A unique feature of the house is the 1000T of marble surfaces. Photo / Supplied
A unique feature of the house is the 1000T of marble surfaces. Photo / Supplied
A Hamilton real estate team is offering a $20,000 reward to anyone who finds them a buyer for one of the Waikato's most unique mansions south of Hamilton.
Harcourts agents Aaron Davey and Stacey Levien first listed the Twin Oaks Drive lifestyle property last March and with a buyer neededurgently, they have thrown in a tempting incentive to get the public's help.
The bespoke property with five bedrooms, three bathrooms and four living areas is listed for $3.39m after failing to sell at auction last March. It has a CV of $1.98m.
In a rare move the marketing agents are offering $20,000 in travel vouchers to anyone who finds them a buyer.
"We need this property sold ASAP, start the search now and await your reward. No Tricks, no hidden fine-print, just find us our buyer and a voucher including spending money to the value of $20,000 NZD is flying your way," the ad reads.
A $20,000 travel voucher will be given to anyone who finds a buyer for this property at 44a Twin Oaks Drive in Tamahere. Photo / Supplied
The house was commissioned by an IT professional who told the Herald last year he was selling the house because of a change in circumstances and planned to build a new house in rural Waikato. The house took eight years to build and was only completed in 2014.
The owner's Greek roots inspired the 650sq m handcrafted home and he said he wanted a proper home which is why he used seven layers of lime and American clay polished with beeswax for the wall instead of a Gib home.
He also felt the 300 tonnes of imported materials used were timeless and could not be pinpointed to a particular era as in most homes.
Along with extensive marble surfaces which extend to a marble waterfall flowing to the pool, the house also boasts a copper dome in the centre of the house.
Property Institute of NZ chief executive Ashley Church said real estate agents offering an incentive - whether it be cash or vouchers - was not unusual and it was more common in a flatter market or if there was something unusual about the property.
He said more often the incentives were offered to the buyer and other times to the seller - rather than it being a finder's fee.
"It's not typical, but it's by no means unusual either.
"The fact that it hasn't sold would probably tend to indicate that the price is putting people off or there's something a bit unusual about it that's making it a little bit more difficult to sell.
"But the same principle applies - it's not outside bounds to offer an enticement to sweeten the deal and clearly that's what they are doing in this case."
