchange your standard showerhead with a more noteworthy looking choice. Include a builder grade granite or marble ledge to your shower vanity at a moderately minimal effort point, as the material expenses won’t be too high.

In the event that your washroom is in good working order, these updates aren’t important. In any case, if your washroom is outdated with obsolete ledge with dings, chips and stains, replacing this could enable you to draw in a purchaser.

Last but not the least, it is advisable to take a proactive approach towards renovating your house by hiring a reputed company that provides professional builders who will do the job for you in a more efficient manner. There are a number of renovating companies in Auckland like Your Builder Ltd who provide such services at very reasonable prices.

The post Five easy steps to boost the appeal of your home first appeared on Property Blogs.

Media Release On Behalf Of Mainmark

30 May 2018

Cracking walls and uneven floors are usually symptoms of a deeper problem. Many structural issues are the result of unstable ground or subsidence, so understanding what’s happening in the ground will help identify the cause of any structural effects that are happening to the building itself. Different soil types in particular give rise to different problems and require different solutions.

James O’Grady, Sales and Business Development Manager at ground engineering specialist Mainmark said, “Having an expert on hand who knows how soils behave can help make sure that when you solve one issue you don’t cause another. Getting it wrong can have disastrous results.”

“One home I recently visited was substantially damaged after a trench was dug beneath the floor to fix a leaking pipe. It was then back filled with sand,” he explained.

The property was built on reactive clay soil. The sand-filled trench created a channel that funnelled ground water under the home, saturating the clay and ‘heaving’ the entire building.

“The fix caused far more extensive damage than the original problem, all because the soil type hadn’t been considered.”

“Understanding soils is key to finding an effective, sustainable solution to structural issues, so it’s important to get advice from both structural and geotechnical experts before deciding on the right remediation plan for your situation,” said O’Grady.

The soil types commonly encountered in ground remediation work include reactive clay, sand and silt, fill, and organic soils. Each have different characteristics and require different solutions to address building subsidence issues.

Reactive Clays

Structural problems often result from varying moisture levels in reactive clay soil. It swells when wet and shrinks when dry causing subsidence in drier, or heave in wetter, areas. Over- saturated clay also loses its bearing capacity causing building footings to settle in the weakened soil and can sink even further if it dries out. It often gets oversaturated by moisture from broken sewers and storm water pipes, burst mains or sometimes even poor overland drainage.

Mainmark’s Teretek® resin injection solution is generally used to re-level buildings and remediate issues in foundation ground. It is ideal for smaller, discrete areas typically affected by reactive clay soils and works well to strengthen building foundations. It expands in the ground on application, both compacting and strengthening the soil. Teretek is applied at very precise and specific injection points, and is a less invasive process than traditional underpinning remedies, as it doesn’t require extensive excavation and subsequent backfilling.

Sand and Silt

Structures on sand and silt soils often experience settlement caused by ground water, a natural underground watercourse or a leaking sewer or storm water pipe. The finer grains are washed away leaving larger grains to settle, and the building’s footings and foundations become unsupported, compromising the structure above.

Permeation Grouting can remediate these problems by binding or ‘cementing’ the soil particles together. This stops the water flow, halting the migration of fine material, and strengthening the soil to support the structure above.

Alternatively, in very soft ground, Teretek resin injection can be an effective solution. Resin injection as an engineered solution is also suitable for mitigating liquefaction in sand and silt soils and has been successfully used to remediate earthquake damaged homes and commercial buildings in Christchurch, where it is recognised in the MBIE Module 5 in NZ for earthquake strengthening.

Fill

Fill is earthen material placed and compacted in a hole or depression. It can consist of soil, and can also include aggregate, rock or crushed construction waste. Structures built on fill are susceptible to the same issues as those on sand and silt, as fill is also prone to settlement, especially when water flows wash away finer material. Settlement is worse if the fill is poorly compacted.

Teretek resin injection is an effective remediation solution for fill soils. It works by binding the fill to provide extra strength and alleviate the problem of poor compaction. It is non-invasive, quick and cost-effective, as it can be applied in situ under existing structures, without the need for major excavation work, or manual compaction.

Organic

Organic soils, especially peat, are weak and highly compressible. This makes them prone to settlement as the weight of any structure causes compaction. Primary settlement decreases over time, but can total 100s of millimetres, resulting in significant structural issues.

When building on organic soils, it’s important to balance the total overburden by using soil substitution. Terefil®, a very strong yet lightweight cementitious fill, can be used to replace the top soil layer and provide a new-build platform. It can withstand significant pressure, maintaining its integrity under heavy loads, and is lighter than soil.

For more information and advice about how to address these types of ground problems, contact Mainmark on 0800 873 835 or visit www.mainmark.com.

Kim Viney at Write Away Communication + Events
Email: kim_viney@writeaway.com.au

The post Soil types: the key to structural problems for homeowners first appeared on Property Blogs.

Wai O Taiki Waterside is a brand new housing development which combines relaxed, coastal living, with ease of access to Auckland central.

Located at Wai O Taiki Bay, a tranquil spot in Auckland’s eastern bays, the area is surrounded by nature reserves, coastal walkways and cycle paths. With easy access to transport links to the central city Wai O Taiki Bay is ideal for those who require regular access to the city, but would like to avoid the bustle of inner city living.

Wai O Taiki Waterside is not a brash new development. Instead, it offers the sympathetic regeneration of a tightly held coastal community with contemporary family and executive dwellings.

“The goal of the homes at Wai O Taiki Waterside was about creating quality, architect-designed houses that would fit in seamlessly with the quiet, understated surrounding landscape”, comments Wai O Taiki Russel Cannons, Principal at Construkt Architects.

Attention to detail and a genuine understanding how people live are at the heart of each of these contemporary three to five bedroom homes.

“Each home offers ample natural light and generous open plan spaces with quality finishes and fixtures throughout”.

Wai O Taiki Waterside offers a range of freehold homes – some with stunning water views across to Half Moon Bay – to suit different living needs and lifestyles, and every home comes with a 10-year Builder’s Guarantee.

But it’s not just the quality of the homes that make Wai O Taiki Waterside an attractive prospect for both young families and retirees alike, it’s the area itself.

In close proximity of parks, reserves, beaches, schools, shopping and recreation facilities – and with excellent transport links to the central city,  Wai O Taiki Bay comes together to create a unique neighbourhood.

The first houses in Wai O Taiki Waterside have just come onto the market – and interest is high, with several having already been snapped up by people seeking real work/life balance.  All these homes are located in Fernwood Place – arguably the best street address in the whole of Wai O Taiki Waterside development. A private cul-de-sac with a nature reserve on three sides, several of the four-bedroom family homes on offer have unobstructed views onto the reserve and out across the Tamaki Estuary.

If you are interested in finding out more about the houses for sale at Wai O Taiki Bay, get in touch with the team at Wai O Taiki Waterside via their website.

The post Wai O Taiki Waterside Development – The Best of Both Worlds first appeared on Property Blogs.