How To Choose The Perfect Apartment Or Terraced House

Monday 26 August, 2002

A new housing guide titled "What to look for when buying a terraced house or apartment" is essential reading for anyone considering buying a new home or investment property.

Jointly published by the ARC and North Shore City with support from other Auckland councils, the guide aims to help buyers make a discerning housing choice and point them to a good quality property.

The guide points out what is different about living in a terraced home or apartment compared with a more traditional house, and takes the prospective buyer on a journey to a theoretical neighbourhood and through an imaginary terraced house or apartment.

Critical questions to ask and sound practical advice are provided along the way. Issues such as location, streetscape character, construction pros and cons, the quality of interior and exterior living areas and Body Corporate / management issues are all discussed.

"Buying a home is one of the biggest and most stressful decisions people make in their lives," says ARC Strategic Policy Committee Chairman Ian Bradley. "It's important that buyers are discerning and have good advice before making a decision to purchase.

"This guide provides information on what to look for and what to ask in regard to key housing issues. With recent publicity highlighting problems with some modern homes, a little reading could well save people from making a very costly mistake."

An ARC report released earlier this year showed that Auckland's growth has been intensifying more than it has been expanding over the last decade. Over 40 percent of new dwellings built in Auckland between 1991-2001 were consented under "multiple dwelling consents", usually associated with higher density housing.

The guide is available free through ARC's Enviroline 09 366 2070 and North Shore City's Actionline on 09 486 8600.

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