- A dilapidated shack in Tuatapere is attracting buyers with its $85,000-plus price tag.
- Agent Melanie Muldrew reported thousands of views online, highlighting the property's potential despite its condition.
- The owner, who bought it for $46,000 in May 2023, had planned to renovate.
A dilapidated shack in Southland is proving popular with buyers after hitting the market for $85,000-plus.
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The ultra-low price tag on 112 Grove Burn Road, in Tuatapere, seems to have caught the attention of bargain-hunters, with agent Melanie Muldrew, from Todd & Co, telling OneRoof the listing had racked up thousands of views online within 24 hours of going live.
The tiny home, which has two bedrooms and a bathroom (the toilet is in a separate shed, though), sits on 809sqm and is being sold “as is, where is”.
“It is dilapidated and obviously needs work, but the beams and joists seem fine, and you wouldn’t believe the quality of the floorboards,” Muldrew told OneRoof.
“With the right skills and vision, someone could do something with it. Yes, it’s small, but that’s actually an advantage. It means you don’t have to spend a fortune on materials if you decide to renovate.”
The property is being pitched as a renovation opportunity. Photo / Supplied
The property, which has an RV of $55,000, also boasted mountain views and was close to Tuatapere’s amenities and rivers, an ideal spot for those who enjoy fishing, hunting or whitebaiting, Muldrew said.
The owner purchased the property in May 2023 for $46,000. It had been abandoned and had been offered for sale by Southland District Council. Muldrew said the owner had planned to develop and renovate the property but their circumstances had changed, leading to the listing.
Muldrew noted that Tuatapere was one of the most affordable places to buy in New Zealand. Other recent sales in the area included vacant sections in the $60,000 to $70,000 range. The fact that 112 Grove Burn Road came with a house that could be transformed into a liveable home, made it a stand-out property in the area.
“I’ve sold a few properties in [neighbouring] Ohai that have been vandalised and look like they’re rack and ruin. They’re quite exciting because you do get a lot of interest in them. Because of the price and because of the vision people have. They’re not going to tear them down. They think, ‘I can do something with it’.
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“One of the places I sold [in Ohai], I swear it felt like a haunted house. Oh my goodness, it was something. You had to shimmy through broken glass on the door to get into it. And they’ve done that up. It looks so much better.”
Muldrew expected 112 Grove Burn Road to receive multiple offers. “It’s most certainly a diamond in the rough,” she said. “It’s got character. Lots of it. People love that sort of house.”
Tuatapere has several properties on the market, ranging from the $85,000-plus Grove Burn Road home to a $750,000 lifestyle block at 61 and 63A Half Mile Road.
Bargain hunters looking for more of a challenge could also check out a “munted” house at 12 Con Street, in Seddonville, Buller, which has a $115,000 price tag. They’ll have to be quick, though, with Property Brokers agent Paul Murray telling OneRoof the two-bedroom shack is now under offer.
The “munted” shack at 12 Con Street, in Seddonville, Buller, is under offer. Photo / Supplied
Murray’s listing hit the headlines a year ago, thanks to Murray’s blunt marketing and the fact that the property boundary runs right through the middle of the house. “I think we had 900 enquiries,” he said, adding that the boundary issues had made it very difficult to sell.
A potential sale to a Californian “surfer dude” fell through last year, but now the property is set to be scooped up. “A retired couple from Ashburton are buying it. They have enough money to fix up the house and also purchase the land from the neighbour to correct the boundary issue,” said Murray. “Their intention is to make a place for a family bach, so they can get together with the grandkids. They are young retirees.”
The sale would take a while to go through because they need to buy a piece of land from the neighbour, which they are negotiating through buyer and vendor’s lawyers currently.
Murray said another property drawing interest was 21 Horncastle Crescent, in Little Wanganui, which required a lot less work and could be connected to reticulated services. The 20sqm bach, which sits on 595sqm, is listed for sale at $175,000.
“I understand why people buy derelict buildings and do them up. It’s a good way to get land and allows them to do a little bit of work every time they have money. But people often don’t take into account the cost of doing that. The building cost. It can be quite a lot more than people think.”
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