First Impressions/Expectations ripped off
Jan 20th 2007, 3:12 am
#1
BE Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 445
First Impressions/Expectations ripped off
Been in Chc 1 week now, it has been a fairly stressful few days.
We booked accommodation from the UK. Met at the Airport by the owners of the house , kind of them.
We paid upfront 3.5k$. Big surprise house number 1 no washing machine no bath ( I would not have got in it )and was like a 1950s prefab.Also I think their idea of cleanliness was vastly different to mine.
After 2 days moved to another house which I would not let my dog sleep in.( lasted 30 mins) The smell of damp hangs in your nostrils for a long time.
So moved to a Motel and finaly a clean townhouse (expensive).
Moral of this story never rent a house unseen as nice as people are standards differ greatly if you are used to any form of comfort and cleanliness Beware!!!!!!!!!!!!.
Decent housing is expensive .
Harcourts the Estate Agents have been helpful albiet expensive ( if anyone gets stuck)
Otherwise Chc good.
Watch out for Hillbillies with smiles. Remember Deliverance.
Good Luck to you all.
We booked accommodation from the UK. Met at the Airport by the owners of the house , kind of them.
We paid upfront 3.5k$. Big surprise house number 1 no washing machine no bath ( I would not have got in it )and was like a 1950s prefab.Also I think their idea of cleanliness was vastly different to mine.
After 2 days moved to another house which I would not let my dog sleep in.( lasted 30 mins) The smell of damp hangs in your nostrils for a long time.
So moved to a Motel and finaly a clean townhouse (expensive).
Moral of this story never rent a house unseen as nice as people are standards differ greatly if you are used to any form of comfort and cleanliness Beware!!!!!!!!!!!!.
Decent housing is expensive .
Harcourts the Estate Agents have been helpful albiet expensive ( if anyone gets stuck)
Otherwise Chc good.
Watch out for Hillbillies with smiles. Remember Deliverance.
Good Luck to you all.
Jan 20th 2007, 7:54 am
#2
By name and by nature
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,852
Re: First Impressions/Expectations ripped off
Did you get your money back? 
Apart from that - welcome to NZ
My mother rented a house for me once and I cried when I walked into it and that was only returning from the UK to Ireland. No point crying over spilt milk and lesson learned and all that but I hope that's the first and last thing that will go wrong for you. Good luck in your new life.
Apart from that - welcome to NZ
My mother rented a house for me once and I cried when I walked into it and that was only returning from the UK to Ireland. No point crying over spilt milk and lesson learned and all that but I hope that's the first and last thing that will go wrong for you. Good luck in your new life.
Jan 20th 2007, 7:55 pm
#4
Account Closed
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,585
Re: First Impressions/Expectations ripped off
We paid upfront 3.5k$. Why?Big surprise house number 1 no washing machine no bath as per nearly all Kiwi houses - the bath part, not the washing machine( I would not have got in it )and was like a 1950s prefab as per many NZ houses.Also I think their idea of cleanliness was vastly different to minethis was the number one complaint of all the language students I taught there - of which there were about 2000 over a three year period.
After 2 days moved to another house which I would not let my dog sleep in.( lasted 30 mins) The smell of damp hangs in your nostrils for a long time.
So moved to a Motel and finaly a clean townhouse (expensive).
Moral of this story never rent a house unseen as nice as people are standards differ greatly if you are used to any form of comfort and cleanliness Beware!!!!!!!!!!!!.
Decent housing is expensive .
Harcourts the Estate Agents have been helpful albiet expensive ( if anyone gets stuck)
Otherwise Chc good.
Watch out for Hillbillies with smiles. Remember Deliverance.
Good Luck to you all.
After 2 days moved to another house which I would not let my dog sleep in.( lasted 30 mins) The smell of damp hangs in your nostrils for a long time.
So moved to a Motel and finaly a clean townhouse (expensive).
Moral of this story never rent a house unseen as nice as people are standards differ greatly if you are used to any form of comfort and cleanliness Beware!!!!!!!!!!!!.
Decent housing is expensive .
Harcourts the Estate Agents have been helpful albiet expensive ( if anyone gets stuck)
Otherwise Chc good.
Watch out for Hillbillies with smiles. Remember Deliverance.
Good Luck to you all.
Jan 20th 2007, 8:38 pm
#5
Jedi Princess
Joined: Jun 2006
Location: Melbourne,Australia
Posts: 2,089
Re: First Impressions/Expectations ripped off
Been in Chc 1 week now, it has been a fairly stressful few days.
We booked accommodation from the UK. Met at the Airport by the owners of the house , kind of them.
We paid upfront 3.5k$. Big surprise house number 1 no washing machine no bath ( I would not have got in it )and was like a 1950s prefab.Also I think their idea of cleanliness was vastly different to mine.
After 2 days moved to another house which I would not let my dog sleep in.( lasted 30 mins) The smell of damp hangs in your nostrils for a long time.
So moved to a Motel and finaly a clean townhouse (expensive).
Moral of this story never rent a house unseen as nice as people are standards differ greatly if you are used to any form of comfort and cleanliness Beware!!!!!!!!!!!!.
Decent housing is expensive .
Harcourts the Estate Agents have been helpful albiet expensive ( if anyone gets stuck)
Otherwise Chc good.
Watch out for Hillbillies with smiles. Remember Deliverance.
Good Luck to you all.
We booked accommodation from the UK. Met at the Airport by the owners of the house , kind of them.
We paid upfront 3.5k$. Big surprise house number 1 no washing machine no bath ( I would not have got in it )and was like a 1950s prefab.Also I think their idea of cleanliness was vastly different to mine.
After 2 days moved to another house which I would not let my dog sleep in.( lasted 30 mins) The smell of damp hangs in your nostrils for a long time.
So moved to a Motel and finaly a clean townhouse (expensive).
Moral of this story never rent a house unseen as nice as people are standards differ greatly if you are used to any form of comfort and cleanliness Beware!!!!!!!!!!!!.
Decent housing is expensive .
Harcourts the Estate Agents have been helpful albiet expensive ( if anyone gets stuck)
Otherwise Chc good.
Watch out for Hillbillies with smiles. Remember Deliverance.
Good Luck to you all.
There are a few 1950s and 1960s ex state housing properties that may still have no shower built in. Most people buy a shower attachment or have a plumber install a permanent shower that works while you stand up in the bathtub.
I'm pretty confident that all houses built since the 70s have separate shower facilites and many before then that were built privately.
Sounds like you were 'seen coming'. I have a motto: If a property or area is cheap, there's a reason for it. Always go for the best you can comfortably afford.
Jan 20th 2007, 8:41 pm
#6
Account Closed
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,585
Re: First Impressions/Expectations ripped off
I have never lived in nor seen a house in NZ without a bathroom. Amazing!
There are a few 1950s and 1960s ex state housing properties that may still have no shower built in. Most people buy a shower attachment or have a plumber install a permanent shower that works while you stand up in the bathtub.
I'm pretty confident that all houses built since the 70s have separate shower facilites and many before then that were built privately.
Sounds like you were 'seen coming'. I have a motto: If a property or area is cheap, there's a reason for it. Always go for the best you can comfortably afford.
There are a few 1950s and 1960s ex state housing properties that may still have no shower built in. Most people buy a shower attachment or have a plumber install a permanent shower that works while you stand up in the bathtub.
I'm pretty confident that all houses built since the 70s have separate shower facilites and many before then that were built privately.
Sounds like you were 'seen coming'. I have a motto: If a property or area is cheap, there's a reason for it. Always go for the best you can comfortably afford.
Jan 20th 2007, 8:46 pm
#7
Jedi Princess
Joined: Jun 2006
Location: Melbourne,Australia
Posts: 2,089
Re: First Impressions/Expectations ripped off
Jan 20th 2007, 9:10 pm
#10
Account Closed
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 527
Re: First Impressions/Expectations ripped off
I did think that Charteris Bay was a peculiar place to choose for your first stop, even if it is very beautiful. I take it you are in town now?
I remember someone posting a few months ago about *buying* a house sight unseen in NZ while still living in the UK. I really would like to know the end of that story...
I hope that things are now coming right for you, the first few days are difficult, there is so much to get your head around, and so many decisions to make,but as you get a few things sorted it should get easier.
Make sure you take one day in the next seven days as a day off. Do some touristy things, give your self a break from all the hard work.
Maybe contact Wiz and Ton, as they have only just arrived too?
I remember someone posting a few months ago about *buying* a house sight unseen in NZ while still living in the UK. I really would like to know the end of that story...
I hope that things are now coming right for you, the first few days are difficult, there is so much to get your head around, and so many decisions to make,but as you get a few things sorted it should get easier.
Make sure you take one day in the next seven days as a day off. Do some touristy things, give your self a break from all the hard work.
Maybe contact Wiz and Ton, as they have only just arrived too?
Jan 20th 2007, 9:10 pm
#11
Jedi Princess
Joined: Jun 2006
Location: Melbourne,Australia
Posts: 2,089
Jan 20th 2007, 9:11 pm
#12
Jedi Princess
Joined: Jun 2006
Location: Melbourne,Australia
Posts: 2,089
Jan 20th 2007, 9:15 pm
#13
Jedi Princess
Joined: Jun 2006
Location: Melbourne,Australia
Posts: 2,089
Re: First Impressions/Expectations ripped off
I did think that Charteris Bay was a peculiar place to choose for your first stop, even if it is very beautiful. I take it you are in town now?
I remember someone posting a few months ago about *buying* a house sight unseen in NZ while still living in the UK. I really would like to know the end of that story...
I hope that things are now coming right for you, the first few days are difficult, there is so much to get your head around, and so many decisions to make,but as you get a few things sorted it should get easier.
Make sure you take one day in the next seven days as a day off. Do some touristy things, give your self a break from all the hard work.
Maybe contact Wiz and Ton, as they have only just arrived too?
I remember someone posting a few months ago about *buying* a house sight unseen in NZ while still living in the UK. I really would like to know the end of that story...
I hope that things are now coming right for you, the first few days are difficult, there is so much to get your head around, and so many decisions to make,but as you get a few things sorted it should get easier.
Make sure you take one day in the next seven days as a day off. Do some touristy things, give your self a break from all the hard work.
Maybe contact Wiz and Ton, as they have only just arrived too?
Jan 20th 2007, 9:18 pm
#14
Jedi Princess
Joined: Jun 2006
Location: Melbourne,Australia
Posts: 2,089
Re: First Impressions/Expectations ripped off
Jan 20th 2007, 9:18 pm
#15
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jun 2005
Location: In a large village called Auckland
Posts: 5,249
Re: First Impressions/Expectations ripped off
We paid upfront 3.5k$. Big surprise house number 1 no washing machine no bath ( I would not have got in it )and was like a 1950s prefab.Also I think their idea of cleanliness was vastly different to mine.
After 2 days moved to another house which I would not let my dog sleep in.( lasted 30 mins) The smell of damp hangs in your nostrils for a long time.
So moved to a Motel and finaly a clean townhouse (expensive).
Moral of this story never rent a house unseen as nice as people are standards differ greatly if you are used to any form of comfort and cleanliness Beware!!!!!!!!!!!!.
Decent housing is expensive
People should never be forking out vast sums of money up front for unseen accomodation, even motels are worth a quick inspection before handing over money for even one nights accomodation. Standards vary so widely and all but the most expensive places, can be unsavoury dumps. You might get lucky and find a nice cheap one, however it is just not worth the risk without prior recommendation. We can all laugh at a nightmare night we have spent staying in some 70s archival museum piece of a motel and that's fine for one night, it's no laughing matter if that accomodation is your first impressions as a new immgrant to NZ and you have shelled out money in advance to stay there long term.
It is very easy to find reviews on the internet of people real life experience in hotels and motels to make sure you are making a well informed decision. Houses are a different kettle of fish, minimum standards require some form of cooking, washing and heating facilities. Lots of NZ houses only have showers, so if a bath is important to you you need to make sure it is specified.
Intrigued as to why you moved into a second house that you wouldn't let your dog sleep in. Why ever did you not check it out after your first experience?