Wellington Apartment Dwelling

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gibben

46 posts

Geek

#63672 1-Jul-2010 20:36

Looking for some info / advice / recommendations on apartment living in the Wellington CBD.

I am starting a new job down in Wellington however I have decided that I will just get an apartment in the CBD and commute down on a Monday and come back home on weekends and holidays. Easier than uprooting the family for now.

So, anyway, time to get to the point. I have been looking online at what’s on offer and the SOHO complex seems to be an option.

Does anyone have any experience with them? The good / bad / ugly?

They state they are cabled for sky / internet. What is the story with that? Is the internet Telstra cable or the likes? The reason I ask is I want internet but don’t want a phone (really a waste for 4 nights a week). Does the sky connect back to a common dish setup? i.e. can I just bring a decoder down and hook it up?

Alternatively does anyone have any recommendation on apartment complexes? I don’t want anything old and ratty, getting a bit fussy in my old age....

s.joseph

587 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#347104 1-Jul-2010 21:06

I live in the wellington aparments on cuba st, http://www.thewellington.co.nz/
pretty nice place theres a pool, gym and spa and car parks available. I can give you the email of tenant if you want to inquire.
They have a uhf aerial output which i use for tv, not sure about sky and there several internet plans available, but only available through them. (you cant get telstra or telecom etc)

Stefan

graemeh

2078 posts

Uber Geek

#347280 2-Jul-2010 13:38

gibben:

Alternatively does anyone have any recommendation on apartment complexes? I don’t want anything old and ratty, getting a bit fussy in my old age....

Where do you want to be? Soho is a good location if you want to be near entertainment after work. If you want to be near work and work for the Govt then it's completely the wrong end of town.

Also, is sun important?

Soho is also huge (300+ apartments), you may be able to find some desparate landlords so you might be able to get a good deal on rent.

I haven't seen inside but I expect they are small. I've been told the ones facing the street rented quickly.

gibben

46 posts

Geek

#347789 4-Jul-2010 21:19

Thanks for the replies so far guys. Thankfully I am moving out of Govt employment, the last 8 years has shown me it is a sector I don't want to be involved with anymore. Private sector here I come

Sounds terrible but I am hoping to leverage off of the glut of Soho apartments on the market at the moment. I understand there is some level of desperation to rent them out due to the decline in the economy and an inability to onsell at a profit.

Based on Google math it is about 1.5km from Soho to my new workplace (Waterloo Quay)

graemeh

2078 posts

Uber Geek

#347971 5-Jul-2010 12:04

You might want to give Soho a miss http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/3883615/Mystery-of-teens-body-in-Wellington-alley

Lots of other options around Courtenay Place though. Bellagio is nice (39 Taranaki St).

gibben

46 posts

Geek

#347990 5-Jul-2010 12:53

graemeh: You might want to give Soho a miss http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/3883615/Mystery-of-teens-body-in-Wellington-alley

Lots of other options around Courtenay Place though. Bellagio is nice (39 Taranaki St).

Snap, the news tells a damning story about the SOHO complex. Very unfortunate for the people who have invested in them, however I see a lot of value being wiped off those apartments unless they are managed in such a way as to make them a desirable location.

I will keep up my hunt and have a few leads to run with now.

graemeh

2078 posts

Uber Geek

#347992 5-Jul-2010 13:04

gibben: Snap, the news tells a damning story about the SOHO complex. Very unfortunate for the people who have invested in them, however I see a lot of value being wiped off those apartments unless they are managed in such a way as to make them a desirable location.

I will keep up my hunt and have a few leads to run with now.

It can happen in the "best" suburbs!

That building was always too large, too many apartments so it will always be a poor investment. Too much competition from other owners when you are selling or renting.

Good luck finding somewhere. There are a lots around and the market is very slow at the moment so you are in a good position to bargain.

robbyp

1199 posts

Uber Geek

#348027 5-Jul-2010 15:02

graemeh:
gibben: Snap, the news tells a damning story about the SOHO complex. Very unfortunate for the people who have invested in them, however I see a lot of value being wiped off those apartments unless they are managed in such a way as to make them a desirable location.

I will keep up my hunt and have a few leads to run with now.

It can happen in the "best" suburbs!

That building was always too large, too many apartments so it will always be a poor investment. Too much competition from other owners when you are selling or renting.

Good luck finding somewhere. There are a lots around and the market is very slow at the moment so you are in a good position to bargain.

Apartments are not usually a good investment, especially not in Wellingotn, where they are overpriced, some are leasehold,many are poorly built and there are usually high body corporate fees. You are better to get a house in the suburbs of Wellington. I friend had an apartment in one of the better apartment blocks, and they had water leaking through the ceiling, due to poorly detailed balconies above. Some complexes also suffer from LBS leaky building syndrome.

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graemeh

2078 posts

Uber Geek

#348042 5-Jul-2010 15:39

robbyp: Apartments are not usually a good investment, especially not in Wellingotn, where they are overpriced, some are leasehold,many are poorly built and there are usually high body corporate fees. You are better to get a house in the suburbs of Wellington. I friend had an apartment in one of the better apartment blocks, and they had water leaking through the ceiling, due to poorly detailed balconies above. Some complexes also suffer from LBS leaky building syndrome.

The same applies to houses, apart from the body corporate fees.

We have apartments in three blocks, the only "leaky building" problem we have had was when the plumber hadn't installed our shower rose properly and it leaked into the apartment below.

I just assumed the OP was after something to rent, so a lot of the issues like LBS are not a problem. If it leaks you just move.