Dunedinites experience of bungalows

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boflit

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#299038 5-Aug-2022 12:59

My partner and I are looking to move to Dunedin as soon as we get all our ducks in a row, likely end of the year, job dependant.

However, one concern my partner has is how warm the bungalows are, we really want one, that is half the appear of Dunedin, the culture, classic feel, character of the place, and a bungalow does highly appeal, especially in St Clair or Roslyn. We did look at one in June, and it was nice, but not what I would consider $1.2m nice, and it did feel cold, but then the doors were wide open and understandably, tall ceilings.

In contrast we looked at a newer house in Maori Hill, north facing, so it was warm, loads of glass over 3 levels heating the house naturally. It was an amazing house, but, its not a bungalow. What is your experience of winter living in a bungalow?

And Dunedin Estate Agents, why do they omit so many pertinent photos? Very few show the garage, as a man, I need to see the garage, does it have a workbench, or space for one? Where do I store my tools and garden gear? Likewise the gardens are often no shown in their entirety, which implies that Dunedinites have no interest in these things and that is why agents don't include them, surely that isn't true. Same goes for a a basement, I've seen external photos with windows in a basement level, but no interior photos showing that. If it has a basement, that is a huge bonus, I have a vast collection of Tamiya I need to store somewhere, and I am omitting many houses because the provided photos don't appear to show space.

Anyway, I know once I come to actual looking to buy then I won't be relying upon just photos, I just find it annoying that there are duplicate photos of the interior then external ones not included, just seems like poor marketing, especially when agents charge a small fortune for the pleasure.

How do you enjoy Dunedin? Have you recently moved there or lived there your whole life?

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#2951031 5-Aug-2022 14:56

99% of houses in Dunedin are rubbish

for the price of a 100 year Dunedin bungalow that is poorly insulated you can get a brand new house in Chch

so ... choose wisely for that 1% unicorn houses

PS - i'm the 99%

boflit

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#2951038 5-Aug-2022 15:06

is that 99% of bungalows are rubbish, or houses in general? and why? Cos of the cold?

Bungalow is the desire, but not the be all and end all. A good solid brick, or even something modernish (not brand new, hate brand new for multiple reasons), but really its the area, walking distance to pub/restaurants/cafes is the idea, hence Roslyn, St Clairs or city skirts. Son in law lives on Forbury in an apartment, so is unable to comment on houses, especially older houses.

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#2951039 5-Aug-2022 15:07

99% all houses

1% unicorn

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#2951044 5-Aug-2022 15:11

the 1% unicorn houses are newer builds, all day sun, flat-ish access and flat-ish section, never for sale

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#2951045 5-Aug-2022 15:13

boflit:

is that 99% of bungalows are rubbish, or houses in general? and why? Cos of the cold?

poorly insulated

poorly maintained

lacking in sun

terrible access

sloping section

boflit

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#2951050 5-Aug-2022 15:21

ah yes, am well aware of all those issues, and that is largely an appeal of Roslyn, if on the top along Highgate, will get longer sunshine hours than Kew or Mornington. Also sloping section, well aware of that, and of course that would be a consideration. We aren't going to move into the first house we see, and we've looked at a lot whilst there, as well as stalking on Trademe and homes.co.nz, but more was concerned about the warmth of bungalows in general, which you've confirmed what I thought.

We live outside, and I guess Auckland allows that being more temperate, but even other Aucklanders do look at us sideways, so that might be something we won't be able to do as often, we were there in the cold snap in June, and I survived it, but wine or bourbon tends to make me a St Bernard.

Thanks

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nicmair

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#2951051 5-Aug-2022 15:25

I'm Dunedin born and breed and apart from a 12yr stint in Wellington have always lived here.

I’ve had both old and new houses here and have renovated many an old Dunedin House. Prior to being renovated I can confirm that Dunedin Villa’s and Bungalows are cold, damp, drafty, leaky and generally uncomfortable (and often unhealthy) to live in. Villa’s and Bungalows (I link them together cause the building standard it pretty similar) where built without insolation and of course any modem comforts (its actually ironic that many of these where build by Scottish people who came from a cold wet damp place, yet build houses that were worse than what they come to escape, but I guess it all came down to $$$).

That’s said, once renovated they can be a pretty special home, offering great character and qualities you just don’t find in a modern home. You just have to be prepared to pay to renovate cost (and then the ongoing maintenance costs), or pay the $ for one that has. There are plenty of examples here in Dunedin where the comforts of a modem home have been added to a Villa or Bungalow and are pretty special, but yep, you’ll pay for it.

Personally, having lived in both, a modern home would win every time now, (maybe I’m getting soft!)

my 2 cents worth.

boflit

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#2951053 5-Aug-2022 15:34

Thats good to know thanks. Certainly the appeal of one that is already renovated, although whether that is a guarantee of insulation having been installed is a whole other matter. Its something we'll look for, and we won't be looking at the houses that are fairly evident they haven't been touched in 30+ years, there is a certain appeal in that, having a clear slate, but again don't want that additional cost and inconvenience of having to start from scratch, done that, not ready to again, although I think a kitchen or bathroom reno looks the most likely from the houses we've seen.

But that was helpful, it atleast does confirm from residents what I thought, aside from a newby living in an apartment and someone else with heresay living in Christchurch.

KrazyKid

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#2951056 5-Aug-2022 15:49

As another Dunedinite I agree, if insulolated (wall, roof, floor, double glazzing) they are nice an warm.
But no isolation and you will be cold.

My general buying advise for Dunedin is "Sun is King"
What ever you get, avoid the shady valleys.

Also as a random factiod the suburb is called Windy Waverly by the locals for a reason :)

Blurtie

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#2951092 5-Aug-2022 16:36

Our family (partner and baby at the time) moved down to Dunners for a couple of years in 2016 so that my partner could go to med school. We didn't buy, but rented for the 2 years we were there. As someone who lived in a modern build and a 100 year old bungalow in our time there I feel qualified to say that modern build hands down if you can! Or a completely renovated bungalow, if you can find one...

Our first rental was a nice modern build in Belleknowes looking down over Kaikorai valley. Got great sun, easy to heat, comfortable and a great place to live!

Our second rental was a bungalow in Opoho looking down over North East Valley. It also got decent sun, but was possibly one of the worst rentals I've even been in. It was insulated up top and partially on the bottom where access was available and single glazed. We couldn't heat the place no matter how hard we tried. I pretty much had to run a dehumidifier 24/7. Peak winter, our power bill was over $500 (excluding hot water as that was on gas...).

Prior to this experience I was like you in a way. I liked the character and feel of an older bungalow. But that was all shattered to bits after going through the pain of a winter in that bungalow. Sure, if you can find a renovated bungalow with insulation everywhere and double glazing throughout then it might be a bit more comfortable. That should be the absolute minimum you should look for, otherwise you'll be struggling.

In general though, we really liked it down there and would've stayed except the lack of jobs in my industry - I worked remotely in my time down there, but had to get back to an office environment. Everything's 10mins away (apart from the airport), traffic is non-existent. Great people, easy to do trips round Otago/Southland region.

lxsw20

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#2951157 5-Aug-2022 20:13

I grew up in Waverley and can't say I ever found it any more windy that anywhere else. But if you want the views, you'll get wind, thats just how it works....

As others have pointed out, it depends what you buy. If someones invested in an older house, then it can be warm. If it hasn't been touched in 100 years then yeah you're gonna have cold issues. Assuming you've got a budget around the 1.2m mark you'll be able to find something nice I suspect.

Just remember older houses always need something done, there is no such thing as a zero maintenance bungalow/villa.

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loceff13

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#2951335 6-Aug-2022 16:15

Theres large areas of St Clair/Kilda that are low lying and flood prone, what was considered 1 in 100 year floods we have seen 3 times in 20 years. 1 of those floods more due to the mud tanks being poorly maintained but the high water table means sitting water builds pretty quick with heavy rain. Insurance would be a nightmare for them now.

Alot of that housing stock is also 1930's builds so it's poor insulation and single glazed windows, like expect puddles of water on your windowsills in winter in those homes when you wake up in the morning. Cold, damp etc. High ceilings takes more energy to heat. Theres a ton of new homes out in Mosgiel(~20km from Dunedin) which are in the 1-1.4M price range which are modern and that area is growing pretty quickly. If I was to spend that kind of money I would go to ChCh instead.

lxsw20

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#2951354 6-Aug-2022 17:23

I wouldn't thank you for one of those houses in Mosgiel, they're basically built on top of each other, and boring as anything.

afe66

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#2951361 6-Aug-2022 17:44

I'd avoid buying on flat of St Claire St Kilda, the water table is far too high. We looked at a place in summer 10 yrs ago two blocks from esplanarde and walking in back garden was still wet.

The old vrs modern is pretty much as expected, most original villas and many bungalows are colder than modern. I have a 100 year old villa which has double glazing and insulation in roof and underfloor and it's comfortable with heat pump. It creaks in places and some timber needs replacing but I like the little details of molded ceilings tiles round fireplaces and stain glass windows... But a modern house will be warmer

Maori hill area has advatance of bring less than a km from centre town so walking to from town is practicable. Fine walking down hill in morning to work and bit of exercise on walking home. Some colleagues have ebikes for the hills.

Summers are under appreciated. Lots of sun with a little wind to cool things ie light long sleaves and shorts vrs tiny t shirt and shorts. You have to be keen to be outside after sun goes down to be honest, ie blanket throws and fires but there are no mosquitos. Students dissappear and town has quiet feel when cruise ships not in town

I've been back 10 yrs happily enough. Happy to answer questions

huxtable

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#2951621 7-Aug-2022 12:56

boflit:

ah yes, am well aware of all those issues, and that is largely an appeal of Roslyn, if on the top along Highgate, will get longer sunshine hours than Kew or Mornington.

Be careful with generalisations based on suburbs or even rough locations.

Much of Roslyn, even some areas of Highgate, see very little sun, there are lots of dips and undulations.

Meanwhile I have lived in Kew and was in an unreal location - all day sun, watching it rise over the peninsula, with a million dollar view straight down the harbour and all the way around to St Clair.

That was in a 100-year old brick house that was horribly cold and damp in winter, until we spent a fortune on insulation and double glazing. That made it gloriously comfortable - but cost a fortune.

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