'Worst house' is totally derelict

Get the 𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 from Stuff's Homed team ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     [Support our Journalism]( [Support our Journalism »](   HOMED 09 November 2024   Kia ora {NAME}, We've had a number of abandoned properties hit the market in the past few weeks, and they always generate plenty of interest. While most of us couldn’t imagine tackling such a huge project, there are big wins to be had for the bold. And to be fair, the buyers are usually developers and builders who have the experience and vision for a total refurbishment, or a knockdown-rebuild. There are big pluses to buying one of these properties - invariably, they sell for less than the land value. So that’s a bargain right there. It doesn’t take much to demolish an old house - it can be down and cleared away within a day, depending on access of course. Some properties, such as the [Christchurch house featured this week](, may have architectural merit that’s worth exploring. And others, like the [Ponsonby villa]( we featured, may be heritage-listed, which means they cannot be demolished. A sale is always good news for neighbours, who love the idea of the overgrown “ruin” next door being knocked into shape. But let’s spare a thought for the people who have lived in a house long past its use-by date. Maintenance is not cheap, and it’s easy to see how a house can fall into disrepair. And if that happens over many decades, the results can be disastrous. And then there are the squatters taking over vacant houses that leave their own mark. [What we’re seeing in photographs and videos]( is the end story. But if we could roll back the decades we would surely find a much-loved home with children playing in the yard and dinner cooking in the oven. With a sale, let’s hope, in time, those days can return. Enjoy your weekend Colleen Hawkes Senior Reporter Homed Colleen Hawkes Senior Reporter Homed Enjoying this email? [Check out Stuff's other daily and weekly newsletters.](   [Huge, stripped duplex villa needs love and attention]( The owners have abandoned plans for this bare-bones Dunedin villa, which they bought for a mere $280k in March. Colleen Hawkes [Why this ad]( [Winning DIY-build tiny home takes elements from Lord of the Rings]( The cabin in the hills, with its yakisugi cladding and Kaynemaile room divider, may be only tiny, but it’s part of a much bigger eco-project. Huge '70s Athfield house in Auckland is a classic]( Sir Ian Athfield’s architectural legacy doesn’t get much better than this house with its bottle towers and “group grope room”. Wellington’s iconic Sutch-Smith House has sold for $2.07m]( The Brooklyn property achieved $1m over the suburb’s median, reflecting the architectural importance of the home. 'Worst house' is totally derelict, but there's a view out there]( Buy this “as is” ‘40s house in Maupuia, Wellington and you get the lot, including all the rubbish inside. But there is that view... Support the Stuff you love. If you enjoy this content, please consider making a contribution. It can be as little as the cost of the coffees you drink while enjoying our news, podcasts and videos. [I'd like to contribute →]( [Discover more at Homed]( [Manage Stuff Account]( [Unsubscribe]( | [Terms & Conditions]( | [Privacy Policy]( You are receiving this email because you are subscribed to the Stuff Homed newsletter. Did a friend forward you this email? [Sign up to get the Stuff Homed newsletter in your inbox.]( Stuff, 4 Williamson Ave, Ponsonby, Auckland 1021, New Zealand [Instagram]( [TikTok]( [YouTube]( * You can email us at [feedback@stuff.co.nz](mailto:*%20You%20can%20email%20us%20at%20feedback@stuff.co.nz,%20or%20call%20us%20on%C2%A00800%20339%20000.), or call us on [0800 339 000](tel:0800%20339%20000).