Eighteen months after offering their property for sale privately, having not managed to find a buyer, Colin and Dianne Bashford decided to entrust the marketing of the Waipawa home they had lived in for 16 years to Marlene Honings of PGG Wrightson Real Estate, Waipukurau.
Six short weeks later, it was sold.
“Marlene made contact early in the piece. She was patient while we tried to sell the property ourselves. We only had four people through to view it during the time it was on the market. In the meantime, Marlene kept in touch, tactfully suggesting that she might be able to find a buyer where we couldn’t. In the end, we decided to see what she could do,” says Colin.
It was the right decision.
“Particularly with the magnificent views it commands, we believed that plenty of people should be interested in a property of this quality.
“It is a good size on an elevated site, and essentially a lifestyle property, soaking up that peaceful rural vibe. However, it is close to all the Waipawa amenities: a stone’s throw from shops, cafés, supermarket, schools, bike trails, and the local swimming pool, not to mention trout fishing spots.
“On top of that, Waipawa is only seven kilometres from Waipukurau and slightly over 40 to both Hastings and Havelock North, so never far from what you need, which means the property benefits from the best of both worlds,” says Marlene.
Colin and Dianne have loved living there.
“Although we are in town, it has a country feel. Once you’re home, it seems like you have no neighbours. “Looking at sunrises and sunsets from up here is just awesome. Being up above the town, sitting there, looking across to the surrounding hills, relaxing, especially on a nice fine sunny day, while you can watch all of that drama going past, meanwhile up here you’re completely away from it all.
“When we bought it, the house was recently finished, though the property had not been landscaped. We had never done anything like that before, and had that work to do, which was an enjoyable project. We also built the big shed,” says Colin.
They’ve successfully run a couple of businesses out of that shed, plus a slightly smaller one, ample space that Marlene would see was an appealing feature for a potential new owner.
“It has plenty of room for all the gear, whether to run a business, or for hobbies and toys. Storage space on that scale adds extra value, opening up so many different options.
“Lovingly maintained by Colin and Dianne inside and out, a warm and welcoming cosy double-glazed home, surrounded by sunny decks and .74 hectares fenced into two paddocks, make the property a true gem,” she says.
Pictured: Marlene Honings of PGG Wrightson Real Estate.
As soon as Marlene began her marketing campaign, the interest in the property that she had expected started to come to the fore. Within a short time, she had taken around 20 enthusiastic parties through, including the successful purchasers, who were seeking to move from Havelock North to the more rural surrounds of Waipawa.
With the property successfully sold, Colin and Dianne are staying local in Waipawa, downsizing and looking forward to some travel and adventures in their motorhome.
“Waipawa is an attractive lifestyle option. Most of the potential buyers that my colleague Janeane Strawbridge and I took to view the Bashford’s property are Hawke’s Bay locals, looking to shift out of Napier, Hastings or Havelock North and enjoy what a more rural community has to offer. With the way that so many people live and work now, that is becoming so much more viable. Fortunately, I have several more properties on the market similar to this one,” says Marlene.
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