A home's beauty is in the eyes of the beholder...

[Homed] Hi {NAME}, Every week we are blown away by people’s property stories. Sometimes they are amazing feel-good stories about a house that has been in a family for many generations. And other times they are sad stories of leaky homes falling into disrepair. But even those challenging properties eventually get a sale and owners move on. One of the sadder ones we have featured was the story of former Radio Hauraki pirate Bill Calvert, whom I visited two years ago. He had commissioned a large home in 1993 right on the clifftop in Takapuna, Auckland. Sadly, it was a dream that failed. The house, built from monolithic cladding, became a damp, mouldy leaky home that was essentially worthless. And Bill’s health suffered as he waited for a buyer to take it off his hands (you could feel the damp inside the house). It was a leaky home in paradise, mind you. He languished amid the pōhutukawas that lined the cliff. We’re happy to say he has moved on. The house finally sold with a very long, drawn-out settlement. And Bill has moved to Bali when the sun shines all day. His agent Tim Mahon, former bass player for Blam Blam Blam even wrote him a song. You can read that story [here](. This week we also have a [70s do-up in Beach Haven]( that has sparked a lot of chatter. It’s not a great example of Mid-century architecture, but many readers beg to differ. We’ll let you decide. And there’s another completely different Mid-century home [for sale on the Kāpiti coast]( - a real looker that might just tick all the boxes. Perhaps you are in the market for something more traditional - there is always this cute little [first home buyer's cottage]( in Pukekohe. Check it out. It makes a lovely alternative to a soulless new build. If you are out house-hunting this weekend, keep an open mind about what might just work for your situation. You may be surprised. And finally, we always like to be helpful. So this week’s brilliant hack is [how to get those plastic items in your dishwasher to dry](. Turns out it’s pretty simple. Enjoy, [Kylie Klein-Nixon] Colleen Hawkes Senior Homed Reporter [Kylie Klein-Nixon] Colleen Hawkes Senior Homed Reporter   Enjoying this email? [Check out Stuff's other daily and weekly newsletters.](   [timer][trk_px] [timer][trk_px] From property dream to reality     [Swapping trouble for paradise]( [How Bill Calvert, an original Radio Hauraki pirate, traded in his leaky clifftop home in Takapuna for the respite of sunny Bali.]( [Read more →]( [timer][trk_px]   worst house, best street Not every 70s build is a gem Selling 'as is, where is', this retro home complete with dancefloor needs a total makeover. Would you take it on? [Read more →]( property to admire An uncertain future Built on prime coastal land in Kapiti by a former mayor, will this mid-century home be demolished or cherished? [Read more →]( first home buyer's club A city girl's country cottage If an 'ideal first home' exists in Auckland, it's probably this Pukekohe bungalow that's big enough for the whole family. [Read more →]( home hack Why won't plastic just dry? If you're fed up with retrieving dripping Tupperware from the dishwasher, we might just have the solution. [Read more →]( If you find Stuff's Homed useful and inspiring, please consider becoming a supporter. [I'd like to contribute →]( [Discover more at Homed]( You are receiving this email because you are opted in to receive the Stuff Homed newsletter. [Unsubscribe]( [Manage your profile]( [Privacy Policy]( Did a friend forward you this email? [Sign up to get the Stuff Homed newsletter in your inbox.]( Stuff, 4 Williamson Ave, Ponsonby, Auckland 1021, New Zealand [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [TikTok](