Selwyn Times: September 11, 2019

14
Your guide to all things Real Estate
in the Selwyn District
Looking at a
lifestyle property
Mike Goatley
Living in the country away from
neighbours with land for the family
and pets, may be appealing. To
ensure a lifestyle property is the
right choice, step back and separate
the dream from the commitment
involved.
“Many people have a romantic
view of country living and I, like
many others love the lifestyle”, says
Mike Goatley, Principal of One
Agency Real Estate Specialists.
“If looking to buy a larger property,
weigh the size of the block against the
potential time it will take to maintain
it as well as the distances involved in
commuting to your day-to-day activities.”
Mike lives on a lifestyle property and
says the quality of a lifestyle block’s
infrastructure is significant.
Factors to consider include: access and
cost of providing services; existence of
and need for shelter belts for protection
from prevailing winds; quality of fencing
and stock management; and access ways
around the property.
The further the driveway, power and
communication networks must go to
the home, the greater the expense to
install and maintain. A sewerage system
must also be installed for waste water
management with septic systems and
disbursement fields for waste water
adding $15,000 to 25,000 (depending on
the system’s size).
“Water is usually not plumbed to a
town supply so a groundwater system
will involve drilling a well, and installing
a suitable pump and storage capacity
to maintain a safe quality supply to the
house,” advises Mike.
Historically, Canterbury wells went
down 15 to 30 metres. With dropping
water table levels, wells now need to be
deeper. Many shallow wells are being
replaced with new wells penetrating 55 to
60 metres to assure a stable water supply.
A well and pumping system adds around
$20,000 to $30,000. You will also need
water storage for sufficient water through
the seasons, including hot dry summers.
Another factor is the quality of the
land. Is it suitable for growing or grazing?
Heavier soils retain moisture so are good
for crops. If low lying, water may pond.
Sandy soils dry out quickly and are not
as fertile so plant growth is slower. A
simple cost effective soil test should
be undertaken when considering the
intended use for a particular block of
land.
The infrastructure on older lifestyle
blocks can be substandard if maintenance
has been deferred or not upgraded.
Shelter belts if not maintained can leave
boundary tree fencing susceptible to
wind damage or blowing over in high
winds. Poor fencing can threaten stock
security. Old concrete tanks could mean
poor water quality.
A lifestyle property in need of work
offers an opportunity for an energetic
and suitably skilled purchaser, who is
willing to do the work and invest in
infrastructure to improve and lift the
value of the land.
Mike has sold numerous rural
properties from lifestyle to small farms.
He emphasises the importance of doing
due diligence on the quality and type
of infrastructure on new and existing
lifestyle blocks. He is happy to advise
anyone considering purchasing a lifestyle
property.
NEW LISTING
Prebbleton 59 Charwell Lane
An exquisite lifestyle
• An exquisite 295sqm (approximately) home sited
on 4.16ha (approximately) of land
• Amazing light and bright spaces combine with a
decadent kitchen and flow to outstanding outdoor
areas
• A luxurious master suite and also a welcoming and
separate guest suite
• Skillfully arranged outbuildings which include a
three-bay shed, studio and an over height
workshop space
• Plus, an enticing provision and consent to add on an
additional three-bedroom wing
bayleys.co.nz/5510510
2 2 3 6
Price by Negotiation
View by appointment
Urszula Bedggood 027 338 7889
urszula.bedggood@bayleys.co.nz
WHALAN AND PARTNERS LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED REAA 2008