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For a long time, New Zealanders had to ‘make do’ when it came to those extras luxuries that you are used to in America and Europe but we have caught on now, with the market meeting even the most discerning taste. Some more luxurious finishes, such as marble, while available are expensive because of freight costs and therefore not often used except in the most expensive of homes.
Living Rooms
Most older character homes will have a separate lounge, dining room, and kitchen, with many renovated to create more living space. Often you’ll find ‘rumpus’ rooms, which have been converted from garages or space under the house to make more room for children to play. This is fine in theory, but often the ceiling is too low, or it’s damp and/or it’s poorly designed.
However, the newer homes are designed with open-plan, or semi-open areas with living, dining, and family room, and perhaps a study as well. Sometimes, a sunroom or enclosed porch will be counted as a living room – be sure to check exactly what is being claimed as living rooms in advertising.
Kitchen
They say the kitchen is the heart of the home, and New Zealand kitchens can be stunning, with good design and layout, and appliances showing the owners’ financial commitment. There are also the more budget-oriented kitchens, and you’ll often notice, depending on the age of the house, various colour trends – for example, blue has been a popular choice in the past few years.
To replace a kitchen you are looking at a cost of NZ$10,000 -$20,000 depending on the style and your taste. We have seen a kitchen for NZ$50,000 and it is outstanding quality.
Bathrooms
Two bathrooms are usually found in modern homes. Hard surfaces vary, but few homes have tiles to the ceiling, although fully tiled bathrooms are uncommon. Most have only a couple of rows of tiles around the basin and bath. It’s also common to have a shower only in the master, or en-suite, bathroom with a basin and toilet. The bath is usually in the second bathroom, with or without an extra shower. Sometimes you will find two or more toilets, with one of these in the main bathroom. Houses with three and more toilets are mostly found in the high price brackets.
Bedrooms
A big percentage of New Zealand homes have two, more often three, bedrooms. Modern large homes now have four bedrooms, sometimes with one of these referred to as a study (it can be with or without a wardrobe). It is not common practise to have the measurements of the individual rooms on the office records or in advertising. It is accepted practice for people to buy, then alter rooms or find other options to gain the space they require.
Chattels
Chattels are those moveable items that the owner can remove from the property, such as the refrigerator, washing machine and clothes dryer.
Fixtures
Be sure you know what is considered a fixture or a chattel. A fixture will be the house or building on the land when fixed in such a way that it could be construed as permanent. All the fixtures to the house are also regarded as unmovable items but make sure e.g. heated towel rails, carpets and light fittings, as well as curtains. I have seen bathroom mirrors removed and other items that one could consider fixtures. I list all these items and ensure they are written into the contract as part of the purchase.
Hot water supply
We have high mains pressure over 120kPa and low pressure up to 120kPa. It is common to find a header tank in the roof space for the low-pressure system. Most systems work with electricity but gas is getting quite popular, with some new real estate developments having reticulated gas.
Electricity
Mains electricity is 240 volts, 50 cycles. Our plugs are usually round, with either two or three steel prongs or pins fitting into the wall plug. You can buy adaptors for your appliances, but if your refrigerator, washing machine and clothes drier, TV, iron etc are old, it’s probably better to sell them and buy new, particularly as you’ll probably have problems finding spare parts.
But remember, too, things such as your computers and hairdryers – they will probably need adaptors as well.
Interior wall linings
In older homes, it is quite possible to get match lining in kitchens and sculleries – this is similar to Tongue and Groove flooring, just thinner. Scrim is a Hessian or jute sacking that can be found in very old homes, and lathe and plaster is also quite common. Indigenous timber such as Rimu or Kauri was used for batten and board wall linings in the hall and other living areas in older homes as well. But most modern homes use Gib. (gibralter) board of various qualities for wet and noisy areas.
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