Location Location Location NZ Season 2 Episode 2

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Transcript

00:00This time on AA Insurance location location location, we're helping two

00:08families take huge steps in different directions. It just feels like it's time

00:13for a change. I'm with a family looking for multi-generational living. There's

00:17three of us and there's no rich. And I have the mammoth task of separating a

00:21Yorkshireman from his money. Two million. One five five. Damn. Tell me about it. Two

00:27families. This is my dream. Oh my goodness. I've always wanted one of these. Two fresh

00:32starts. Oh wow. This is pretty special. It is. And the sacrifices that come with them. The

00:38bulldozers are not coming with us. I've got every confidence in you. Oh well, here's the

00:42front door. Let's go.

00:49This week we're exploring Auckland's North Shore, the sunny side of Tāmaki Makaurau. I'm

00:54helping a pair of empty nesters moving down from Whangarei. These guys are looking forward

00:58to a new and exciting chapter in their life. And I'm on the hunt for a home to bring three

01:03generations together under one roof. Three generations together. It's like daughter,

01:08mum and mum's mum. Didn't really come out right, did it?

01:15Buying a home means different things to different people. For some, it's about spreading your wings.

01:20For others, it's about staying close to roots, whanau and friends. With the cost of living on the rise,

01:27more and more Kiwis are joining forces across generations, sharing one house, adding a granny

01:32flat or finding enough space for two homes. Is it ten we have? I think it's seven, isn't it?

01:38Isn't it 21? Yes. 21? Yeah.

01:41In 2004, Lynn and her husband Eugene and seven-year-old Caroline set foot in Aotearoa, New Zealand for an

01:49adventure and found the place they'd call home. We were supposed to go to Ireland where my husband's

01:54from and then we kind of bypassed Ireland and ended up in New Zealand. And it's the best thing we've ever

01:58done, yeah. Fifteen years later, Caroline and Meddy met at a friend's engagement party. At least that's

02:04the part they agree on. Meddy was obsessed with me. It's two different stories, right? No. Fast forward

02:11a few years and the young couple were happily married and soon expecting their first baby.

02:16But it was bittersweet. Time with Caroline's dad Eugene was running out and not long after,

02:23cancer took him before he could meet his granddaughter. He was very level-headed and just a big...

02:29It was a big part of our life. The loss of Eugene brought a shift in priorities for this whānau

02:39and it's a big part of why they've decided to combine resources and live together.

02:43What am I doing? Yeah. I do feel like he's with me and I know that he would love to have been on this

02:50programme because we used to watch them a lot. We have a very new chapter in our lives with dad no

02:56longer physically here. Eugene's granddaughter Asina was born earlier this year. It's our new

03:01daughter Asina. It's almost like the right time. We're both looking for that next chapter and

03:06our chapters are going to come together. There's three of us and there's no each.

03:12What better way to honour Eugene than a new chapter? A new way of living and a new home where new memories

03:18can take root. That's nice. The bathroom was really lovely. The plan's in motion but what will it take to

03:24turn their vision into a reality? We're just looking for a house with a difference.

03:29And the goal? Two homes on one section. Space for the whānau to live together but room to breathe.

03:35Probably three bedrooms. How many people are you going to have over?

03:40An office. Oh that's so cute. That's actually really lovely with the indoor outdoor floor.

03:45Having one property with two houses on it or having you know one property with one house currently on it

03:52where you know we look at some plans for Lynn and we do an extension on the back or you know we have

03:57a connection there for her. That's nice. Perfect house for Lynn. It's done. We found it. Yay!

04:03That's a bit of a steep asking price though. There's a delicate balancing act finding the

04:07right set up for a growing whānau and grieving hearts. It won't be easy but that's what this journey

04:13is all about. Although they do have contingency plans if things don't work out. Well if I get sick

04:18of them I can go and travel. So yeah sure. Go on holiday. If I get sick of you. Yeah.

04:23Retirement man.

04:26So you're looking for a larger home. Yes. And you're downsizing. Downsizing from a four bedroom

04:32to probably a two bedroom. We're looking for land potentially either to build on or an established

04:40home. We're wanting four bedrooms, ensuite, master and another bathroom. Yeah. Ideally open plan. Yeah.

04:48I think this is such a great thing to be doing. I know there's lots of whānau that come together

04:54to buy a home and look at sort of making that next journey together. So where am I looking? Ideally the

05:01bays. North Shore. There's one important thing that we haven't covered. Ching ching. Yeah. How much

05:07have I got suspense? Show me the money. Ideally 1.8. Willing to stretch if it's like somewhere that

05:15has that potential to really just be the dream. Yeah. So exciting. You ready? Let's do it. Okay.

05:20I'm going to have to scold this coffee. Cheers. Cheers. Cheers. We're searching for a four bedroom,

05:27two bathroom home with a big open plan living area plus a separate dwelling for Lynn or at least space to

05:32add one. Their budget of 1.8 million is strong but stretching it across two homes could make this a

05:38tricky search. After a decade of bush, bird songs, sprawling lawns and their own life-size tonka toy,

05:48anaesthetist Joe and retired John are saying goodbye to their idyllic life in Whangare.

05:53We're moving of necessity because of Joe's got a job in Auckland. Has to be commutable to North Shore

06:02Hospital which is where I'll be working. It's farewell to paradise trading peace and paddocks for people,

06:09pavements and a whole new pace of life. We are cautiously entering the empty nester phase of our lives.

06:17With their son Dan away at university and their daughter Eleanor getting ready to leave home,

06:22the family is gearing up for a big transition. You know in a year's time we'll find ourselves on our own

06:28and so the agenda's changed a little bit. It kind of feels like it might be better for us as a couple

06:35if we are actually just based in a bigger city. John may be retired but he's a man of many talents.

06:40Yeah I made boats for quite a few years for a living like classic mahogany speed boats. Then he traded

06:46speed boats for earthworks. Just as loud, just not as fast. I've got a bulldozer to help yeah but that's

06:54very good in summer and a lot of fun. And his latest hobby, mixing cocktails. It's thirsty work

07:02behind the wheel of a bulldozer. We will miss good things about this house like the space and the privacy.

07:08To put it in perspective, 800 square meters is a big section in Auckland. John and Joe are leaving

07:1640,000 square meters. That's like swapping a footy field for a doormat. It just feels like it's time

07:22for a change. It's Joe's work bringing them to Auckland but John's quite happy to trade his bulldozer

07:29for box seats at the opera. I enjoy theatre and music and opera. I've kind of liked classical music

07:36since I was seven and I also worked in the theatre and worked in live music when I was younger. I'm

07:42right sophisticated. That's one word for it. Something tells me this won't be a simple search. What do you

07:50think about that one? I think we know it's going to be quite hard to find a house in Auckland that we

07:55both like because our needs are quite different. The land and the outside space is important to John

08:02whereas the house is important to me. That one's quite good. Good parking. So let me get this right.

08:08The only thing they actually agree on is that they're moving. I'd be happy with her box in the

08:14window of the kitchen. That would be fine for me but I think John needs a little bit more. It's much more

08:20than a challenge. It's a test of compromise, communication and patience. Tell me about it.

08:26Lots of patience. And that's where I come in. What exactly are you guys after? It's minimum three

08:33bedrooms. We've got two kids that will probably be coming back from uni intermittently. The boomerangs?

08:38Yeah. Something that is light, a little bit of space around. I'm going to be working at North Shore Hospital

08:44and would like it to be ideally less than half an hour's commute. Yeah, you don't want to spend

08:50all day in the car. Yeah, we want to do something for us. The budget is around the two million?

08:55About 1.5. Damn. I got to keep you on your toes. We want good value for money.

09:03Okay, I promise. Yorkshiremen love a bargain. Yeah. Are you both on the same page?

09:08We know what each other wants but we don't necessarily agree so obviously our priorities

09:14are slightly different. I'm hopeful that we can come to an agreement this time as well.

09:19All right, so let's go. All right. John and Jo are searching for a three to four bedroom home with

09:27two bathrooms. Close to Jo's new job and within an easy reach of Auckland's cultural heartbeat.

09:34With a budget of 1.5 million, the challenge is finding a place that balances work and play.

09:40This search has all the drama of opening night. Well, let's hope it ends with a standing ovation.

09:50Every house hunt comes with its own challenges. Lynn's family want more space. John and Jo want less.

09:57What matters most though is finding a place that matches their lifestyle, not just their wishlist.

10:03And the right homes are out there but in the end it all comes down to location, location, location.

10:09So how are you feeling about working with three generations? Normally it's only

10:13one generation and that's tricky enough. I know, right? I feel a tremendous amount of responsibility.

10:18We're working with like 1.8, 2 million and I'm trying to find a home here on the shore that can

10:25accommodate the entire family. I mean it makes sense in this day and age to put your resources

10:30together, doesn't it? Well, my guys are downsizing from a big property. Having met them now,

10:36John is very direct. You're either in or out. There's no middle ground. So I, like you, feel a

10:42responsibility to find them that property that'll give them access to the city but also be complementary

10:50to where Jo works, so. Yep. At the hospital. At the hospital. You make it sound really easy, Jane.

10:55It's okay. Game on. Yeah. For their first property, I'm taking Lynn and her family across the harbour

11:03bridge to Beach Haven. Nestled on the edge of the Waitemata Harbour, this charming coastal suburb feels

11:10like a world away from the bustle of central Auckland. Now, I know the shore well so I'm slightly biased.

11:16Beach Haven has leafy streets, local parks, a strong sense of community and it's a favourite with families.

11:23The average house price is just over a million.

11:27So, what do you think? I like the top half. Good. And then the bottom half maybe

11:33not so much but I'm excited to see inside. Should we go and have a look? Yeah, I'm excited.

11:38I'm going to keep my fingers crossed. Thank you. Thank you.

11:42This beautifully renovated 1970s multi-level home offers four bedrooms and three bathrooms.

11:48Plenty of room for a growing family. The open plan living and dining area flows into a sleek modern

11:54kitchen. The bathrooms are ultra stylish and the bedrooms are big so this place ticks all the right

12:00boxes. There's even a rumpus room for some extra flexibility. It's light-filled and sun-soaked from

12:06morning to night. It's going to auction and the current CV is just over 1.3 million.

12:13Wow. Oh my god, it's stunning. It's lovely. It's beautiful. 240 square meters on the floor and room

12:20for additional dwelling potentially. Yeah, for the old girl. Young spring chicken. Thank you.

12:26Should we have a quick look at the kitchen? Yes. Yeah.

12:28Oh that's cool. Really nice connection to nature too. Oh yes, yeah. There's a lot of home to cover.

12:35Yes. Do you mind if I accompany you? Yeah, please. What a gentleman. Yeah. See you later.

12:41Nice spongy carpet. A nice greenery outside. Very nice in the summer. A glass of wine. I know.

12:53And additional lounge. Wonderful indoor-outdoor flow. Yes. And then you've got your bedroom with its own

12:59living area as well. Oh wow. There's a little bed there. They're so compact. Nice. Ooh. Small. But it's...

13:10But it's additional. Nice and contained. Yeah. It's lovely. I was... We're spoiled having the bigger

13:18house. Yeah. But it's quite drastic going from a full big three level to this. For Lynne, it's not easy

13:26saying goodbye to the home that she shared with her late husband, Eugene. She's also facing the

13:31realities of downsizing. Compromising is hard enough, but mixed with grief and memories,

13:37it's so much tougher. Oh. Wow, look at that view. Oh, that's beautiful. Hey, look, it's a walking wardrobe.

13:47Do you like it? It's just beautiful. Wake up in the morning, a cup of coffee, run to the deck. Oh my goodness.

13:56Now that's a sexy bath. Wow. That's stunning. That's great. I love how like connected it is with

14:03the nature though. Yeah. You're like having a bath or shower in the nature. That's so gorgeous.

14:10I love the bathroom. You stay in there then. Oh. Would you use this as a bedroom or something? Oh yeah,

14:16that's what I was thinking. Because then the whole top floor could just be completely ours.

14:19I think Caroline and Mehdi are reading my mind. There's enough room here for them and baby Asina to

14:25have the top floor, while Lynne would have all of downstairs and they could share the middle floor

14:30together. How did you find your area downstairs? It was a bit small. Yeah. Like, okay. Yeah.

14:37It almost felt like it was like a studio downstairs. Yeah. Because it was like a bedroom with a lounge

14:41mix, you know? Yeah. Yeah. I love the view, the number of bedrooms, the bathrooms. The view.

14:45Good. Yeah, the view is lovely. The view is stunning. And that's what it takes the box is. What do you think?

14:50It's a no. Oh no. It's a no. Well, that's a definite no from Asina. I kind of got the feeling

14:59that you were thinking this could be a little bit snug. Yes. I'd feel a bit cooped up, I think.

15:05I mean, definitely a tick for the view. Yeah. Yeah. I hear what we're all saying. I've got some work

15:10to do is what you're telling me. No, it was a great start. Like, really great start. You did good.

15:15You did good. Thank you. Should be proud of yourself. You did good. You should be proud of yourself,

15:19but it's a no. Just do better. Okay. You hear that? I've got a lot of work to do. Should we go and

15:23have a look at the next one? Let's go. Come on. As my teachers used to say, Paul, you must do better.

15:29I don't want Lynne to feel like her space is an afterthought. I have to find her something that feels like home.

15:34There's no simple formula when it comes to upsizing or downsizing. It all depends on what life throws

15:43at you. Maybe your kids have flown the nest. Maybe the lawns have beaten your knees. The right home at

15:49the right time can change everything. More space, less stress, or simply a shorter drive to work.

15:56Today, I'm in Milford on Auckland's North Shore with John and Jo. Milford is right next to Takapuna,

16:03home to North Shore Hospital and Jo's new job. It's a seaside suburb with plenty to offer,

16:08a stunning swimming beach, great food, and a lively high street. So it's no surprise that

16:14the average for a three-bedroom home is around 1.6 million. Wow. Big. It is.

16:23The reason why we've brought you here is the location. Sure. We're pretty close to the hospital.

16:27Really close. Yeah, I think I could see it from somewhere around. Yeah. Jo could definitely walk to

16:32work from there, which is excellent. All right. So 1950s, been around for a good chug of time,

16:38good bones. Excellent. I'm liking the fact that it's going to be light inside because I can see

16:43already that the sun's pouring in. Well, here's the front door. Let's go. Excellent.

16:48This solid 1950s brick home spans 214 square metres over two sun-soaked levels. Upstairs,

16:56you'll find three bedrooms, an office with separate living and dining spaces, all filled with natural

17:02light. Downstairs, there's an extra living area. There's another bedroom and bathroom,

17:08plus internal access to the garage. North Shore Hospital is just up the road for Jo,

17:13and with plenty of room out the back, there's potential for a bigger shed to keep John happily occupied.

17:20This place is on a cross lease, and I know Jo and John are a bit nervous about what that all means.

17:26It's going to auction, and so far, the feedback puts it in their budget.

17:32Oh, nice. Nice old wooden floss. Beautiful dining area. So how does the view compare to the one you've

17:38got now? I like it. All right, let's pop through to the engine room. Keep calm, John. She's talking

17:45about the kitchen, not an actual engine. Oh, yeah. It's actually quite big. There's plenty of work surface.

17:52There's plenty of storage. But it definitely needs opened up. It definitely needs opening up.

17:58Oh, nice lounge. It's a good space, isn't it? This whole lounge area, the back deck,

18:04is bathed in afternoon sun. Master bedroom. Nice serene feel. But it looks like it's got an ensuite

18:13and a wardrobe. Oh, wow. Wow. This walk-in wardrobe is so big, it's got a different postcode to the rest

18:20of the house. It's like a whole extra bedroom almost. Huge. Oh, wow. A whole new living area.

18:28Oh, that's a good second lounge. A big bonus. Third bedroom. And a little emergency exit or entrance

18:38for when you've been out late and you don't want your parents to know. Lots of secret doors in this

18:42house. No. It's like Narnia. Feels like there's a history here. All we need now is the lion, the witch

18:49and a gigantic shed for John. Wow, this is pretty small and pokey. You just have to pull it down and

18:58build a bigger one. Yeah. I feel this house is perfect for them. The size, the location, the back

19:04lawn. But psychologically, is the move going to be too much for them? Downsizing isn't just about space.

19:13It's about choosing what matters and accepting that sometimes compromises need to be made.

19:19I like the variety of rooms and there are lots of rooms but I don't like that all the rooms are quite

19:26small. I don't think the rooms are that small. I think that might be something that you're going

19:30to have to get used to. But it ticks a lot of boxes and its location is better than we could

19:35have hoped for. The location is definitely the best thing about it. Obviously, we've got some more

19:40houses to see but we'll have to think about whether those compromises are compromises that we can make.

19:46When you're coming from 40,000 square metres, compromise isn't just part of the process.

19:51It is the process. For me, it would be on my list. The amount of space that you've got, the location

19:57that you've got definitely makes it worth thinking about a bit more. You could make this house your

20:02own by making some changes. I'm guessing that's why it's in budget. In fact, why is it in budget?

20:08Where do you feel it sits? 1.2 or 1.3. That's the feedback is in that 1.2, 1.4 band. That is well

20:17under your budget but that kind of money I think is a great home. It definitely is a good value.

20:22A definite maybe? A definite maybe. So, a definitely maybe. Very oasis. Let's just hope

20:30the next one's not a champagne super naupa. Okay, you're not allowed to say champagne super naupa ever again.

20:41Multi-generational living is on the rise across Aotearoa. The positives are obvious and the rewards

20:47can be huge. A home that works for everyone and a future built together. For my house hunters,

20:54house number one didn't exactly set their hearts racing. I'd feel a bit cooped up, I think. Just

21:00too small. So, for house number two, I've brought Lynn Carolina Medi a little further inland to the

21:05suburb of Greenhive, where the average house price is around 1.8 million.

21:09You've done great, Paul. We haven't even gone inside yet. I'm buzzing to see this house.

21:18Yeah. Absolutely buzzing. And I can kind of see like a bit of a Paul reflection.

21:22Why didn't you show us this first? There'd be no more show. There'd be no more show.

21:27Yeah. It would just be location. It would just be the location. It is the location though, right?

21:31Yeah. I'm so excited. Let's go, Paul. I'm so excited. Okay. You go inside. I'll follow after.

21:38Thank you. Thank you. I'm going to have a nervous conniption. I think I may have ticked some boxes.

21:46Nope. No signs of excitement here whatsoever.

21:49This stunning single level home spans 256 square metres and ticks all the boxes.

21:57Four bedrooms, two bathrooms, two generous living areas, a triple garage with workshop,

22:02and yes, there's even a swimming pool. Sitting on a 2,000 square metre section

22:07with consent for a minor dwelling, this place is also set for auction. But I've bought them here

22:12because I believe it's within their range. Wow. That's stunning. So much space.

22:18That's gorgeous. Is the kitchen big enough? It has that massive space for entertaining,

22:23and I love that. People can congregate around here and sit down there. The fireplace is gorgeous too.

22:30Good job, Paulie Kins. Look at that, mate. Good job.

22:34Well, Paulie Kins, if you're a good boy for the rest of the week, you'll get a juice box and a gold star.

22:40Wow. Oh, wow. That's gorgeous. You want to have a look around?

22:44Yes. Yep. Let's go and look at these bedrooms.

22:48A nice size room. Definitely is. It's a lovely little baby room, isn't it?

22:52This is a good size room. My room. My room.

22:54What do we have here? Maybe as an office?

22:58Yeah, it'd be good as an office. This one's a bit bigger than next door.

23:02They're currently using it as an office. This is their office. Cool.

23:05Yeah. There's an allotment outside.

23:07Oh, I can grow my cabbages and my radishes. Wow.

23:14This is exactly the reaction I was hoping for. There's so much you can do with this place,

23:19and it's a really great example of the value you can get if you're willing to step back from the water.

23:24My house hunter, John, would love this garage and workshop, but Jo's commute to work would be horrible.

23:33What were your thoughts on that one, then?

23:34I like the house. It's got a nice feel.

23:39As you said, Mehdi, another driveway is up here.

23:41So that could be my entrance into that part of the house, and then we could build on that.

23:47I think it's got potential. What do you think?

23:50I loved the outside. When we first came in, I was like, oh my God, wow.

23:54The hub of the home being the kitchen, dining, lounge, love that.

23:57The indoor outdoor floor fireplace, swimming pool, garden, everything was absolute box ticked.

24:04The location's stunning.

24:06Yeah, I love the location.

24:08Now there's heaps of land here, and there's more than enough room for Lynn to build the home of

24:12her dreams, which is kind of the fuse that I wanted to light. Do you like it? Yes, you do.

24:19You love it here. They always say babies buy homes. Come on, let's go buy this one.

24:23Hello. Yes. You're a natural. Thank you.

24:29Well, thank you for babysitting. Thank you. Yeah, I tell you what, I think she's a good

24:34luck charm for this property. It's certainly a beautiful home.

24:37It's a great home, easy for you to live in here as it is, but also to evolve.

24:42Exactly, yes. Can you see it working for you?

24:45Yeah. Definitely. Yeah.

24:48It's got like everything, entertainment, indoor outdoor flow, fireplace. You've done a good job.

24:53Yeah. Property number three, here we come.

24:55Yay, thank you.

24:57It is a spectacular property with plenty of potential, and for house number three, well, I've kept the best for last.

25:04After John and Jo's lukewarm response to house number one. For me, it seems a bit bitter, I think,

25:13because it's a 50s house and it's been developed over time. I've gone back to the drawing board to

25:18find something that might just hit their sweet spot. It's my turn to head to Beach Haven, where

25:24the average price for a four bedroom home is just over 1.2 million. We're excited to see what you've got

25:29for us. Yeah, a little bit nervous. Not as nervous as I am back here. Are you a bit worried about my

25:34driving mate? No, no, no. I've got every confidence in you. Any more cheek from John and he can walk to

25:39the next house. It's a great view here. Yeah. Well, welcome to house number two. It's big. I'm looking

25:48forward to seeing the view from that day. Yeah, it's going to be impressive. So we'll take a look

25:53inside. Excellent, yeah. Come on then. Off we go. Tucked away with sweeping harbour views, this 1960s

26:00classic has three bedrooms, three bathrooms, as well as separate living and dining areas on the

26:05main floor. Downstairs, there's a fourth bedroom, a second living area and internal access to a double

26:11garage. It's an off-market opportunity and I'm excited that they get the chance to see it first.

26:17Oh, wow. That's a great view, eh? That's amazing. There can't be many kitchens with a view like this.

26:25Nice start. Nice start. Great start. See the little boat? That's the ferry that you guys can actually

26:32catch from Beechhaven Wharf to take you into the city. Oh, wow. This is beautiful. Even better from

26:40out here. Really peaceful as well. It is. It won't be so peaceful when his bulldozer turns up.

26:46Oh, this is a nice lounge. Oh, that's an even better view than the deck, I reckon. That's just so

26:52expansive. You don't expect that from the road. Main bathroom, separate shower, separate bath. Nice,

26:58small but tidy, nice, yep. Oh, that's a bigger room. That's another nice room, eh? You could

27:05probably squeeze a double in here. Yeah, it's a good single asphalt double, isn't it? Yeah. This

27:10must be the master. Yeah, good-sized master bedroom. I like the fact that every room on this side

27:17has got entry onto the patio. Yeah. Oh, wow. Dressing room and bathroom. Yeah.

27:27Oh, here we go. Oh, nice. That's more like it. Yeah, I could get a lot of things in here. Do you think

27:33you could fit a bulldozer in here? The bulldozer's not coming with us. Oh, poor John. Look at his little

27:41face. So what I'm sensing and what I'm seeing is the overall vibe is very positive about property

27:48number two. The only thing I'm worried about is it potentially going to be too much of a commute for

27:53Joe at the end of a busy day. But what a place to come home to when you have had a long day. It is

28:00off market, so they will need to be quick. Bearing in mind, it took them a year to find their house

28:06in Whangarei. They won't have that long here. What do you think? The view is obviously nice.

28:13The rooms are nicer. The shed or garage has got a lot more room. I really like that. I guess the

28:19downsides of this house are it's probably a bit smaller and a bit further away. So a maybe?

28:25A definite maybe. Every house is a definite maybe until proven otherwise.

28:31Yep. Oh, another definite maybe. Don't even think about it, Paul.

28:38I'm getting some good positive energy from our viewing today. I think we like this one a lot better

28:44than the first one all round. The spaces, the surroundings and shed space are much better.

28:49Pretty positive, you would say. Any negatives? We'll have to check out exactly how far from the hospital

28:57we are, especially in rush hour. But we have to compromise on something and that is a pretty

29:01spectacular view. I don't think we were expecting to see anything within our budget with that view.

29:08For resale as well, a view is a really good commodity to have. It is, undoubtedly.

29:14Yeah. Time is of the essence with an off-market property, so at least don't take a year to decide.

29:21It's not going to be there. No, no. Getting a reaction out of John is like mixing the perfect

29:26cocktail. It takes patience, the right ingredients and just a little shake. Today we might have got

29:33the recipe right and with one more house to go, let's see if it's served with a smile.

29:38Hi Jo. Hi Nancy. Come on in. Thanks.

29:47How are you? Good, thank you. I hear you're looking to downsize. Have you considered much

29:52about contents insurance? We haven't actually looked at any of that for a long time.

29:56Fair enough. Moving house is a great time to review your contents some insured. This is going to cover

30:01your personal belongings, so things that are separate from the building and the structure. Furniture,

30:05jewellery, clothing and electrical goods like your television and laptop.

30:09So are there any sort of specific limits on high value items?

30:13Great question Jo. Generally contents insurance policies cover your belongings up to your

30:18some insured. Some of those limits are fixed and can't be changed and some are adjustable,

30:23so you can increase your cover for that category of contents. Check your policy documents and talk

30:27to your insurer and they'll be able to tell you which items have limits and what can be adjusted.

30:32And it can be difficult trying to establish that content some insured, but some insurers do offer

30:37online calculators to help you get that estimate. I'd also recommend keeping digital copies of receipts

30:43and valuations for your contents, particularly any high value items. These can be used as proof of

30:48ownership during claims time and help progress your contents claim quickly and efficiently.

30:52We haven't been doing that either, have we? No.

30:55So I think we probably need to review what our contents are insured for currently and adjust that

31:01upwards or downwards. I think so. Thanks for your time

31:05today and all the best with the house hunting journey. Great. Thank you.

31:08House number two set the bar high for my family. Let's go Paul! So finding house number three meant

31:24calling in Jane to go that extra mile. How was that wildcard? I've stretched the legs a little bit

31:31and we're going to view a home in the gorgeous community of Waimoku. Waimoku is not on their list

31:39but hear me out. You get a whole lot more home for your dollar here. It's semi-rural, home to vineyards

31:45and some breathtaking scenery. This one might just surprise them. The average house price around 1.6 million.

31:53It's huge. It's a handsome home from the street. It is very handsome. Let's get inside. You lead the way.

31:59Okay. At just four years old this place still has that new home smell and it comes with the full works.

32:07Four bedrooms, three bathrooms and an open plan living and dining area. Perfect for family chaos or a

32:14quiet cuppa. And the best bit, there's a minor dwelling so Lynn could get her own space without having to

32:19build anything or live in a converted basement. All of this could be theirs for just over one and a half

32:25million. Wow. Oh my goodness. Feels like home already. Oh Mehdi's gonna be so angry he missed this.

32:35Wow, Paulie Kins. Yes. Oh my god. You've excelled yourself. Well Paulie Kins, that's a juice box,

32:42a gold star and now a laminated certificate for trying very very hard. There's so much house.

32:49Got to put them out of the misery and show them the rest of this house.

32:54So this is one of the bedrooms. It's a nice size. And again, natural light. Huge.

33:02It's a walk-in wardrobe. Wow. And there's an ensuite. Oh wow, that's huge. That's massive.

33:10Falling in love for sure. Caroline is so hard to read, Jane. I'm not sure she likes it.

33:15Oh, stop it. Are you joking? I am joking. Oh my god. This is my dream. Oh my goodness.

33:25I wasn't expecting that. I've always wanted one of these. Nope, nothing. Not a flicker of emotion.

33:33But they haven't seen the separate flat yet. This is exciting. Your own accommodation, completely separate.

33:41Good one, Paul. You did good. Thank you. Well, it's a nice size. Yeah. I like that. I was expecting

33:49something that ended about here. You do have the extra room as well. So you've got so much space. Yeah,

33:56it feels nicer. At the first house, Lynn was polite, but unconvinced. However, this, it's a different

34:03story. It feels like home already actually. Okay. It's lovely. I do love the, um, the granny annex. Um,

34:10you can have two bedrooms or I could have a little living room instead of an extra bedroom. Okay.

34:15It's got a shower and I did say, um, I could book my bath appointments through here. Is that okay with you?

34:22Yeah, good. I just wanted to make sure I started, you mean to go on. Sure. I'm getting good vibrations

34:27from inside. The question is, is Lynn ready? I know she says she's ready, but is she actually

34:33ready? It's such a big step to downsize emotionally. It's a beautiful home. Like you really did go above

34:42and beyond for that home. It ticked everything and more. What do you think it's worth? I would say

34:46a home like that with an income 1.8, 1.9. One million, five hundred and sixty-five thousand

34:54dollars. That took me by a huge surprise. Yeah. Yeah. It just shows location. It's literally

35:01everything. Yeah. Yeah. With all the memories that I have, obviously. Fresh start. Yeah. New beginnings.

35:09You know, that's going to be your base, but I can see you still traveling and seeing the world and,

35:15you know, that's just your base. Yeah. Yeah. And you didn't even my little shoulder. Yeah. And how

35:22gorgeous is it? You'll be watching every phase and stage of that beautiful little girl, you know?

35:28Well, it sounds like your mind is made up. I think we need to keep something under the hat,

35:33so don't tell Maddy. I'm really looking forward to seeing his face on decision day. Yeah. Well,

35:39I think this one's a winner. Really? What gave it away, huh? After a couple of lukewarm viewings with

35:45John and Joe, I've had to dig deep for house number three, and I've taken them a bit further afield than

35:51I first planned, but I think I've found something that might just win them over. We've traveled 15 minutes

35:57north of Veitchhaven to the suburb of Rosedale. The area has great energy, amenities, and no shortage

36:04of things to do. A four-bedroom home here averages about 1.4 million. This time,

36:10I have Pauliekins along for the ride. I love it, Jane. Got a nice street appeal, hasn't it?

36:16Yeah. Leafy. Nice and quiet. There they go. Good luck, Jane. Nice to see you, John. This is Paul.

36:23I'm Paul. John and Joe. Nice to meet you. Pleasure to meet you too. Great. Well, here we are again.

36:28That looks really exciting. Yep. This is a distinct upgrade from the last two, just saying. Thanks,

36:33John. I think it's going to break the bank. Well, you'd be surprised. Your budget is what?

36:401.5? Yeah. You said maybe a little bit more for the right property. Yeah, tiny, tiny. The agent is

36:46talking around 1.6. No, you haven't. All right. Well, shall we go and have a look? Yes, please. All

36:51right. Come on, then. Yep. Great. Ooh. This solid brick home offers four bedrooms, two bathrooms,

36:58and plenty of space across two levels. Downstairs, there's an open-plan kitchen, living and dining area,

37:05a separate family room, one bedroom, and a huge garage. Upstairs, you'll find three double bedrooms,

37:12two bathrooms, and an extra toilet. It's for sale by negotiation, and yes, it might end up pushing

37:18their max budget, but that's why we negotiate. This is impressive. It's quite grand, isn't it? It is.

37:25Oh, look. It's big. Oh, wow. That's a lovely dining area. Nice. It's a nice big lounge,

37:33and the kitchen looks nice. What do you think? I like the flow. Can we look at the kitchen?

37:37Come on, then. Let's do it. It's actually spookily similar to what we have at the moment in

37:43Whangaday, which is a nice thing because it feels all very familiar. I think they might like this one.

37:48It's a lovely outdoor space, eh? Yeah, it's nice. Looks like it'll get this on most of the day.

37:53Good amount of yard for you to take care of. It's not too much? Yeah. No lawn tomorrow,

37:57which is a good thing. I think we should call this the orchard room. Okay.

38:03We have a lemon tree here, and we have a mandarin tree there. You can almost

38:06lean out the window and grab one. Obviously, the job location's happening for Jo. Yeah.

38:11And with the move, I mean, what does that mean for you? It means less maintenance work for me,

38:18but also it gives me access to Auckland, which is good for the things that I like,

38:23the cultural things, bars, restaurants, music, that kind of thing.

38:29I really hope they like this house because it suits them so perfectly. Yeah. It's so hard to tell with

38:36John, but he definitely, the interest levels kept going and going and going and going as he went

38:41through the house. We've just got to get past the hurdle of does the suburb work for them? Do they

38:46like what's in their intermediate surroundings? So they've got homework to do. I'll get the detention

38:51slips ready. Oh, what a beautiful master. So sunny. It's gorgeous. Yeah. Yeah. It looks amazing.

38:59Oh, wow. So sunny. This is the spot. It is only 20 minutes drive in traffic to the hospital. Wow. And

39:10only about a 10, 13 minute drive to the Albany shops as well. So. Oh, okay. Yep. Each way. It's a very

39:16central location. Well, it's time to see if this place has won them over. Well, do we need to get the

39:24paperwork in order for you? Perhaps, actually. This is by far the best house. We like it. A house

39:31has got to make you feel like it could be your home. Yeah. Yeah. And you know instantly when you

39:36walk in if it can or it can't. Yes. And this one sounds like it does. We might have cracked them.

39:43Well done. Maybe. Yeah. Fantastic. We'll have a bit more of a look around the area and look forward to

39:48catching up. Well, well, well. John likes it. I'm just going to quickly check the footage

39:53to make sure that did happen.

40:01High house prices mean it's become tougher for young families who are often relying on a single

40:06income to move up the property ladder. So more and more are looking for creative ways to take that next

40:12step. Multi-generational living is on the rise in Aotearoa and for this family, it would be a way to

40:18honour the past while building a future together. After losing Lynn's husband and Caroline's dad,

40:23Eugene, just under a year ago, this close-knit whānau have been through a tough chapter.

40:28With a new baby and two homes full of memories, moving on isn't easy. But now it's time for one home

40:34and it feels right. Hello. Hello. Hey, Pauliekins. My favourite family.

40:42Look, it's such a pleasure to be here with you. Talk me through property number one.

40:46For me, it didn't have the curb appeal that like when you pull up to the house and it's like,

40:51okay. But it was a stunning house. I had the bedrooms, the bathrooms were gorgeous,

40:55like beautifully renovated. It just didn't give me that immediate feeling that I'm looking for when I

41:01enter that home. Which takes us to property number two. I loved the outside when we first came in.

41:06I was like, oh my God, wow. Well, it had a pool as well, which was a little cherry on top. I did like

41:12the little driveway down the side though, with the grapevines and the trees. It's like a little country

41:18haven, but it needed updating. It's like, can we be bothered to do that? It's a beautiful house and

41:27there's obviously another property out there that will meet our needs better than this.

41:31What did you think of property number three? I love this home. I said to him,

41:37I'm obsessed with this house. Like, I love it. It's everything that we're like looking for and

41:40then you won't believe the price. Like, it's stunning. Boom, boom, like firing him all this

41:43stuff at him. Like, it's gorgeous. And he broke my heart. Yeah, so last night I went and actually viewed

41:50the property as well. I think the one thing that kind of killed it for me was the location.

41:54Working in the CBD, if we're moving all the way out there, then my commute of 45 minutes

42:00all of a sudden becomes an hour and 15, an hour and a half, which is definitely not something I

42:04would want to do. I said happy wife, happy bloody wife. Okay. So really exciting. Obviously you're not

42:12going to buy any of the three properties I showed you. That's okay. I'd like to raise a toast to not

42:19buying a property, but having real clarity around your next steps and the adventure ahead. Toast to

42:25the future. Yeah, to the future. Cheers and slauncher. Slauncher. Well, unfortunately, this search hasn't

42:32led to the perfect property just yet, but somewhere out there, the right home is waiting for them.

42:40My house hunters, Joe and John, are staring down the next big chapter in their lives. It's a huge leap,

42:45and there isn't a safety net if they get it wrong. House number three ticked more boxes than expected,

42:51but the question lingers, are they actually ready to take the plunge? Hello.

42:57How has this whole journey been for you both? We've really enjoyed it. It's opened our eyes to some

43:02areas and some things that we didn't know already. I'm starting with property number one. I have to say,

43:08of the three properties, that had the lightest, airiest feel. Got that real spacious, really sunny

43:14aspect. We had a nice feel about it, I thought, yeah. But we felt there was a lot of work to do in

43:21there. John would definitely need to build a shed, and then we were worried that the cross lease might

43:26affect the neighbour's attitude towards him putting a shed on the property. We weren't very keen on that.

43:32OK, let's have a chat about number two, the Beach Haven property. So property number two had a view

43:38to die for. But on reflection, that house felt a little bit small for us, and we both felt afterwards

43:46that the view wasn't enough of a plus to offset some of the negatives. Right, property number three.

43:56We both instantly sort of felt quite comfortable in that house, and yes, I could live here.

44:01I've got the agent on speed dial. Well, when you go to see a house, you're kind of in awe of all its good

44:08things, but when you reflect on it in the evening, you kind of think about what the downsides are.

44:15It's not easy to get any meaningful public transport from there, so you will always have to drive.

44:21We're still definitely considering it, but our concern is that it didn't really have a community

44:27neighbourhood feel. We're not sure because we don't really know many of the neighbourhoods around here,

44:31so we're going to sort of phone a friend on that. So we're really grateful for your help this week.

44:36It's made it so much more realistic. It's also really helped us to work out what's important and

44:44what's less important, so really like to thank you for that. It's been my pleasure. As you said,

44:48it's really important that you feel comfortable, and you like what you're doing right now, but you're

44:53also going to like where you are in 10 years' time, and I get that. So it's been a great week.

44:58I've really enjoyed hanging out with you guys, so cheers to the Coats and your future in Auckland.

45:03Neither family found the perfect home this time, but what they did discover may prove even more valuable.

45:10New areas to explore, a clearer sense of what their budget can achieve, and the skills to navigate

45:15the journey ahead. Their house hunt continues, but the foundations are stronger than ever.

45:25Looking for a new home? Make sure you check out the AA Insurance Home Buyer's Guide.

45:31Live a little freer. Next time. Hello. Welcome to the neighbourhood. Two families at opposite ends of the

45:38house buying journey. I could live in a tiny home. He still wants his mansion. My life is building

45:43everyone else's houses. It's time to build mine. I've got a couple of empty nesters ready to downsize.

45:48Feel like I'm a holiday. I've got gooses when you see them. And I'm with first-time home buyers

45:53looking for a place to call their own. I want my own bathroom. You want your own bathroom. I hear you.

45:57Two families. Come on. Go. Two budgets. One epic property hunt. Let's do it.

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