Off to auction we go (The Wardlaws)

The Wardlaw family from Our First Home. Photo/TVNZ

194, TE ATATU RD, TE ATATU SOUTH

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SIZE: Land 607sq m, property 130sq m.

PRICE INDICATION: Pre-renovation CV $580,000.

INSPECT: By arrangement.

ON THE WEB: www.barfoot.co.nz/540137

SCHOOL ZONES: Edmonton Primary, Freyburg, Rangeview Intermediate, Rutherford College.

CONTACT: Steve Wooller, Barfoot, 021 628 875.

AUCTION: April 14.

It's been one of the toughest challenges they've ever faced. The three young couples who feature on TVNZ's Our First Home series knew that when they signed up to take part in the reality show, they'd be tackling big projects that would require a lot of time, effort and determination.

However, it took a while to realise that not only would they be tested when it came to their renovation skills, but they'd face the stresses that come with working closely alongside their parents - and having their every move caught on camera.

It's been a steep learning curve, but they say they're glad they've done it, and would do it again. If you haven't been following Our First Home, it features three older couples trying to help one of their kids and their partner get a foot on the property ladder.

Each family bought a do-up house with their own money and had 10 weeks to renovate it - thanks to support from the show. The finished houses will be auctioned on April 12, 13 and 14, and the team that adds the most value to their property gets $100,000 to put towards a deposit for the younger couple to buy their first home.

The show was inspired by the struggle many young Kiwi home buyers face when it comes to getting into the property market. Research shows that, in many cases, the only way they can afford a home of their own is to get some help from mum and dad.

THE WARDLAWS

Mum Kathy, dad Mick, son Tim and his girlfriend Robyn.

Tim Wardlaw has a confession to make -- he hasn't been watching Our First Home. "It's just a bit weird for me seeing myself," he says. "We all watched the first episode but since then I haven't really seen it ... If I could fast-forward through our bits and just watch the others, that would be much better."

Still, Tim says the whole experience of being involved in the show and renovating a house has been extremely rewarding. "It has been a pretty incredible experience, and when I look at the house now, I think we have done an amazing job. Sometimes it is really hard to fathom how we actually did it -- it was a lot of work."

The Wardlaws bought a traditional three-bedroom weatherboard house in Te Atatu South. They were keen to make sure it included all the mod cons, while retaining the classic features of its era, such as the polished wooden floors.

The attic space was converted into a stylish second living area and they completely changed the stairs leading up to it so they would have room for an en suite off the master bedroom. The upstairs room could be a fourth bedroom if needed. Tim says his favourite part of the house is the open-plan living, dining and kitchen area. "I think that works very well."

Builder Tim works for company that specialises in high-end homes, so working on a house that had seen better days was new for him. "I feel as if I have learned a lot," he says.

The biggest lesson he learned was the importance of planning ahead -- and that decisions made early on can have a big impact on what you are able to do further down the track.

"That was hard -- you need to think things through very carefully," he says. "I think the thing I found most surprising about being on the show was that I ended up taking charge. I thought my dad would do it, but in the end it was me that had to take the initiative and lead. I think that experience is going to be really invaluable to me.

"Robyn was incredible. She just blew me away with what she was capable of."

For further reading on this story you can follow:

The Gourleys story here or
The Schreuders story here.