Palmerston North Advice
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Comedians seem to have mixed feelings about the place http://www.newshub.co.nz/nznews/new-zealanders-shun-palmerston-north-2012060720
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Interesting phrasing and use of "" in the article. There already is an "Investor Plus" visa for people with more than $10 million to invest: https://www.newzealandnow.govt.nz/move-to-nz/new-zealand-visa/visas-to-invest/investor-visa. I suppose they plan some tweaks to the category.
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Hi All,
Just a bit of an update: Work Visa's are approved, cars and house are sold, flights booked for 13 October. All set
Just wanted to get some local advice regarding purchasing a tidy second hand car. New Zealand seems to have a bidding culture in which a listed price is not always the sale price. Can anyone advise on what sort of "Offer" one should put in as the seller on something like this:
https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/suzuki/auction-1413234556.htm
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@pn there is no hard and fast rule ... depends on how long they have had the car etc ... you have more leeway in the popular / large selling models obviously. Aim for 5%, but start at 10 minimum.
I would question the car you are looking at though. NZ is not flat, a Suzuki 1.2 will be fine around a city, but once you on the open road there are hills, ranges, gorges everywhere. You will want an engine with more torque for sure.
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@pn we have the 1.5L version of that car, and as MR says, is great for running round town and the like, but when the family goes anywhere we have another vehicle.
here is another option for buying cars
But use the trade me site and https://www.autotrader.co.nz/used-cars-for-sale to get a gauge for where prices should be, or just ask on here.
New ACC levies also mean a car like the above swift is more expensive than other bigger cars as it is rated on their safety ratings.
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@taniwharugby said in Palmerston North Advice:
New ACC levies also mean a car like the above swift is more expensive than other bigger cars as it is rated on their safety ratings.
Fuckwits that did that also didn't take into account different models. Our model (which has all the extra safety, 8 airbags/side intrusion etc) gets rated the same as the cheap no frills models.
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Thanks guys, I hadn't really considered the topography so will look for something with a bit more grunt. You wouldn't know where I can get more info on these ACC levies?
This site makes reference to various bands of car but there is no way of telling which car fits into which band?
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@pn said in Palmerston North Advice:
Thanks guys, I hadn't really considered the topography so will look for something with a bit more grunt. You wouldn't know where I can get more info on these ACC levies?
This site makes reference to various bands of car but there is no way of telling which car fits into which band?
Schedule 2 at the bottom of those regulations has a list of makes and models of "light passenger vehicles". Note that that's only the ACC levy portion of motor vehicle licensing (rego) - the rest of the cost is set here:
Scroll to the bottom and read through Schedule 5. Once you've worked out a total, then you add GST (15%).
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That 1200cc version of the Swift is a city car for granny to go to the shops in.
The are a great little performer though if you go for the 1500cc models. We have had one for years and it is an incredibly reliable, zippy little vehicle with a surprising amount of room inside. Lots of safety features with the right model as well.
We originally got it when we needed to be doing a lot of economical trips from Wellington to the Waikato and back for family. No problem with speed, power or comfort for those 6 hour trips. -
@pn So clearly you didn't take our advice when we warned you that poking your eye with a big stick is a better move than moving to Palmy, but since you've already taken that step ... hopefully you'll listen to this advice - don't buy/rent in Highbury or any adjacent suburbs!
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Thanks for the info @Godder , Much appreciated.
@nepia I'm Chatting to the property agent for this home: https://www.trademe.co.nz/property/residential-property-to-rent/auction-1427660943.htm which looks small, but neat.
The thing is, she's pushing for us to make payment and sign the lease agreement now in order to secure the rental.
Couple things I'd like to ask:
Are there usually issues which the tenant should look out for or try negotiate, eg: who's responsibility is it to maintain lawn?
Obviously renting a property without first seeing it, is generally a bad idea but since I don't have anyone there I have little choice as, from the photos it looks decent (we're bringing two small dogs over as well and the rentals which allow pets are.... )
If I sign the lease, and I see that there are problems after the fact I guess I lose my bargaining power, but surely the owner should still be liable to fix them?
Anyways thanks again to everyone who has helped me get to this point - Flight is for next week Friday, so not long now!
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@pn said in Palmerston North Advice:
Thanks for the info @Godder , Much appreciated.
@nepia I'm Chatting to the property agent for this home: https://www.trademe.co.nz/property/residential-property-to-rent/auction-1427660943.htm which looks small, but neat.
The thing is, she's pushing for us to make payment and sign the lease agreement now in order to secure the rental.
Couple things I'd like to ask:
Are there usually issues which the tenant should look out for or try negotiate, eg: who's responsibility is it to maintain lawn?
Obviously renting a property without first seeing it, is generally a bad idea but since I don't have anyone there I have little choice as, from the photos it looks decent (we're bringing two small dogs over as well and the rentals which allow pets are.... )
If I sign the lease, and I see that there are problems after the fact I guess I lose my bargaining power, but surely the owner should still be liable to fix them?
Anyways thanks again to everyone who has helped me get to this point - Flight is for next week Friday, so not long now!
Hmm, that's not really in Hokowhitu even though it's advertised as Hokowhitu. It's not an awful area though.
Most likely it's the tenants job to mow the lawn unless it's states the landlord will do it in the lease.
Do you have to move into a place straight away? You haven't thought about Air BnB for a week or two, and then using that time to search for a place?
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@nepia said in Palmerston North Advice:
o, and then using that time to search for a
Well thing is we arrive on the 16th, and Audit NZ have paid for us to stay at http://www.hacienda.co.nz/ for a week. The agent wants us to sign the lease starting on the 16th.. which means we'll be double booking.
But the alternative scenario could pan out where there are no decent houses which allow pets, save for those in or adjacent to the highly recommended Highbury, haha. And we end up spending that weeks rent camping out waiting for some movement in the market.
I'm considering telling her that we'd be available to move in on the 23rd, which would likely mean she'd find another tenant. Can't blame her.
Not overly concerned by the additional weeks rental really. More so regarding faulty taps/geysers etc which she then says we broke during our stay?
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@pn said in Palmerston North Advice:
@nepia said in Palmerston North Advice:
o, and then using that time to search for a
Well thing is we arrive on the 16th, and Audit NZ have paid for us to stay at http://www.hacienda.co.nz/ for a week. The agent wants us to sign the lease starting on the 16th.. which means we'll be double booking.
But the alternative scenario could pan out where there are no decent houses which allow pets, save for those in or adjacent to the highly recommended Highbury, haha. And we end up spending that weeks rent camping out waiting for some movement in the market.
I'm considering telling her that we'd be available to move in on the 23rd, which would likely mean she'd find another tenant. Can't blame her.
Not overly concerned by the additional weeks rental really. More so regarding faulty taps/geysers etc which she then says we broke during our stay?
I'm more thinking about you picking something with out a feel for the place - I personally wouldn't want to do it. You could then be stuck in a place for a year that you don't want to be in. If it's financially viable for you I'd suggest holding off and booking an Air BnB/short term apartment and taking a bit of time to look. (I assume your pets wont be arriving straight away as they'll be in quarantine?)
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@pn said in Palmerston North Advice:
@nepia Thanks Bro, will take your advice. if it's meant to be, it'll still be available in a week or so when we arrive.
When I get home later tonight, I'll send some short stay apartment info (that colleagues have used in the past).