Do-up guru: Detail is the key

Gary Harvey with the Grey Lynn villa. Photo / Jason Dorday

Gary Harvey is a do-up guru - he's bought and renovated some 20 houses over the past 15 years.

His most recent project was a 100-year-old villa in Auckland's Grey Lynn, which was completely rebuilt over nine months.

"We pulled the back half off and rebuilt it, built a whole new kitchen and dining area, rebuilt the veranda," he said. "And that wasn't even one of the worst ones we've done."

He sourced original fittings, including kauri doors, from demolition yards around the country, and said getting the details right is key.

"Some of these houses, the painters just go in there and just paint over everything and the doors are all slightly different sizes."

Harvey bought the Grosvenor St house for $690,000 and spent $300,000 on the renovations.

It sold two months ago for $1.15 million.

Harvey, who owns a reblocking and house-lifting company, is now turning his attention to two run-down Onehunga properties.

"Onehunga's going ahead in leaps and bounds," he said.