Alden and Ruth, parents to four children, made the decision to relocate from Singapore to New Zealand, driven by the desire for a better educational environment for their family. They were determined to find a home in Auckland's sought-after Rangitoto School zone, renowned for its excellent reputation. However, their search faced significant challenges, exacerbated by their inability to physically inspect properties and the limited availability of large homes within their budget of $1.5 million.

With only 11,500 houses in the Rangitoto School zone catering to a student population of 3,800, competition for quality homes was fierce, especially considering the aftermath of the 2023 floods that further reduced available options. Ensuring the safety of their children during their commute to school was a top priority for Alden and Ruth, along with the need for ample space and a secure garden.

The search was challenging with many of the houses we previewed exhibiting issues with rot, poor maintenance, leaking, engineering issues and works that were not compliant with Council. It was also important to ensure the home would not be impacted by potential flooding.  The demand for desirable and high quality homes was very high, meaning swift action on due diligence to secure the right property was essential. The perfect home was found but was also exceptionally popular with over 80 groups visiting and no possibility of an early auction. The home was beautiful and met all of our buyer's requirements, including four bedrooms plus a fifth bedroom that could be used as a separate home and income if required, an extensively landscaped garden, and located just minutes from Rothesay Bay Beach.
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Navigating the discrepancy between the home's market value and its undervalued CV (Council valuation) proved to be another challenge. With meticulous renovation work enhancing the property's worth beyond its assessed value, other buyers were having difficulty understanding how much the home was worth and assuming it would sell within their price range. The large number of visitors and six groups completing extensive due diligence was testament to the popularity of the home - and its likelihood to sell above CV.  Alex provided invaluable market insights and comparable sales data to prepare Alden and Ruth for realistic bidding on the day, and ensured that Alex was able to secure the home for Ruth and Alden under the hammer, and under their budget, which was a fantastic result. This process also underscored the importance of expertise and strategic guidance in navigating the competitive Auckland property market. Additionally, it was a pleasure to work alongside Angela Sawkins at Harcourts on another successful transaction, highlighting the value of partnerships in achieving client success.

Alex is a confident and hardworking buyer's agent who is very prompt and responsive (something that nurtures trust in any relationship) and she was also brilliant at helping us with the bidding process during our auction, and her guidance was instrumental for a successful purchase. We're very happy with the home she recommended. Thanks Alex!

-Alden and Ruth