It's an award-winning trophy home designed by one of New Zealand's top architects, boasting six bedrooms, triple car garaging, and an outdoor pool. The listing says it's a "residence of remarkable scale, presence and possibility", a "Christchurch standout" in one of the city's wealthiest suburbs.
It was also being sold "as is, where is".
But that small fact didn't hold back the bidders at this week's auction at Harcourts Holmwood offices.
Three buyers fought hard for 11 Waiwetu Street. Bidding kicked off at $1.8 million and quickly escalated. A phone bidder entered the race towards the end and secured the uninsured home with an extra $5000. The hammer came down at $3.285m - more than $1.3m below the RV.
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Harcourts listing agents Ash and Shar Sutherland Todd said the 426sqm property needed a buyer with vision.
It comprises five distinct pavilions made from precast concrete, aluminium and black-stained cedar and was designed by Thom Craig during his time as director at MAP. His efforts won an NZIA Resene New Zealand Award.
The Waiwetu Street property was designed by top architect Thom Craig and had won a NZIA Resene New Zealand Award. Photo / Supplied
The vendors had owned the property for over a decade and were only selling because they had moved overseas. Photo / Supplied
Shar Sutherland Todd told OneRoof it was a special home, evoking strong emotions: people either loved it or they didn’t.
The Sutherland Todds were firmly in the love it camp (before it went to market they had even fleetingly considered making an offer themselves) so weren’t surprised others felt the same.
“If you got to see it, it was such a stunning offering for the market, and Waiwetu is known as one of Christchurch’s best streets so that always brings people in.”
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There were about 70 groups through the property during the five-week campaign, which she said was “phenomenal”.
Those showing interest included developers, owner-occupiers, flippers and neighbouring homeowners. The age range was also wide, from those in their 30s right up to 80 years old.
The buyer plans to renovate the house, she said.
Harcourts listing agents Ash and Sharon Sutherland Todd said 7 Bennett Street, in Saint Albans, was also attracting a lot of buyer interest. Photo / Supplied
The vendors had owned the property for more than a decade and were only selling because they had moved overseas, she said. According to OneRoof records, it last changed hands for $3.5m in 2015.
Another Sutherland Todd listing, a five-bedroom, three-bathroom home at 7 Bennett Street, in St Albans, is also attracting plenty of interest. “We are getting record numbers through that as well.”
She said the property was mostly single-level, which was rare for the location and was appealing to downsizers and upsizers.
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