Arishma Kumar - Harcourts Cooper and Co

13/08/2022

July stats are out!!

08/08/2022

Brick exterior and cladding

- Ask if any bricks have been replaced due to land movements, for example, earthquakes.

- Can you see any obvious cracks and spacing between the window or doors?

- Is the brick faded and weatherworn in some areas and not others?
If so, ask the agent if any bricks have been replaced and why.

- Look out for moisture damage – are the bricks crumbling or brittle?

- If you touch a brick veneer and it moves or is leaning, this could indicate that the brick wall ties have come away from the frame.

- Check that the cladding isn’t in contact with the ground or plants, moisture from these can cause damage.

- Check there is easy access to areas of the building exterior that need regular maintenance.

- Brick — including clay bricks and brick veneer. Brick cladding systems have many advantages, including durability, good thermal insulation properties, good fire protection and a low rate of moisture absorption.

- The appearance of brick is a good indication of issues and future problems. Take time to walk around the outside of the building to see if you can spot any issues. Brick veneer consists of an outer skin of brick that is installed in front of but separated from the timber framing that supports it. The brick veneer is tied to the framing with metal ties. Brick veneer cladding is less dangerous than solid brick or concrete block masonry walls in an earthquake, but some damage can still occur. The veneer could come off the timber framing if the ties have corroded or their fixings have weakened.

- Also note if the house has a chimney as Brick and masonry chimneys may crack, shift or collapse in an earthquake, causing injury to people and damage to property. Chimneys can topple or collapse through the roof or fall outwards, damaging other parts of the property therefore check the following:
- Is the chimney reinforced?
- Check for cracks, loose or broken bricks or loose masonry or plaster.
- Does the chimney lean or twist?

08/08/2022

Wood — including treated plywood and engineered wood products. A wooden exterior or cladding needs ongoing maintenance, and there may be problems if it hasn’t been properly and regularly maintained.

- When was the cladding last painted or stained? Treatments last 10 to 20 years and can be costly to re-apply.

- Is the cladding constructed from sheets or weatherboards? What type of timber is it? Some types require more maintenance than others, for example, cedar.

- Can you see any rot, mould or mildew? Pay special attention to windows and door frames.
Has the building had issues with borer in the past? Can you see any borer holes?

- If wooden cladding looks faded or has mould or moss growing on it, there could be damage to the cladding.

- Can you see any cladding that is splitting or warping?

- Can you see any bubbling in the paint? This can be a sign that the wood is rotting underneath.

- Check there is easy access to areas of the building exterior that need regular maintenance.

- Check that the cladding isn’t in contact with the ground or plants

– moisture from these can cause damage.

08/08/2022

Over the next few weeks I will be posting information about common issues to look for when purchasing a property built in 1970's, starting with general tips then moving onto more specific issues related to types of cladding etc.
(Please note this is not an advice but more of an answer to questions we are asked when dealing with properties).

Common issues:
- Look out for Weatherside cladding, which was made from wood fibres and glue. In many cases the glue failed, which let moisture come into contact with the wood fibre, and the cladding deteriorated.

- Look for original aluminium windows, which may need to be maintained or replaced.

- Look out for asbestos. Many buildings contain asbestos cement materials both inside and out. It was also used for sheds, garages and fences. Textured asbestos ceilings were also popular in living areas.

- Look for original, highly patterned vinyl floors, which can have an asbestos backing.
- Does the building have insulation and, if so, is it up to current standards?
(To read more about house insulation requirements visit the MBIE website.)

- Does the building have the original wiring or has it been updated?

- Lead-based paint was commonly used for both internal and external paintwork in this period and can cause serious health problems. It can be removed and painted over, but this needs to be managed carefully.

- Has the plumbing been replaced? If new plumbing was added in the 1980s, look out for Dux Quest piping, which may cause problems.

- Check for obvious structural issues, for example, sloping or sagging floors, cracks in the walls and buckling near windows and doors.

-The piles and foundations under the building can deteriorate over time, so check they are still in good condition and are properly braced for earthquakes.

- Borer can be found in building timber and can cause structural issues.

- A range of housing styles were built in the 1970s. This decade saw the development of speculative (‘spec’) houses by developers, typically built from standard plans, and some were not well suited for their sites.

For more information:
- Check the local council files, including the LIM report.

- Consider getting a property inspection by a qualified property inspector. Make sure the inspection includes looking for asbestos — some building inspectors exclude liability for asbestos, so if you suspect asbestos make sure you have hired an inspector who will look for it.

- Ask the real estate agent (or the seller if it is a private sale).

23/10/2021

The best summary of the new housing rules (medium density in urban areas)

https://www.simpsongrierson.com/articles/2021/government-levels-up-housing-intensification-plans?fbclid=IwAR2kn02vyfwf6wLDrrl1wDPt_KzVAh_fDo4w0fBtpTndYmy1lpeHRjpRrpU

Government ‘levels-up’ housing intensification plans - Simpson Grierson is one of New Zealand's leading commercial law firms.

24/06/2021

What’s an appraisal??
An assessment of a property’s likely sale price. An agent must give the seller a written appraisal that is realistic and based on market conditions and information from recent sales of similar properties.

19/05/2021

APRIL 2021 AUCTION RESULTS | Seventy Seven Percent. 💙

For the month of April 2021, Harcourts Cooper & Co conducted 124 auctions of which 74 sold prior or on auction day, 21 sold within 14 days post auction, 2 are under offer & 27 still have our undivided selling attention or are withdrawn.

04/05/2021

Data shows investors are selling up, while less people are asking for mortgages.

03/05/2021

Reviews 🙌 🌟

18/02/2021

🏡 For the month of January 2021, Harcourts Cooper & Co conducted 43 auctions of which 36 sold prior or on auction day, 1 sold within 14 days post auction, 3 are under offer & 3 still have our undivided selling attention or are withdrawn. 🏡

16/02/2021

28/01/2021

💥 For January - December 2020, Harcourts Cooper & Co conducted 1,213 auctions of which 818 sold prior or on auction day, 147 were sold within 14 days after auction, 51 were placed under offer within 14 days after auction 🏡 💙