How Movers Wrap Furniture

When we think about moving our furniture, the logistics immediately pop into our heads. Getting that couch down the stairs, that dining room table out the front door… and then comes the thought of scratches, dents, or scuffs. Before you gasp and vow to never move house, take a moment to think about getting a professional moving company to not only move your furniture but also wrap it.

Carefully wrapping furniture is the best–and in fact the only way–to move your furniture safely, which is why you want to know how movers wrap furniture using advanced packing techniques.

 

Movers Use Professional Packing Materials

Many of us get swept up in the excitement of moving to a new house and start gathering empty boxes from friends and discarded boxes from shops in a rush to get started, but these boxes are likely to be damaged, not strong enough and purpose-built. The same goes for the materials with which you might consider packing and wrapping your furniture.

Many people underestimate the potential for damage, but movers know how to wrap your furniture to the highest standard with the best materials for maximum efficiency and protection. Items such as thick furniture blankets, heavy-duty plastic wrap or bags, protective bubble wrap, corrugated cardboard, crates, and mattress protectors are purpose-made and substituting these items with whatever you can find is unlikely to do the trick. Not to mention the trusted, professional methods movers use to wrap your furniture.

 

How to Wrap Your Furniture

  • Movers will wrap your mattresses and couches in heavy gauge plastic bags to prevent scuffing and soiling of the fabric.
  • For items which are more delicate in nature–such as highly polished timber–movers will cover your items in thick foam wrap and sometimes add an extra layer of corrugated cardboard if necessary.
  • More unusually shaped items and for international moves, items will be wrapped in a heavy-duty bubble wrap, sometimes referred to as tuff wrap or put in custom-built crates.
  • For even more protection, when loaded into the moving truck or shipping crate, all good movers will use thick moving blankets to further prevent damage.

 

How Movers Pack Other Unusually Shaped Items

Professional movers will also assist in the packing and wrapping of items such as instruments, bicycles, motorbikes, artworks, golf clubs and more. In these instances, they will use custom-made, reinforced boxes for lighter items or crates for heavier, more fragile items. Crates are used especially in international moves, and for when your items are put into storage; for extra protection above the foam or bubble wrap.

Furniture isn’t only expensive to replace, but it can be sentimental if it is an antique or an heirloom. Professional movers know how to wrap your furniture to mitigate as much risk as possible and get your furniture to your new home in the same condition they wrapped it in. For additional advice, to get a quote or to book your move, get in touch with us today.

New Zealand Movers Dunedin

Are Movers Worth It?

It’s not unusual for people to shy away from moving for the simple reason that it’s one of the most stressful things you can do. The thing is, movers simplify and speed up the process greatly. So, when people ask are movers worth it, we say yes, every time. Even if you’re only moving a few items of furniture, movers know what they are doing, and they ensure your move is stress free. How? By doing pretty much everything for you and keeping your items safe.

 

Movers Pack and Unpack

It has been said, perhaps more than a few times, preparation, preparation, and more preparation. With moving, packing is easily the most daunting aspect, and it’s where professional movers can help the most. Movers will help you pack all your belongings swiftly and safely. They know all the best methods to keep your belongings safe and greatly mitigate the risk of damage. Movers do this by wrapping things carefully, putting them into the right size box or specialised crate, labelling them and making sure the boxes with fragile items are taken extra special care of. To make things even easier, you can ask them to unpack for you too.

 

Movers Create Inventories

Inventories can be a big job, but they are essential if you’re planning to run a tight ship—rather than a loose mess. Movers will help you by creating an inventory as they are packing your belongings. This time-consuming task ensures you know exactly what has been packed and where it goes so you don’t lose track of anything.

 

Movers Load the Truck for You

As with packing, there are methods that movers use to load the truck. They ensure that they place each box in such a way that it does not damage them, they don’t shift around and are unpacked in the right order. Keeping bigger items such as furniture safe can also be risky if you aren’t sure how to prevent them from shifting around, how to pack them, wrap them or load them.

 

Movers Safely Transport Your Belongings

Even if you are prepared to take on the risk of packing, loading and hiring a truck, are you able to drive a truck? Depending on the size of the vehicle, you may require a specialised licence to drive that truck.

 

Movers Offer Moving Insurance

If you go it alone, you might be able to cover your belongings with household insurance, but it is likely the coverage will be limited. Movers mitigate a lot of risk through careful loading, packing and transportation of your belongings but without that, your insurance company may not be willing to risk covering your move. Movers offer insurance specifically for this purpose.

 

Movers Offer Storage

Another delightful aspect of movers is that they can put your belongings straight into storage if there’s a delay between moving out of your old home and moving into your new one.

In conclusion, for the sake of your mental health, movers are worth it. The stress is overwhelming when you are worried about many other details such as switching your service providers and getting your children into new schools. For more information and advice, just give us a call today.

Are movers cheaper on weekdays?

When it comes to moving houses, there’s always one question which never seems to be answered, once and for all: should you move on a weekday or a weekend? Well, you’ve come to the right place – because that’s what we’re going to answer today.

Both options have their benefits. In short, it’s a trade-off.
So here’s the ultimate pros and cons list of when to move house.

Read the full article below.

Weekdays

PROS

  • The price – There’s no shame in trying to save a buck where you can. Many moving companies offer discount rates for weekday moves, so it’s definitely something to consider when moving to a new place.
  • The flexibility – Most movers and packers are quieter during the week. This will save you a headache in trying to squeeze in a time that suits both parties, and going back and forth with dates and times. It also means you should (in theory) be able to move into your place quicker.
  • Connecting utilities – If you move in and find you’ve got an issue with your electricity, water, gas or (god forbid) internet connections, a weekday move will ensure you can sort those problems out without listening to that awful hold music for hours on end.

CONS

  • Time off work – If you work full time, there’s a fair chance you’ll have to eat into your personal leave to move houses during a weekday. And if you’re a casual worker, it’s even more important to consider whether taking time off work is worth moving on a weekday. You may still find that it is, but that’s for you to consider.
  • School pick up – Parents try their best not to let kids get in the way of things. But this one’s unavoidable. Working around school pick up could take up a large chunk of your moving time.
  • Working around peak hours – there’s little point in paying for your moving truck to be stuck in peak hour traffic. Try to book after 9am and before 5pm.

Weekends

PROS

  • Convenience – If you work during the week, then a weekend move means you don’t have to chew up your precious personal leave or chuck a cheeky sickie. C’mon, we’ve all been there.
  • An extra set of hands – You might be the kind of person who enlists your friends as cheap labour during the move. There’s (mostly) nothing wrong with this, and moving on a weekend increases your odds of getting them on board.

CONS

  • The price – Yep, most movers will charge you extra for the convenience of moving on a weekend. As mentioned previously, it’s up to you to decide whether taking a day off work during the week works out better than being charged extra on a weekend.
  • Finding a slot – Moving companies’ weekend slots are known to be booked up well in advance. You don’t want to get the keys to a place, only to be moving in 5 weeks later. Or maybe you do. I don’t know.
  • Kids – This could either work as a pro or a con. If your kids are too young to help with the move, then they’ll most likely be getting in the way during a weekend move. But if they’re a bit more mature, then sweet! You’ve got some more cheap labour under your belt.

 

So, now that you’ve read our ultimate pros and cons list of choosing when to move, it’s up to you to weigh it all up!

 

Where is the best place in New Zealand to retire?

People have been moving out of Auckland to retire for decades. Wanting to get more for their money house wise, better lifestyle and quality of life.

Whatever your plans are for 2018, let us remove the stress from your next move.

Read full articles below:

Where is the best place in New Zealand to retire?

senior couple

According to a 2017 global Deutsche Bank survey, Wellington offers ‘the best quality of life in the world’.

The Kiwi capital had the least pollution of the 47 cities ranked, was second best in the world for commute times, and also scored highly for property price to income ratio.

It made us wonder, for whom exactly does Wellington offer the best quality of life? How does it meet the needs of retirees for example? And how do you go about measuring ‘quality of life’?

So we decided we’d have a go at finding the place that offers the best quality of life for retirees in New Zealand.

We settled on 4 criteria – Climate, Safety, Health Care, and Affordability. We then set about exploring a variety of sources.

Here are some, not all, of the ‘facts’ we found:

According to Niwa’s climate database Richmond (near Nelson) topped the sunshine standings in 2016 with 2840 hours of sunshine recorded, 258 hours ahead of Blenheim, with Takaka and New Plymouth close behind.

Tasman is also the district with the lowest crime rate in New Zealand. In the 12 months to April this year, there were 8,932 crimes compared to 28,141 in Wellington and 35,902 in Auckland city.

In terms of health care, the Kapiti Coast offers a plethora of picturesque retirement homes but the West Coast is currently the place to be for the shortest stay in hospital emergency departments. The fastest cancer treatment can be found in Waitemata.

The cost of living is certainly cheaper in Wellington than Auckland or Christchurch. But if you’re looking to downsize, the latest QV figures put Whanganui, Palmerston North, and Masterton as three reasonably affordable places to buy real estate. If you’ve got your heart set on Nelson, you’ll need more than half a million dollars and over a million for Queenstown.

Feeling just a little befuddled and not even close to finding ‘the one’ we decided to turn to three people we thought might have the answer.

Former Retirement Commissioner of New Zealand, Diana Crossan has lived in Wellington since 1980 and agrees with Deutsche Bank’s conclusion that it offers a great lifestyle.

“No argument from me. When I first moved to Wellington, I was warned it was grey and one-dimensional with ‘only the Green Parrot open after dark’. I’ve watched it change into a vibrant, diverse and very liveable city.

“In my last 4 jobs my daily commute was between 4 and 6 minutes door to door. My colleagues who commute from a bit further out are impressed with Wellington’s improved public transport systems, especially via the trains.”

But she says unless retirees have a mortgage free house, Wellington could be a difficult option.

She says there are two key questions you need to ask yourself when deciding where to retire. Firstly, ‘what are my social needs?’

This includes proximity to family and friends as well as cultural and sporting interests. Health and medical services need to be considered but also access to part-time work, housing and of course climate, to which she’s quick to quip “Wellington’s winds invigorate, don’t they?”

The second but undoubtedly most important consideration is income.

“Income and savings need to dictate where we live in our retirement. If income is limited, people have to prioritise which of the social factors are most important.”

When Financial Commentator and Adviser, Martin Hawes moved from Christchurch to Queenstown 20 years ago, the lead social factor for him was the wonderful mountaineering. He says if you enjoy the outdoors and can afford it, Queenstown is a great place to retire.

”We love living here but in winter my heating bill is through the roof.”

And he adds that anyone looking to downsize should look elsewhere. “Fairlie or Greymouth maybe but not Queenstown. Think about how much house you want and how much income you have and work it out from there.”

He then declares this best-place-to-retire lark completely futile. And we realise he’s right.

The needs of retirees, now more than ever, are infinitely wide and varied. City or small town? Outdoors or arts? Family or friends? Work or play or both or all of the above.

In short, you can look at facts and figures all you like but no one can tell you the best place to retire because the decision can only be yours.

Former Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Sir Michael Cullen chose to semi-retire to the Bay of Plenty town of Ohope.

“There are no traffic lights. You feel quite upset if you have to park more than 50 metres away from where you’re going.”

He’s always loved the place for it’s beautiful climate and its friendly people and happily two out of three of his children live nearby.

And he’s got a simple but equally important third question to add to Diana’s two that he thinks all retirees need to ask themselves. And it’s this:

“Am I going to be happy living here?”

If it’s a yes, then there’s your quality of life, right there.

Article: https://www.lifetimeincome.co.nz/about-us/news/2017/july/where-is-the-best-place-in-new-zealand-to-retire-lifetime-investigates/

Grey flight: how likely are baby boomers to retire overseas?

Senior Couple Taking Dog For Walk In Countryside

Summer is waning, living costs in New Zealand are on the rise, and, despite an increase in NZ Superannuation, many over-65s still find their pension falls far short of providing a comfortable lifestyle. Could the answer to an idyllic retirement be somewhere overseas, where the weather is warmer and your funds go further?

New Zealanders living in Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch need savings of at least $101,774 at age 65 in order to be able to fund the most basic of lifestyles, a Massey University study found last year.

Dr Claire Matthews, who undertook the research, told Stuff that escalating house prices and mounting household utility bills meant NZ Super payments failed to cover the costs of living for many retirees.

So having $100K of savings still means a ‘no frills’ retirement: just getting by, eating a limited diet and no holidays.

Given this it’s not surprising why the idea of sun and sea, and a lower cost of living are powerful incentives when considering where you might retire.

When it comes to retirees moving overseas, dubbed ‘grey flight’ by some, exact numbers are hard to come by. Statistics New Zealand does not collect data on New Zealanders living or retiring overseas while the Ministry of Social Development could not provide figures on how many Kiwis abroad it pays superannuation to. It’s also worth noting that not everyone receives their pensions internationally.

Anecdotally however it seems more and more baby boomers are retiring abroad, or at least considering it.

Glenn Thompson, the CEO of Century 21 Pro Real Estate in Hua Hin in the Gulf of Thailand, said he has noticed a “large rise” in the number of New Zealanders and Australians coming to buy properties in Thailand due to the high cost of living in cities back home.

Hua Hin, described by Lonely Planet as a “refreshing mix of city and sea with an almost cosmopolitan ambience”, is a haven for golfers, with at least 10 top-class courses in easy reach of the city. It is also a good budget destination where seafood is cheap and plentiful, and there is convenient public transport.

Australasian buyers tend to buy off-plan and are usually attracted to an average price point of 8M baht, or NZ$348,000, said Thompson, who has worked in real estate in Hua Hin for 14 years. For that you get a three-bedroom residence, with two or three bathrooms and a private pool.

“It’s within a compound with security although Hua Hin is a very safe place,” he said. “Buyers are satisfied to be in the countryside but still within 10 minutes drive of the town centre and the beaches.”

Meanwhile International Living, an Ireland-based publishing company that writes about retiring overseas, recently set up an Australian operation. Its focus is on limited budgets and affordable living in exotic locales.

In its first-ever survey, International Living Australia named Malaysia as its 2018 number one retirement destination.

The English-speaking country ranked high for its weather, “world class” healthcare system, pristine beaches and its lenient visa rules.

Ranking just behind it were Thailand, Mexico, Cambodia and Bali. European destinations such as Spain, Portugal, Italy and France also made it into the top 15.

All these destinations offer different options for retirement – whether it’s balmy beaches and cheaper living or stunning landscapes and vibrant cultures. You’ll find other like-minded retirees living in these places too, often providing a close-knit community.

However it’s worth considering several things before opting for a late-in-life OE, as someone Overseas and Experienced.

Money is crucial, and in some cases you can receive some or all of your NZ Super if you live in another country. There is information on Work and Income’s website on this here.

Cheaper living costs are a major motivation for many, but that shouldn’t be your only reason for retiring abroad or you are simply an economic refugee. Like all good travellers you’ll need a strong desire for adventure and new experiences, a sense of humour and a hefty dose of patience.

Think about whether you see this as a permanent move. Many overseas jurisdictions have quite stringent rules around who gets medical care. Meanwhile the very elderly or infirm may prefer to be closer to family and friends. If you are able to, it is worth keeping property in Aotearoa so you have somewhere to return to later if you wish.

If you are feeling the pinch in New Zealand, it is worth remembering that releasing equity in the family home and moving to a retirement village provides an immediate boost to savings and income.

Studies undertaken by social research firm CRESA found that 20 per cent of incoming residents released more than $200,000 and around 60 per cent released more than $50,000 when they sold up and moved to the village, said Retirement Villages Association executive director John Collyns.

“We also know that the majority of residents move to a village that’s a short distance from where they’ve always lived so they remain connected to their community. Other benefits include companionship, a no-hassle lifestyle, and a pathway to care if needed and are the reasons why villages are so popular. All of these are more difficult to achieve if the retiree moves to Thailand or wherever.”

By: Rachel Helyer Donaldson, INsite Magazine
Article: http://insitemagazine.co.nz/2018/02/13/grey-flight-how-likely-are-baby-boomers-to-retire-overseas/

Home lending restrictions could ease again by year end

Home lending restrictions could be eased again by the end of this year, an economist is predicting.

The Reserve Bank left property loan restrictions on hold today after easing them slightly in January.

Loan-to-value ratio restrictions have been in place since October 2013, requiring most home buyers to have a 20 per cent deposit.

In January they were eased to allow banks to lend up to 15 per cent of their new lending to owner-occupiers with a deposit of less than 20 per cent – up from 10 per cent.

At the same time the cap for lending to investors eased to allow the banks to lend up to 5 per cent to investors with equity of less than 35 per cent – down from 40 per cent equity…

By: Tamsyn Parker, Money Editor, NZ Herald.
Read full article here: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/personal-finance/news/article.cfm?c_id=12&objectid=12061289

The downsizer’s bible

There comes a time in life when many Kiwis want to downsize to a smaller home. The reality of doing so leaves many frozen like a possum in the headlights. Often the fear is tied up with a lifetime of possessions, says Janice Emery, real estate agent at RE/MAX.

Janice and her business partner Di Connolly realised there was a market in helping such people with an end-to-end move.

The pair have written a booklet giving advice on the process covering issues such as the need to get legal advice and how to source practical help in decluttering, upgrading the property for sale, and even waste collection.

Many clients find themselves alone in a large house and can find it depressing and/or a burden, says Janice.

After decades in the same property they may also feel a fear of the unknown…

By: Diana Clement, OneRoof.
Read full article here: https://www.oneroof.co.nz/news/the-guide-book-to-downsizing-35222

What’s Happening in NZ’s Property Market?

Thinking about moving out of Auckland? Want to buy your own home? What’s going to happen in the rental market? Thinking about buying a property and business?

What ever your doing let us help you remove the stress from your move.

Read full articles below:

Quiet January for Auckland’s biggest realtor, as Barfoot data shows 5.7pc drop in house sales.

Barfoot&Thompson

A quiet and blissfully warm January in Auckland saw sales by the city’s biggest realtors decline but the agency’s boss indicated that was not unexpected.

Barfoot & Thompson sold 745 residential properties in December but that fell last month to 593 sales, a point acknowledged by managing director Peter Thompson who heads the business which says it sells one in every three Auckland residential homes.

“Sales numbers at 593 were light for the month, down 13.8 percent on the average of the previous three months and down 5.7 percent on those for January last year. However, given January’s short and holiday-interrupted trading period, caution needs to be attached to drawing strong conclusions from the month’s sales,” Thompson said.

Turnover in some price categories fell more than others.

“Sales of homes in the high-end categories of $2 million and $1 million – at 27 and 170 respectively – were consistent with the number of sales in these price categories in January last year. Sales of properties for under $500,000 fell from 13 per cent of all sales in January 2017 to 8 per cent of sales in January 2018,” Thompson said.

The average January sale price for Barfoots was $934,753, 1.5 percent up on the previous three months. The median price was $830,000, 1.6 per cent below the average for the previous three months.

Thompson is optimistic.

“With prices having plateaued, stable mortgage interest rates and the potential that greater access to mortgage finance will be made available to first-time buyers and those on a limited income, sales numbers can be expected to grow as we head into the traditionally strong February to August sales period,” he said.

“The same situation exists for rural and lifestyle property sales.

“With buyers being selective and taking their time, sales activity in this sector was quiet in January. There was a strong level of buyer interest and a solid level of quality new listings including a number of dairy farms.

“Interest in small to medium-sized commercial property was strong in January, and our sales for the month at $78 million were the highest on record for the month of January,” he said.

Quotable Value will release national house value data on Friday.

By: Anne Gibson, Property editor, NZ Herald
Article: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/property/news/article.cfm?c_id=8&objectid=11988314

Home loan rates tipped to rise in 2018 – but not by much, say experts.

HomeLoanRates

Home loan rates will likely rise a bit in 2018 but are not expected to take a big jump up, experts believe.

Reserve Bank data shows average fixed-rate mortgages rose by between 11 and 17 basis points between December 2016 and October 2017.

On a $350,000 mortgage fixed for two years over a 25-year term the increase was equivalent to an extra $22 a month.

But it was lower than had been expected.

Jose George, the general manager at Canstar New Zealand, said rates had moved up a bit in the past year but there hadn’t been any big changes.

“We have seen the historical lows go. But rates have increased much lower than expected.”

George said low inflation meant central banks had held rates low in a bid to stimulate spending and economic growth.

In New Zealand retail banks had also become much more selective about home loan lending over the past year in response to fears of a property market melt-down.

“There has been a lot of pressure on credit quality. Banks have become far more selective in terms of their risk appetite.”

George said based on what had happened in the past 12 months it was hard to forecast where interest rates would go in 2018.

Economists are predicting the Reserve Bank won’t make any moves to increase the official cash rate until late this year or even next year.

There is some suggestion the next rate change may also be down if inflation remains persistently low.

“It speaks to the uncertainty,” he said.

But David Tripe, Massey University’s banking expert, said looking at the yield curve suggested interest rates would be higher by the end of 2018.

“If we start to see bubbles of inflation from the new Government that might encourage a rate rise.”

Increasing the minimum wage to $20 an hour by 2020 would push up wages at the lower end which was likely to increase inflation, Tripe said.

That could mean short-term rates start to rise as banks price in an increase in the official cash rate which affects floating and short term rates more than longer-term fixed rates.

“It is much more likely rates are going to rise over the next two years than fall.”

But he doesn’t think they will rise by much because household debt is so high.

That means any increases to rates will bite into people’s spending capacity, limiting how much they can buy.

“People will be much more sensitive to interest rate rises than in the past.”

Mark Collins, chief executive of Mike Pero Mortgages, said some people coming off very low rates from 2016 would see an increase.

But for others the change may be marginal.

“I think it will be lower for longer.”

He urged people to shop around given there was around an 0.8 percentage point difference between the lowest and highest rates in the market.

On a $350,000 loan that could equate to about $200 extra a month. A lower rate could also allow a person to borrow more, he said.

Good advice was key.

“It’s not just the rate but how it is structured.”

Splitting a mortgage into several different parts could also help spread the risk of being faced with a big jump up all at once.

For those due to re-fix their home loan Collins said people needed to think about whether their circumstances had changed.

He urged people not to take the first offer made by their bank as it might not be the best in the market.

Collins said people should think about where they wanted to be financially in three to five years.

“The faster you pay it off the less interest you will pay.”

Rising home loans
Home loan rates Dec 2016 – Oct 2017:
• floating 5.61% – 5.84% up 13 basis points
• one-year fixed 4.94% – 5.05% up 11 basis points
• two-year fixed 5.14% – 5.25% up 11 basis points
• three-year 5.4% 5.57% up 17 basis points
Source: Reserve Bank

Deposit rates
Savers who are looking for a better rate at the bank are likely to be disappointed.

Canstar’s Jose George said there was unlikely to be any good news for savers, with term deposit rates expected to remain low.

“There isn’t really much good news. In a low inflation environment what can you expect?”

He urged savers to be on the look out for specials which banks sometimes offered to help manage their books when a large amount of deposits matured at once.

The weighted average six-month term deposit rate rose just 2 basis points between December 2016 and November 2017 to 3.32 per cent, Reserve Bank figures show.

By: Tamsyn Parker, Money Editor, NZ Herald
Article: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/property/news/article.cfm?c_id=8&objectid=11952611

Top Bay of Plenty properties with businesses

PropertiesWithBusinesses

Two high profile and freehold properties, along with the two established and successful Tyre Works Ltd businesses occupying them, in Rotorua and Mt Maunganui, have been put on the market.

“Both sites have road frontages to main arterial traffic routes with high traffic exposure and are zoned Industrial 1E,” says Sharene Temple of Sothebys International Realty.

Temple is marketing 13 Fairy Springs Rd, Rotorua and 67 Hewletts Rd, Mt Maunganui, for sale by tender closing at 2pm on March 1 in Sotheby’s office at 295 Parnell Rd, Auckland.

“The vendor owns the two Tyre Works businesses, which lease the properties he owns; and the Mt Maunganui property also has a second independent tenant,” she says.

Temple says the two properties have been recently refurbished adding capacity for growth.

“The one in Rotorua is a concrete and steel new building with a floor area of about 1390sq m on a 2157sq m land site. In addition to the workshop area, there are two offices upstairs and a server room.

Tyre Works pays $147,056 per annum plus GST on a four-year lease commencing March 26, 2016, with two 4-year renewals. The first rent review is due on December 1, 2019, and two yearly thereafter.

“Three combined lots make for a rectangular shaped site, with a frontage of around 53.6 metres to main arterial Fairy Springs Rd, and also to a KFC restaurant through to the left of the property, giving great exposure to passing traffic.”

The Mt Maunganui property has a total floor area of around 2159.4 sq m encompassing two buildings on a 4360sq m flat site with Tyre Works leasing space in both buildings. The front part of the roadside building is tenanted by Evolution Cycles.

Space within the front building at 67A Hewletts Rd is leased by Tyre Works for $67,110 per annum plus GST commencing December 1, 2014, on a four-year term with two 4-yearly rights of renewal and now two-yearly rent reviews.

The space leased by Tyre Works in the back building at 1/67 Hewletts Rd has a four-year lease to Tyre Works commencing December 1, 2014, with two 4-year renewals taking a final expiry through to December 1, 2022. Rent reviews are now two yearly and the annual rent is $35,000 plus GST.

Evolution Cycles, the other tenant occupying Units 1 and 2 at 67 Hewletts Rd, is on a four-year net lease commencing July 1, 2015, and pays $86,841.67 per annum plus GST. Rent reviews are also two yearly.

The front of the roadside building comprises showroom space, open plan office, workshop, two toilets, and a mezzanine room; along with a deck leased to Evolution Cycles.

At the back of this building is a workshop with a 4-6m height, toilet and a mezzanine landing with an office area.

The rear building encompasses a warehouse with a 6-8m height to ceiling; reception, staff room, client room and mezzanine space.

Temple says the property, with a 37.61m frontage to Hewlett Rd, is highly visible to traffic travelling between Mt Maunganui and the Tauranga Harbour Bridge.

“The Maunganui area is the closest industrial area to the Port of Tauranga and Hewletts Rd is a major arterial route with heavy traffic usage.”

She says the property has an excellent central location within the Mount Maunganui industrial area and good access to air, sea and rail services.

“This sale presents a rare opportunity to purchase two Bay of Plenty commercial properties on major roads with established businesses as tenants.

“The vendor is retiring and would prefer to sell the portfolio of land, buildings and the two Tyre Works businesses to just one buyer.”

By: Sharene Temple, Sothebys International Realty.
Article: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/property/news/article.cfm?c_id=8&objectid=11989249

Tenants face perfect storm in rental market

RentalMarket

A perfect storm has hit renters, with the number of rental properties on the market halving since last year while prices have hit a record high, Trade Me says.

The number of available rentals in November was down 49 percent on last year, while the national median rent rose 3.4 percent to a record-breaking $460 per week.

All but one of New Zealand’s 15 regions saw rent increases year-on-year, with six regions experiencing double-digit growth.

Wellington was hardest-hit with 71 percent fewer rentals, while the median weekly rent rose 8.7 percent to $470.

“Supply simply cannot keep up with the demand we are seeing and it’s rare for rental properties to be coming on and off the market so quickly,” Trade Me’s head of property Nigel Jeffries said.

“The coming months are not looking good for flat-hunting Kiwis.

“Fierce demand means landlords can have their houses listed and then tenanted in record time.”

In Auckland, median rents jumped 1.9 percent to $530 per week while supply dropped 35 percent. And it could get worse.

“As we head into the New Year and university students prepare to flood the Auckland rental market, some large rental increases could be in store for the Super City,” Mr Jeffries said.

The biggest jump in rental prices came in Marlborough, which was up 23.5 percent from $340 per week last year to $420 per week in November.

However Christchurch managed to buck the national trend as the supply grew during the earthquake rebuild, with rents falling slightly to $390 per week.

By: NZN / Newshub.
Article: http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/money/2017/12/tenants-face-perfect-storm-in-rental-market.html

Property crisis: 1 in 3 have looked at leaving Auckland

A third of Aucklanders have considered moving out of the city as it becomes increasingly unaffordable, a new survey reveals.

Experts say the trend could leave the city short of workers such as teachers, nurses and police who can earn similar salaries in more affordable cities.

A poll conducted for website The Spinoff by research company SSI found one in three people (32.2 per cent) surveyed had considered moving away from Auckland in the last two years because of house prices.

A further 36 per cent hadn’t considered the option but thought it was a good idea. Auckland housing prices have risen by 85 per cent in the last four years, taking the average price to around nine times the average household’s income.

Auckland’s median house price for June was $825,000, according to Real Estate Institute data.

Salvation Army social policy analyst Alan Johnson was unsurprised by the results.

“There’s people leaving Auckland in bigger numbers than ever because of the house prices. It will undermine the city’s competitiveness. People doing lower paid jobs, particularly in the service and construction sectors, need to be able to afford to live in the city,” Johnson said.

Between the 2008 and 2013 Censuses, 32,184 people left Auckland for the Waikato, Wellington and Canterbury regions, while 29,301 moved to Auckland from those areas.

Economist Shamubeel Eaqub said there were two types of Aucklanders leaving for the provinces – retirees heading for cheaper areas like Tauranga and Northland, and families looking for a better lifestyle.

Since the 2013 Census, Auckland had become even less affordable, but the decision to leave the city was a challenge for some.

“The challenge for a lot of people is they’re not able to get the same kinds of jobs or job security in other parts of New Zealand.

“That’s [probably why] it’s only a third of people saying they’ve actually considered it.”

This month, Coalition for More Homes, a group including members of Generation Zero, The Salvation Army, The Morgan Foundation and Property Council, published an open letter to the Auckland Council ahead of its decision on the Unitary Plan.

It warned that Aucklanders were forced to spend too much on housing, threatening the city’s culture and quality of life.

Auckland housing poll

Have you in the last two years considered moving away from Auckland because of house prices?

• Yes – 32.2 per cent
• No, but it’s a good idea – 36.3 per cent
• No — 31.5 per cent

Do you believe there is a housing crisis in Auckland?

• Yes — 84 per cent
• No — 10.3 per cent
• Don’t know — 5.7 per cent

Source: The Spinoff/SSI

• Survey Sampling International (SSI) conducted the online survey this month among a sample of 760 Auckland residents aged 18 and over with quota applied to gender, age and region within Auckland. The margin of error is +/- 3.6 per cent.

– NZ Herald

A third of Aucklanders have considered moving out of the city as it becomes increasingly unaffordable, a new survey reveals.

Experts say the trend could leave the city short of workers such as teachers, nurses and police who can earn similar salaries in more affordable cities.

A poll conducted for website The Spinoff by research company SSI found one in three people (32.2 per cent) surveyed had considered moving away from Auckland in the last two years because of house prices.

A further 36 per cent hadn’t considered the option but thought it was a good idea. Auckland housing prices have risen by 85 per cent in the last four years, taking the average price to around nine times the average household’s income.

Auckland’s median house price for June was $825,000, according to Real Estate Institute data.

Salvation Army social policy analyst Alan Johnson was unsurprised by the results.

“There’s people leaving Auckland in bigger numbers than ever because of the house prices. It will undermine the city’s competitiveness. People doing lower paid jobs, particularly in the service and construction sectors, need to be able to afford to live in the city,” Johnson said.

Between the 2008 and 2013 Censuses, 32,184 people left Auckland for the Waikato, Wellington and Canterbury regions, while 29,301 moved to Auckland from those areas.

Economist Shamubeel Eaqub said there were two types of Aucklanders leaving for the provinces – retirees heading for cheaper areas like Tauranga and Northland, and families looking for a better lifestyle.

Since the 2013 Census, Auckland had become even less affordable, but the decision to leave the city was a challenge for some.

“The challenge for a lot of people is they’re not able to get the same kinds of jobs or job security in other parts of New Zealand.

“That’s [probably why] it’s only a third of people saying they’ve actually considered it.”

This month, Coalition for More Homes, a group including members of Generation Zero, The Salvation Army, The Morgan Foundation and Property Council, published an open letter to the Auckland Council ahead of its decision on the Unitary Plan.

It warned that Aucklanders were forced to spend too much on housing, threatening the city’s culture and quality of life.

Auckland housing poll

Have you in the last two years considered moving away from Auckland because of house prices?

• Yes – 32.2 per cent
• No, but it’s a good idea – 36.3 per cent
• No — 31.5 per cent

Do you believe there is a housing crisis in Auckland?

• Yes — 84 per cent
• No — 10.3 per cent
• Don’t know — 5.7 per cent

Source: The Spinoff/SSI

• Survey Sampling International (SSI) conducted the online survey this month among a sample of 760 Auckland residents aged 18 and over with quota applied to gender, age and region within Auckland. The margin of error is +/- 3.6 per cent.

– NZ Herald

Tenfold increase in interest from Brits wanting to move to New Zealand since Brexit referendum

In 49 days after the vote, there were 10,647 registrations from the UK compared with 4599 over the same period last year.

More than 10,500 registrations from people considering moving here from Britain have been lodged with Immigration New Zealand since the Brexit vote.

The agency’s deputy chief executive, Nigel Bickle, said interest from UK nationals rose tenfold on the day Britain voted to leave Europe.

That day Immigration got 998 British registrations, compared with 109 the day before the vote.

In 49 days after the vote, there were 10,647 registrations from the UK compared with 4599 over the same period last year.

Immigration “typically receives about 3000 registrations a month from people interested in studying, working or investing from British nationals via the New Zealand Now website”, an agency spokesman said.

Before applying, would-be applicants can register on the site to check if their skills are in demand, explore visa options and check if they meet immigration criteria.

Massey University sociologist Professor Paul Spoonley said he was not surprised by the spike.

“I anticipate that post Brexit and if [presidential candidate Donald] Trump wins in America, you’re going to see a spike in interest from people there about coming to New Zealand.

“We saw it during the Bush years from Americans, and I think over the next three to five years, you’re going to see a significant increase in the numbers of migrants coming from both Britain and the USA.”

Spoonley said middle-class professionals wanting a different lifestyle would be attracted to New Zealand.

“Brexit is the push factor and it confirmed the exclusive or narrow nationalism of the UK, of some at least,” he said.

“We’d be getting people from the UK who are tired of a narrow-minded Britain and who want to experience something quite different.

“New Zealand is very different, it is multicultural, very tolerant and it’s got a good lifestyle and a more temperate climate.”

Spoonley noted Britain had almost the same land size as New Zealand, but its population was 64 million compared with 4.7 million here.

“Migrants move for lifestyle reasons as much as they do for economic reasons, and New Zealand has a pretty good deal on offer.”

Britain had traditionally been New Zealand’s main source country for permanent migrants.

It was overtaken by China in 2014, which has remained the largest source of immigrants since.

Spoonley did not think many of the Britons who registered interest would actually migrate. He believed China and India would continue to dominate immigration numbers in the foreseeable future.

Last month, Immigration accepted 272 applications for residence by Britons and 566 Chinese applications.

“The size and the depth of the Chinese middle class, and the push factors like pollution in China, always is going to mean the Chinese are going to be a very significant source of immigrants.”

New Zealand experienced its largest population growth in the 12 months to June this year as a result of international migration.

Net migration was 69,100, with 125,100 migrant arrivals less 56,000 departures. Last year, 4549 British nationals gained NZ residence, 21,999 were granted work visas and 1388 student visas.

#ratherbekiwi

What’s not to love? After all: We have better weather.

  • We have a rugby team that actually plays rugby.
  • We’re more than 18,000km from Boris Johnson.
  • We have affordable houses and there’s no traffic (if you move to Invercargill).
  • And we have our very own distinctive flag. Oh.

UK immigration to NZ

  • 998 registrations on the day of Brexit referendum
  • 10,647 registrations since the vote
  • 272 applications for residence last month

(source: Immigration New Zealand)

– NZ Herald

Are movers and packers working right now?

COVID-19 has brought some big changes to our lives. Working, socialising and, thankfully, keeping a few extra metres away from that one bloke on the bus who really needs a Lynx Africa pack this Christmas.

But if you’re moving houses, then that brings a whole other range of questions to which you’re probably itching to know the answers. Are you able to get professional help with the move? Are there travel restrictions affecting you? Are you going to need to fill out a bazillion different forms in the process?

Well, here’s your essential checklist with 4 easy steps for moving and packing during COVID.

Read the full article below.

1. Find out the your COVID guidelines

Every country has different COVID-safe rules to the next. In New Zealand the whole country is at Alert Level 1. This means you there are no additional restrictions on moving house, viewing properties, or maintenance and inspections. Whereas, if you’re moving to somewhere like France or England, then you maaaay have slightly more difficulty. Just a tad.

2. Call the experts

Getting in contact with your moving and packing company is a big one. Why? Because they’re the ones who know how the local COVID-safe laws affect their business. Yes, it’s super difficult to navigate each and every rule on your own, but ‘with a little help from your friends’, it gets way easier. You’ll find most businesses are across the COVID rules that specifically affect them. Movers and packers know their guidelines for moving and packing while florists, for example, know their guidelines for florist-ing… florist-izing? Whatever, you get it.

3. Keep up-to-date

The tough thing about moving restrictions during COVID is that the rules are changing constantly… Rapidly… All. The. Damn. Time. There’s not much point doing a week’s worth of research on COVID laws, if you’re moving in 6 months’ time. Heck, even 6 days is enough to change the landscape of your moving plans. The best way to keep on top of this is to find out the rules, and do daily checks and searches to see if they’ve changed for the better or the worse.

4. Breathe.

You know the old adage about the three most stressful life occurrences… death, divorce and moving houses. While it’s easy to lose your head over moving during COVID, hiring a great moving company will ensure the process is as smooth as possible. You can also seek help from a partner, lean on your friends for support, or just buy chocolate! That usually helps.

So, now it’s in your hands. It’ll be tricky: frustrating, even. But not impossible. Follow these guidelines and you’ll be finding yourself sitting in your new place with a flute of champagne with minimal hassle.

New Zealand Movers Dunedin

Will Movers Take Apart Furniture?

Moving house requires so much planning! Luckily, the right moving company really takes the hassle and the stress out of the whole drudgery. The best way to begin the process is by starting a list. Consider whether you need your movers to pack your furniture. Do you need them to unpack your furniture? Do you want your moving company to take your furniture apart and reassemble it? Disassembling furniture during your move is often overlooked, but it is essential if you are short on time and manpower.

Read the full article below.

Ask About Furniture Disassembly First

Remember to ask the moving company first before assuming that they can take your furniture apart as they will need to bring additional equipment. If you don’t ask your movers ahead of time to take your furniture apart, you could incur additional costs for the extra time taken to disassemble it.

Some furniture is difficult to take apart and even more difficult to reassemble successfully. It could be said that there’s an art to it, but if your moving company is committed and happy to offer the service, it’s a service which is worth asking and paying for.

Why Disassemble Furniture?

Not all furniture can be taken apart, but what can be taken apart should be and there are several reasons for this. Other than potentially making your life easier, there are risks involved in not asking your moving company to take your furniture apart.

Why you need to take your furniture apart:

  • If your furniture is not taken apart, it will take up additional space in the moving truck, potentially taking up space which could be used for other items.
  • Disassembled furniture can more easily be packed into custom-sized boxes and crates which are reinforced, ultimately offering your beloved items better protection during your move.
  • It makes loading easier and faster.

Will They Reassemble Your Furniture?

Taking your furniture apart may be simple enough, but will your moving company reassemble it? Just as you need to ask them to pack your belongings into boxes and unpack them, you also need to ask them to put your furniture back together again. If they provide the disassembly service, they are more than likely to put it all back together again for you. This saves you the confusion and stress of reassembling it, as movers are old hands at this, and they are far less likely to struggle.

If They Don’t Disassemble, What Are Your Other Options?

Some companies do not offer furniture disassembly and reassembly services; this isn’t a disaster though. Ask the moving company how they move and handle furniture which is not taken apart. They might wrap soft furnishings, tables and chairs in heavy gauge plastic and protective foam wrapping instead, along with offering custom crating for more delicate items. Your primary concerns will be whether they can easily move the furniture in and out of your home, how they will wrap it, how they will transport it, and what the effect will be on the total cost of your move.

To make moving house simpler and faster, give New Zealand Movers a call today. We can advise you regarding your move, give you a quote and book your move all in one call.

New Zealand Movers Christchurch

What Do Movers Charge?

There are a heap of expenses involved in moving house. Before you book your mover, there is a lot to consider. Getting full and thorough quote(s) will help you plan your move and to make an informed decision. Finding out what movers charge takes a bit of time, but it’s essential if you want to find the best fit for your pocket and your requirements.

Read full articles below:

What Services Do You Need?

Movers rates vary depending on your needs, so it’s not so simple to put your finger on an average cost to move house. Your best bet is to get a few quotes. This way you can compare both the total amount and the individual costs of hiring staff, paying for a truck, paying for people to pack your belongings, packing equipment and more.

Before you book a full-service move, you want to figure out where you can cut costs and what unavoidable aspect(s) of your move will be the most costly.

Consider the following:

  • Do you need movers to pack your belongings or will you pack them yourself? Movers cannot take responsibility for boxes which they have not packed.
  • How big is your house and do you have a lot of belongings? It may be worth your while to sell or donate some of your items and replace them later (if essential) to cut costs.
  • Will you buy boxes and other essential packing materials? Remember, you are taking a chance if you use secondhand boxes as their integrity may have been compromised.
  • Are you going to insure your belongings? If you need to insure your belongings the moving company may be required to pack them for you to qualify for moving insurance.
  • Are you moving far? Moving long distances or to another country will cost more, while moving 15 minutes away will be cheaper. (Matt, isn’t this somewhat self explanatory?)
  • Do you have a lot of valuable items? These items will require special care when packing, and the help of movers is highly recommended.
  • Consider the cost of your time too. Is your time more valuable spent working or packing boxes?
  • Movers will charge for the time taken to load and offload your belongings; some movers have a minimum amount of hours they have to charge for. Watch out for this hidden cost.

Moving Costs to Compare

Before you accept the first or the cheapest quote you receive from a moving company, make sure all the services you require are included. The total cost of the move may pleasantly surprise you, and you can likely negotiate the total moving fee (this doesn’t make sense to me). Some movers may charge more to pack your belongings, and others may charge more for their transport.

When comparing various companies quotes make sure thwey are all quoting on the same parameters and volume to be moved, the same number of man-hours and the same distance travelled (again, Matt this doesn’t make sense to me – surely all companies will quote to the same destination!) You also want to compare the cost of each line item so you know where you can save money and where you can spend more.

Potential Hidden Costs

There may be a few additional costs which you didn’t account for so make sure you ask about overtime rates, booking fees, freight services and storage.

The Cost of Not Using a Moving Company

If you’re thinking about moving your home without the help of a moving company, it’s important to remember that your costs could increase. If your items are damaged, replacing them could quickly cost as much as the movers.

Contact us to get a competitive quote now. We can help you decide which services you need and which you don’t need and where you can save money. Let us get you on track for moving day.