- Two contenders for Invercargill's worst house are going to auction next month.
- Harcourts agent Carl Wilson warns buyers to bring a torch and leave kids at home.
- Ray White agent Ben Henderson's listing is a fire-damaged home attracting developers and renovators.
Two leading contenders for Invercargill's worst house are heading to auction next month, and the agents selling them are warning potential buyers to be careful.
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In the case of 126 O’Hara Street, in Appleby, Harcourts listing agent Carl Wilson is recommending interested parties bring a torch and leave the kids at home.
The four-bedroom villa has been empty for over a year and is uninhabitable.
Wilson told OneRoof it was arguably one of the worst houses in Invercargill and potentially one of the cheapest (he is urging buyers with $100,000 in the bank to turn up at the auction).
Some of the windows have been boarded up and the wall linings ripped off. Photo / Supplied
The beneficiaries of the deceased estate, which has a RV of $190,000, are selling it "as is, where is".
“The renovation is not for the faint-hearted. It’s a big, big job... Picture the worst and double it.”
Wilson has not held an open home at the property yet, but he has laid down some strict rules for those seeking to view it.
First, no kids are allowed on site. His listing also makes clear there is no power and that most of the windows are boarded up, "so it's recommended you bring a flashlight or torch as viewing is limited".
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Wilson said buyers had options: they could renovate the villa or demolish it and build something new. Alternatively, they could clear the 1012sqm section and subdivide it.
He believed the property was a good buy for someone prepared to put in the hard work. “It’ a classic villa. The floors are remarkably level, all Rimu. It’s a solid old girl – it’s just been let go and ripped to bits."
He said houses on the street sold from $400,000 up. “Developers are slowly creeping into the area, and it’s quite close to the hospital and very close to South City Mall.”
Wilson said an Australian buyer was planning to attend the auction. He also had interest from a buyer in Auckland, as well as locals. “One guy I spoke to said ‘I’ve done up worse’.”
A three-bedroom house on Scott Street was damaged in an electrical fire last November and is being sold by the mortgagee. Photo / Supplied
The kitchen and lounge were the worst-hit, but the whole house suffered smoke damage. Photo / Supplied
A street away at 30 Scott Street, in Strathern, Ray White listing agent Ben Henderson has a fire-damaged home that will put renovators to the test.
Henderson said an electrical fire blew out the windows and melted and charred parts of the home in November 2024. There was a big hole in the floor, meaning buyers could only view it from the outside.
The three-bedroom home, which has an RV of $300,000, is being sold at a mortgagee auction. Henderson said it was attracting interest from developers and renovators. “I’ve got people wanting to do all sorts."
He wouldn’t be drawn on price, but said it was “a great opportunity for the right person”.
- 126 O'Hara Street, in Appleby, Invercargill, goes to auction on June 12; 30 Scott Street, in Strathern, goes to auction on June 19
