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BUYING A HOUSE IN TWIZEL

Expert Buying Tips from Coralie Reid

Are you ready?

Are you ready to make one of the biggest decisions of your life? Buying a property in Twizel, Lake Ohau or Omarama can be one of the most exciting decisions you make, but it's also one of the biggest.

Having guided buyers through this process for over a decade, I know that navigating the legal and financial side can feel overwhelming. That's why I've put together this guide, to help you make informed decisions and avoid the common pitfalls.

A keychain in the shape of a house with Twizel written onto it being held up while Coralie is out of focus in the background

When you visit an open home or by appointment, every minute is valuable. You may have multiple houses to view on the same day, so you quickly need to size the property up and decide whether it could suit your needs. Use these questions and prompts as a checklist to make the most of your viewing.

Where is the sun?
Which rooms will be sunny in the morning? Which ones are in the afternoon? How will this change throughout the year? It's so easy to walk through a home looking at its features, without stopping to think about the sun aspect. Remember, you can change everything about a property, except where it is and how much sun is available in that spot.

Are there opportunities to improve the property?
Sometimes we can be quick to write off a home without giving due consideration to whether it can be altered to suit our needs. Are there trees that could be trimmed to improve the sun? Or an interior wall that could be removed to create more space? Could a skylight be added to a dark room?

Look past possible clutter, dark colours and lack of cleanliness.
‍These three things shouldn't put you off buying a home. Why? Because they can all be fixed for minimal cost.Take notes.If you are viewing multiple houses in short succession, you will quickly learn that it's hard to remember specific details of every property. Take the brochure and give it a score out of 10 on the front page and write your notes on the back. What did you like? What didn't you like? You can add these notes to the app on Trade Me Property or realestate.co.nz for easy reference later on.

Could you live here?
This is the key question to ponder as you leave the property. If the initial answer is 'no' then ask yourself why you feel that way. Is it because of things you can potentially fix, like an old bathroom or kitchen? It's important to be clear on this because if the aspect that is putting you off is something you can change, then you shouldn't discount the property entirely. If you aren't completely sure, schedule a second look (I am available and recommend this greatly). Our opinion of a property can change markedly (for better or worse) once we revisit it a second time.

Don't focus on questions you can answer later.
‍Buyers often end up having long conversations at open homes about price, potentially wasting valuable time they could be using to learn more about the property. You can always discuss price expectations later, either over the phone with your salesperson or on a second visit. Your first viewing should be all about the property and determining whether you could live there.

TAKE THE NEXT STEP

From Twizel's charming character homes to brand-new builds, holiday homes and sections ready for your plans, there’s something here for everyone. Take a look through our current listings across Twizel, Lake Ohau and Omarama. Your dream property might be just a click away.

BUYING A HOUSE IN TWIZEL

Expert Buying Tips from Coralie Reid

Are you ready?

TAKE THE NEXT STEP

Get in Touch to Book a Private Viewing.