Ep 9. Engineering a Life Without Carpet in Auckland

In this episode of House Hunters International, we follow a couple named Ryan and Kelly who are looking to move from their home in Canada to the beautiful city of Auckland, in New Zealand. They currently live in a house with wall-to-wall carpets, which is a big issue for Ryan who suffers from severe allergies.

Ryan is an engineer and has landed a job in Auckland, which is what prompted the move. The couple loves the outdoors and is excited to explore all that Auckland has to offer. They're looking for a home that's close to nature, preferably near the beach or a park.

We first see the couple meeting with their real estate agent, Tania. They're taken aback by how different the real estate market is in Auckland compared to Canada. The homes are smaller and more expensive. Ryan and Kelly have a budget of $750,000 NZD, but they're quickly learning that it might not go as far as they had hoped.

Their first home viewing is a small apartment close to the city center. Although the location is great, the apartment is too small for their needs. They move on to a more promising home in the suburb of Westmere. The house is spacious, has a large deck with an outdoor fireplace, and is near a park. However, it's $1.1 million NZD, which is way over their budget.

The next home they view is a fixer-upper that's been completely gutted. Though it's small, Ryan is excited about the prospect of designing and building the house to their ideal specs. However, the renovations will cost around $600,000 NZD alone, which is a huge expense on top of the purchase price.

Throughout the episode, Ryan and Kelly's priorities shift when they realize how expensive the Auckland real estate market can be. They visit more affordable homes that are near parks and nature reserves, which are their main priorities. They eventually find a home that fits all their needs in the suburb of Mount Eden. It's a cozy bungalow with a spacious backyard, and it's only a short walk to the local park.

After much deliberation, Ryan and Kelly realize that engineering a life without carpets is actually the easy part. The tough decisions were choosing between space or location, and finding a home that fits their budget. In the end, they make an offer on the Mount Eden bungalow and are excited to start their new life and adventures in Auckland.