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Once upon a time, every Kiwi dreamed of a quarter-acre section complete with a house, two-car garage, rotary clothesline and vege garden. This ideal persists for many, but some are rewriting their home ownership dream to include more efficient spaces, communal areas and green technology.
At the … View moreOnce upon a time, every Kiwi dreamed of a quarter-acre section complete with a house, two-car garage, rotary clothesline and vege garden. This ideal persists for many, but some are rewriting their home ownership dream to include more efficient spaces, communal areas and green technology.
At the end of the day, the question we all ask ourselves is: what kind of home will allow us and our families to live well in 2018 and beyond? Small living offers some appealing solutions, and every year there are more and more options for small homes on the market, as well as ideas for shrinking our environmental footprint.
1. APARTMENTS
Kiwis are embracing the more compact lifestyle offered by apartment living and not just in Auckland. The Salt development in Mt Maunganui includes 52 apartments, 19 townhouses, a cafe and childcare centre and is almost completely sold.
The Pinnacle complex in Wellington is due for completion at the end of this year and the same developers are also building Victoria Street Precinct, a neighbouring apartment building containing 140 dwellings which all sold off the plans. If you love eating out and seeing movies, but can take or leave several hours of gardening every weekend, apartment life could be for you.
Pros
+ Less maintenance
+ Safe environment
+ Community vibe
+ Central location
+ Consent, design and build process managed for you
+ Services often managed, too
Cons
+ Less green space
+ Proximity to neighbours
+ Body corporate fees and regulations can be costly and restrictive
+ Pets not always allowed
+ Less design freedom
Budget
Very dependent on your site and various other factors, but will be in the ballpark of $4K per square metre.
2. SMALL NEW BUILDS
A “small house” describes a home that is less than 93 square metres. So why bother with a small house when you could just design and build a generous home to suit your family? Part of the answer is: efficiency and ease.
Small house architecture is all about an efficient use of space that is customised to suit the way you live. “Small homes are easier to heat, cool, ventilate and clean,” says Tim Gittos of Space Craft Architects. He’s seeing increasing amounts of infill building on the scraps of leftover land in our cities. “For first-home buyers, small new-builds closer to the city centre have become a viable alternative to larger houses or cookie-cutter homes on the city outskirts,” he says.
Space Craft is also working on some exciting co-housing projects, where people club together to buy land and build small houses with shared common areas. “This is a very exciting new area to be a part of,” he says.
Pros
+ Can customise to suit site and preferences
+ High quality and finishing
+ Options for communal living
Cons
+ Can be a more expensive option
+ Can take longer from design to build
Considerations
+ The consent process will be similar to a normal new-build
+ Some subdivisions have minimum home-size requirements
Budget
+ Price depends on location, size and other factors.
+ A one-bedroom apartment in The Pinnacle in Wellington is priced at $395K while a three-bedroom is pricedat $920K.
3. TINY HOMES
A “tiny house” usually has a floor area of 46 square metres or less, with many built on trailers. You can try your hand at DIY but it will be a lot easier to enlist an expert. Build Tiny is a new Kiwi business that’s all about building design-led tiny houses.
Gina Stevens, the designer at Build Tiny, says the best thing about going tiny is the cost savings. “You can take the cash you save and spend it on travel, experiences, good food and wine, or simply work less,” she says. And her advice for people who are thinking about a tiny house? “Try before you buy. We recommend people stay in as many tiny homes as possible to experience tiny-house living first-hand.”
Pros
+ Semi-permanent homes can be moved
+ Less maintenance, savings on bills and insurance
+ Affordable option
Cons
+ Small space for families or pets
+ Lack of storage
+ Less solitary space or privacy
Considerations
+ Ensure you think through waste disposal, site and access requirements
Budget
A Build Tiny home will cost between $60K and $120K-plus. Costs may be less if you build your own, but you will need to allow for your own labour costs.
4. CONTAINER HOMES
The potential for recycled shipping containers to become raw building materials has really entered the mainstream, with containers showing up all over the place as garden sheds and storage units, as well as granny flats and baches. The popularity of the container look is also inspiring a new wave of designs – Podlife creates small modular buildings that look like extremely stylish containers.
Pros
+ Lower foundation costs
+ Structurally strong
+ Stylish and functional designs
+ Will fit small sections
+ Easy to transport
Cons
+ Consent can be tricky, but most building companies will help you manage this
+ Design options can be limited
Budget
A 10-square-metre pod from Podlife starts at $16K plus delivery costs.
5. PREFAB HOMES
A prefabricated home is built to your specifications in a factory and delivered to your site in one or more pieces. These days, there are multiple companies offering beautiful designs using modern materials.
Pros
+ More affordable than a custom new-build
+ Fast turnaround
+ Design, consent and build process managed for you
+ Efficient use of materials
+ Minimal site disruption
Cons
+ Less design freedom
+ You may have limited material and finish choices
+ Options may be restricted by site access
Considerations
+ Make sure you get a complete price, or be aware of what costs are excluded
+ You may need two building consents as the house will be built in one location then installed in another
Budget
A two-bedroom home from Greenhaven starts at $200K plus delivery, consent and on-site costs.
Higher costs mean sustainable businesses aren't getting a look in despite generating positive social…
Auē e Koti! Kātahi ka oti te pakiwaitara kōwhiri ara e ako ai te tamariki ki te hua o te aroha. Tēnā whakamātautautia.
Pānuihia te kōrero paki ā-tihi mō Oti te Nanekoti ki te reo Pākehā, reo Māori anō hoki www.OatTheGoat.co.nz... | www.OtiTeNanekoti.co.nz...
He mea kinaki nā Te … View moreAuē e Koti! Kātahi ka oti te pakiwaitara kōwhiri ara e ako ai te tamariki ki te hua o te aroha. Tēnā whakamātautautia.
Pānuihia te kōrero paki ā-tihi mō Oti te Nanekoti ki te reo Pākehā, reo Māori anō hoki www.OatTheGoat.co.nz... | www.OtiTeNanekoti.co.nz...
He mea kinaki nā Te Tira Puoro o Aotearoa.
#OtiTeNanekoti #KeiTePaiKoe #ArohaMaiArohaAtu
Haven Falls offer quality care and professional service Wellington wide - 24hrs with Funeral packages from $3990 +gst.
No deposit - 30 day invoice.
42-50 Burden Ave, Wainuiomata.
Phone 04 564 3792 and 0800 428365 or visit our website www.havenfalls.co.nz for more information.
It’s all about ideas for sustainable living at the Wellington Better Home & Living Show on 25-27 May. Here’s your chance to check out the latest trends with over 200 exhibitors with our BUY 1 GET 1 FREE ADULT TICKET OFFER! Be in to win the ‘Newstalk ZB Show Prize’ valued at $15,000. … View moreIt’s all about ideas for sustainable living at the Wellington Better Home & Living Show on 25-27 May. Here’s your chance to check out the latest trends with over 200 exhibitors with our BUY 1 GET 1 FREE ADULT TICKET OFFER! Be in to win the ‘Newstalk ZB Show Prize’ valued at $15,000. Plus, visit the NEW Springfree Family Zone there’s even a Springfree Trampoline to be won.
Save the date in your diaries; 25 - 27 May 2018
Friday and Saturday 10am - 5pm, Sunday 10am - 4pm
Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Adults $8
Gold Card Friday $4
Under 16 Free
Hi there neighbours close and further away. I would like to encourage you all to come and support your local community choir with their presentation of a beautiful concert. Some weeks ago I already posted this concert on Neighbourly and I just want to remind everybody that it is happening this … View moreHi there neighbours close and further away. I would like to encourage you all to come and support your local community choir with their presentation of a beautiful concert. Some weeks ago I already posted this concert on Neighbourly and I just want to remind everybody that it is happening this Sunday 20 May, 2.30pm at St. Patrick's College chapel, Silverstream.
Schubert, Elgar, Brahms are only just a few names of the composers we sing works from in this concert.
Prices are $15 adults and $12 concession.
We would love to see the chapel filled with you all who love choral music!
Do you have unoccupied "ghost houses" on your street? Investors buy them, park their money and pull the blinds across... but at what cost?
The last census showed there were 141,366 empty dwellings in New Zealand and in 2016, more than 33,000 houses in Auckland were officially … View moreDo you have unoccupied "ghost houses" on your street? Investors buy them, park their money and pull the blinds across... but at what cost?
The last census showed there were 141,366 empty dwellings in New Zealand and in 2016, more than 33,000 houses in Auckland were officially classified as empty. Find out why this is happening and what can be done about it.
Neighbours – now is your chance to dress up your walls and save 30% off* the extensive range of Resene wallpapers! Patterned or bold, textured or neutral. Offer ends 5 June 2018.
__________
* Discount off the normal retail price at Resene owned ColorShops and participating resellers until 5 … View moreNeighbours – now is your chance to dress up your walls and save 30% off* the extensive range of Resene wallpapers! Patterned or bold, textured or neutral. Offer ends 5 June 2018.
__________
* Discount off the normal retail price at Resene owned ColorShops and participating resellers until 5 June 2018. Excludes wall decals and WallPrint. Not available in conjunction with any other offer.
From 1 July 2018 the Families Package takes effect, including the Best Start tax credit.
This is a new weekly payment of $60 per child, available to eligible parents who have a baby due on or after 1 July 2018.
All eligible families will receive this payment until the child turns 1 year old, … View moreFrom 1 July 2018 the Families Package takes effect, including the Best Start tax credit.
This is a new weekly payment of $60 per child, available to eligible parents who have a baby due on or after 1 July 2018.
All eligible families will receive this payment until the child turns 1 year old, regardless of their household income. Households whose income is less than $79,000 will continue to receive $60 per week until the child turns 3 years old. Those earning above $79,000 may continue to receive payments at a reduced amount. The upper threshold is $94,000 (for one child) when payments stop.
Parents can apply for Best Start when registering their baby’s birth through SmartStart. If the birth is not registered through SmartStart, the parents can apply for Best Start by completing the Working for Families registration (FS1) form.
A parent is eligible for Best Start payments if:
they are the principal caregiver of the child
they are a NZ resident/citizen and have been in NZ for a continuous period of 12 months at any time
they have received an IRD number for the child and
the child they are claiming for is both a resident and present in NZ.
For more information go to:
www.ird.govt.nz...
Hello,
We are looking for a cleaner to come and clean our house once every fortnight for 3 hours. Will be paid $20 cash per hour so $60 per fortnight. Looking for someone reliable and trustworthy. Must have references available and a current NZ drivers license/passport. Please message me for … View moreHello,
We are looking for a cleaner to come and clean our house once every fortnight for 3 hours. Will be paid $20 cash per hour so $60 per fortnight. Looking for someone reliable and trustworthy. Must have references available and a current NZ drivers license/passport. Please message me for details 😊
I am looking for someone to hep build some raised gardens at our place to make them more manageable as we are getting older and find it hard to kneel
The Inquiry Panel will soon be in the Wellington region. This is your opportunity to share your thoughts and ideas with the Panel about what New Zealand can do better and what’s working well.
When: Thursday 17th May, 5pm – 6.30pm
Where: Te Rauparaha Arena, 17 Parumoana St, Porirua
… View moreThe Inquiry Panel will soon be in the Wellington region. This is your opportunity to share your thoughts and ideas with the Panel about what New Zealand can do better and what’s working well.
When: Thursday 17th May, 5pm – 6.30pm
Where: Te Rauparaha Arena, 17 Parumoana St, Porirua
Further information www.mentalhealth.inquiry.govt.nz
Submit via:
website: www.mentalhealth.inquiry.govt.nz
Email: mentalhealth@inquiry.govt.nz
Phone: 0800 644678
Post: PO Box 27396, Marion Square, Wellington 6141
Oh my Goat! We just finished reading this awesome pick-a-path story that helps children learn the power of kindness. Have a go...
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