- Agent Paul Murray has finally sold a dilapidated Seddonville property with boundary issues.
- The property was previously owned by a Dutch handyman who died there in a tragic saw accident.
- The new owner plans to renovate the property, telling the agent he was up for the challenge.
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Property Brokers agent Paul Murray, an Australian import to Karamea who once worked in Japan as a journalist, had been trying for some time to sell the most “munted” property he had ever come across, but deals kept falling through.
The dilapidated Seddonville property – halfway between Westport and Karamea – has a boundary running through the middle of the house. It has finally sold, but in the course of the 12 or so months that Murray had it on the market, he came across some unexpected history.
A Dutchman had once owned the property, Murray told OneRoof. He was a handyman, “to the point where he’d actually made his own circular saw, or, perhaps not made his own circular saw but certainly tried to repair a circular saw blade by welding it”.
“That turned out to be a very bad idea, because it exploded and killed him. So on the property, there was an unnatural death.”
The house is in poor shape and in need of a major upgrade. Photo / Supplied
The kitchen isn’t exactly an entertainer’s delight. Photo / Supplied
Once an agent knows about an unnatural death, they have to declare it, but Murray said the new owner, a retired tradesman from Nelson who likes a project, didn’t seem to mind.
This is the first time Murray has had to disclose an unnatural death, but he suspected New Zealanders may be more laid back about such things than in Japan, where he worked as a journalist for 10 years.
“Properties that have had an unnatural death, like murders or suicides, or even a natural death, that significantly impacts the value and makes it much more difficult to sell because there’s some sort of suspicion that the property is jinxed or has a curse on it or something like that.”
Murray said the new owner’s reaction was one of interest, adding it was difficult to know all that had gone on in the history of a house.
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He described the buyer as a super nice guy who was aware of the obstacles of the property, from its “munted” condition and boundary issues to the fact that there was also potential for flooding.
The property price dropped over time from $145,000 to $115,000 and while Murray can’t disclose the sale price he said it was closer to the $115,000 mark, describing the whole process as not a great earner, but a great learning opportunity for him as he had to deal with boundary adjustments, councils, surveying and other landowners.
Seddonville itself consists mainly of a pub and empty sections. It was once destined to be a big town and was subdivided into thousands of sections, but they were not built on, possibly because the valley is flood-prone, he said.
The biggest difficulty with the Con Street property is the boundary - it runs right through the middle of the house. Photo / Supplied
One of the standout features of the property is the stunning setting and its own waterfall. Photo / Supplied
He understands the new owner is planning to renovate from scratch and possibly lift the house, even though it is already on a rise.
Asked what kind of person would buy a dilapidated property with a boundary through the middle and the potential to flood, Murray replied: “A very brave person.”
But the site is in a lovely location, has a waterfall at the back, and all around are beautiful forests and snow-capped hills.
Murray said he had tons of interest. At one point, a Californian “surfer dude” with Australian residency was going to buy it but Murray thinks he realised repairs would cost more money than he had.
Murray had around 900 inquiries in all, more than for any of his other listings: “I think it indicates that there’s a lot of people out there who are desperate to get into the property market but most of the people that were inquiring were inquiring simply because they couldn’t afford anything else.”
"Granity insanity": Property Brokers agent Valerie Woods is selling a run-down home on a 4000sqm-plus section for $270,000 at 37 Back Road, in Granity, Buller. Photo / Supplied
He was delighted the new owner intended to renovate, saying munted the house was not without charm and had a lovely poem stenciled on a beam which read: “May the beauty of the mountains – the forests – the lakes – the oceans – the plants and the animals always strike music with you. May the harmony of nature always teach and provide for your kind. Now and forever. Seek peace within, and love abounds. Arohanui/Kiaora.”
For those who missed out, Murray said his colleague, Valerie Woods, had a similarly challenged property. Her listing, headlined “Granity insanity”, is on the market for $270,000.
Granity is a tiny West Coast town with roots in coal-mining and Woods’ listing talks of the potential to develop a dream home on the 4000sqm-plus section.
The photos reveal an overgrown house in a state of disrepair near the “charming” town of Granity.
4 Puketiro Avenue, in Northland, Wellington, is seeking buyer enquiries over $650,000. Photo / Supplied
OneRoof has a few other derelict properties listed currently, including a property in Northland, in Wellington, being marketed by Tommy’s agent Ramon Kane, which was described in a previous OneRoof article as being set for the wrecking ball but with million dollar views.
A property in Linwood, Christchurch, being marketed by Aaron Clark and John Dykhoff from Property Brokers for $500,000-plus, is described in the listing as being a prime development opportunity on a generously-sized section with an old, derelict house and shed ripe for removal.
Agent Paul Murray has a 17.5ha haven for sale at 904 Karamea Kohaihai Road, in Karamea. Photo / Supplied
In Otago, Jacqui and Stephen Johnston from One Agency are marketing a pair of derelict baches in the small coastal settlement of Purakaunui for enquiries over $320,000, which they write are nestled in a stunning coastal paradise and offer a rare chance to create a dream escape.
“Sure, the baches might be more ‘vintage fixer-uppers’ than ‘chic retreats’, but they come with charm - and a lot of potential.”
Murray himself has a rare 17.5ha blank canvas near the Heaphy Track, backing onto the National Park. It’s not a dump but it is unusual.
“It’s the kind of property that’s very hard to value but it’s stunning sea view, looks out at the Tasman coast, elevated, got a nice river going through it, and some building sites that are semi-accessible by rough farm roads.
“It’s never been on the market before – it’s a pretty rare proposition.”
On for $850,000 plus GST, he said the family that owned the farm had developed it from raw bush 120 years ago, probably with axes and horses. “We’re looking for a buyer who’s really looking for seclusion and peace and no neighbours and all that sort of stuff.”
- Click here to find more properties for sale in West Coast
