Living and Renovating in Dunedin

There are plenty of good reasons to put down roots in Dunedin. It is the second-largest city in the South Island, is a stronghold of Scottish culture and a nature lover's paradise all-in-one. The city has a diverse economy, which includes manufacturing, publishing, and tourism. It is home to the University of Otago and students account for a large portion of its population, making it an ideal city to live in for both working professionals and families with children.

Property Market

Houses for sale in Dunedin come at a very affordable price in comparison to some of New Zealand’s other big cities, and the job market is set to continue growing. A median sale price of $510,000 (June 2020) makes this city an attractive choice for first home buyers and those who are looking for more work/life balance. 

House Styles

There are many great examples of Victorian and Edwardian architecture in Dunedin, but the general housing stock is made up of more modern and contemporary buildings. Whether you choose to live in the inner city, the hinterland, or one of Dunedin's many suburbs, there is a range of housing options to match your needs and preferences. Once you’ve found “the house” Refresh Renovations Dunedin can help you to turn it into your dream home - whether you are interested in restoring, renovating, extending or an addition.

Common Renovations

As the areas of the home that experience the most foot traffic, bathroom renovations and kitchen renovations are popular in Dunedin. Other than that, Dunedin homeowners tend to focus on practicality and warmth: prioritising the comfort, security and safety of their homes by upgrading carpets, wiring, roofing, plumbing, insulation and paintwork. 

Dunedin Building Consent

If you are planning on making structural changes to the interior or exterior of a house or will be installing or altering plumbing/solid fuel burners, you will probably need to apply for Building Consent. When it comes to Building Consent, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Our team can advise you on the council regulations surrounding your project and will take care of any building/resource consent applications on your behalf. For further guidance on consents, visit dunedin.govt.nz.

Dunedin Weather

The climate in Dunedin is known to be temperate, however, the cold and damp winters mean that many older homes can benefit greatly from new or improved insulation and heating solutions. Refresh's renovation specialists can advise on available materials and options, and help you work out what suits your home best. It’s also worth paying attention to your home’s roofing style and materials to ensure you live in a dry and healthy house. 

Designing and building with Refresh Renovations Dunedin

We work with some of the best builders in Dunedin to ensure that you achieve the house renovation of your dreams. Our team can support you with your renovation design, council consent applications, construction, installations and interior decorating. A Refresh Renovations Project Manager will supervise your renovation every step of the way, making it easy for you to achieve a high-quality result on-time and on-budget.

Get in touch with Refresh to discuss your home renovation project

If you would like to discuss options and ideas for renovating in the Dunedin, please use the enquiry form on this page to provide us with your contact details. We will get in touch with you at a time that suits you to discuss your project. If you would like to provide us with more information about your project, we have a more comprehensive enquiry form on our "Get in touch" page too.

*All information is believed to be true at time of publishing and is subject to change.