Most people who list their houses for sale try to put up a range of photos to show the house. Trademe listings allow up to 20 photos. Those with enough savvy try to show off the best features. Most of the rest at least try to show all the main rooms and outside areas.
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Seriously, this was the headline under which this house was first listed on Trademe. Not exactly a headline to interest potential buyers.
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The house pictures I posted yesterday showed a house that was very cluttered and a bit untidy, but otherwise clean and in apparently a good state of repair. It’s not how I’d present a house if I wanted someone to fork over $300k+ but hey, it’s not too bad. By contrast, this listing that arrived in my email this morning is a shocker.
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Since I’ve been living at home, I’ve had access to Sky. Mostly, I’ve been watching the Living Channel & Food TV, with a little bit of CI & Discovery thrown in. One common Living Channel style program is to help out someone who is trying to sell a house but hasn’t been able to.
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I’ve been keeping an eye on properties I might like to buy. One of my saves searches brought me a house in Kelston with the caption “Heaps of potential -character plus”.

The listing touts the proximity to bus stops, schools and shops, and suggests a bit of paint and new carpet will transform this home.

It also mentions that there is a “a cosy conservatory off the kitchen (possibly a little unpermitted work here but at the price you may not care).”

The listing includes a picture of it:

Maybe it isn’t that bad. Plenty of people do great work without getting the expensive council permits …. right?

This picture gives a better view of the conservatory:

Possibly unpermitted? Only possibly? I know the various city councils were a bit shoddy about certifying work a decade ago (and hence the leaky homes problem), but how can anyone imagine Waitakere City Council could give a permit to a conservatory that requires a tarp to keep the rain out and a bucket to catch the leaks?

I don’t mind redecorating, but fixing something like that and getting retrospective consent isn’t part of my plans. At least they’re up front about it I guess.