First Time Buying: Family Working At Altered Unit In ‘The Secret Garden’

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When Betty Russell wanted to move from Christchurch to Blenheim in 2015 to be closer to her family, her whānau came into play and made it happen.

They were a large, close-knit family, and they helped Mom buy a cottage of her own on Rogers St, and started getting it ready so the matriarch of the family could enjoy her golden years. It was in good condition, low maintenance, but it needed some work.

“There was a bit of a family DIY job,” says Russell’s daughter, Sarah Bennett. “It was run by a cousin, Hayden, who is a builder, and me and my sisters, who are crazy DIYers and gardeners.

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“That’s why the property is called The Secret Garden – it was really about creating a small, safe haven for Mum, who was quite elderly at the time.

“It was like one of those television shows, DIY Rescue. There was a lot of aroha going into that reno.”

An ex-president of the dog club, Russell was well known in the area, and the family were happy to have her back in her hometown.

What they loved about the unit was that it was in a small block of four properties, and there was a “really nice engagement” with the people sharing the job.

It had a “community feel” to it, which the family loved for someone who was alone, but still wanted to be connected with their neighbors.

“We had lovely neighbors there. You share a driveway, so you just get to know people.”

The location was also “absolutely brilliant” and made her mother’s life so easy. “It’s a cul-de-sac so there’s no through traffic. It’s a five minute flat bike ride into town and a two minute walk from the house is the Taylor River Reserve.

“I’m a Blenheim girl and the reservation has changed the game for this town. You’ve got the dog walkers, you’ve got the kids biking to school, you’ve got the retired farmers on the E-bikes, you’ve got walkers, you “You have the birds, but it also offers a really cool commute to the city, and also to the Wither Hills. So I just think it’s worth its weight in gold to be next to the Taylor River Reserve.”

It also meant that Russell was able to take her little companion dog Basil, a papillon, to the reserve for a walk.

When Russell died in 2017, the family was reluctant to part with the property. They kept the house as a rental for a while, but have now decided to put it on the market.

The 60 m² house has two bedrooms and a shower room, with an open plan living-dining room and kitchen. There are two secure private gardens and a covered carport.

The house could suit a first-time buyer because while the decor may need a bit of a refresh, it is low maintenance, has no bodywork and is priced well below the limit for first time buyers to get subsidies.

“There’s a really nice little garden out the front for the morning sun. And then you get the afternoon sun very quickly in the back where the vegetable garden is. It’s perfect for the kind of person who loves gardening but just doesn’t want to do a lot of work. “

The property is a cross lease and is for sale by negotiation. The list is with Rachel Roberts and Hayley Moody for Ray White.

Homes.co.nz estimates the house is worth about $415,000, which is significantly lower than the current Blenheim average of $630,000.