Watson's $6m beachfront property for sale

By ANNE GIBSON

For sale: $6 million-plus Takapuna beachfront property, fully automated, in-house power supply, full-time house manager, eight-car garage, large gymnasium, four bedrooms with extensive sea views, three levels, spa and disappearing home-entertainment system.

These are some of the features that North Shore mansion specialist Tom Kane of Premium Real Estate will be promoting in a global advertising campaign to sell Eric Watson's luxury seaside home. The high-profile businessman is shifting to London permanently.

Mr Kane, who received the sale instructions yesterday, said Mr Watson might consider a long-term lease on the property, but the intention was to sell.

"A property as stunning as this one rented for $20,000 a week during the last America's Cup," Mr Kane said.

He specialises in selling $4 million-plus properties, and is working on an international marketing campaign to promote the home's breathtaking features.

"This is the most high-tech home in New Zealand," he said.

"Even the curtains are automated. It has every gadget imaginable, like a home theatre which disappears completely with doors shutting automatically. The entire home is electronically controlled, so it has its own power generation system.

"A lot of these properties are great until there's a power cut, then you can't even get the garage door open. Not this place, though."

The 700 sq m house is nearly seven times the size of the average New Zealand home and is positioned for full sun on its 850 sq m site above the sand.

The living areas opening out onto extensive decks are on one level, the bedrooms on another and the garage and gymnasium are on the lower level.

"The property has resource consent for a swimming pool. But who would want to, when you've got Takapuna Beach on your front doorstep?"

Asked if the property was being sold empty, Mr Kane said: "It's never empty, there's a fulltime house manager there. But the house is not tenanted either."

The 5-year-old property will be promoted in a tender closing in November.

Mr Kane said Premium Real Estate, based in Takapuna and headed by Brian Guy, is having its best year. It has sold 84 properties for more than $1 million each.

So can the curious visit the property as an open home this weekend? Mr Kane said he might take some discerning buyers through immediately, but he was preparing the full marketing campaign to be launched within the next few days.