No-one wants to buy this home
There are many reasons why a house doesn’t sell quickly, and this twobedroom house in Feilding’s Lethbridge St highlights several of these, although it may also be the arrival of the weta mentioned in the listing.
The property has the dubious honour of being listed on Trade Me Property for the longest time of any listing – just under 11 years.
Trade Me says the property was first listed in September 2007. It has been updated a couple of times since, with new photos that don’t exactly do the property justice.
The owner, known by the pseudonym ‘‘Rogal’’ and also ‘‘Roly’’, has posted photos showing the property in flood. However, Google Maps shows the property looking much more respectable, and a new house has appeared on the neighbouring section.
Although Roly did not reply to Stuff’s email, he says in the listing the property is ‘‘prone to flooding’’.
‘‘This is due to having a swamp in the back paddock and construction of a new subdivision. Core samples have been taken to confirm the depth of the marsh. Area of the section will change due to kerb and channel being removed to allow for another section between the existing houses.
‘‘How is it that they can give permits for allowing houses to be built over main sewerage pipes.
‘‘Sorry, there is no access to the sheds at the back of the section but plenty of parking on the street out front. Please don’t be put off by these minor inconveniences.’’
The listing finishes with the words: ‘‘The weta have arrived.’’
However, the asking price could be the problem. The property is listed at $465,700, but the 2016 capital valuation CV is $200,000.
The owner says the latest rating bill is only $2776, ‘‘so be in quick for a bargain’’. Manawatu¯ District Council posts the current rates at $2908.01.
The average time it takes to sell a house in Feilding is just over a month – it slipped to 39 days over the past Christmas period.
The listing finishes with the words: ‘‘The weta have arrived.’’