by Metropol | March 18, 2026 8:33 am
New research from Trade Me has found Kiwis are moving away from the long-held appeal of buying a ‘doer-upper’ property in favour of more turnkey convenience.
A recent survey of 2200 Kiwis found that 49 per cent of all active buyers are looking for a home that feels new or updated, with 33 per cent specifically targeting renovated existing homes and 16 per cent opting for new builds.
Trade Me Property spokesperson Casey Wylde says the shift suggests Kiwis are placing a premium on their time and budget certainty.
“The DIY dream appears to be fading. Only six per cent of buyers are now explicitly looking for a fixer-upper, while just 15 per cent are interested in original-condition properties. In a market with fluctuating building costs, many buyers would rather pay more for a finished product than face the uncertainty of a renovation,” Casey says.
The quality gap
While demand for move-in-ready homes is high, the survey highlights a significant ‘quality gap’ in the market. The number one barrier for 51 per cent of active seekers is a lack of suitable properties rather than finance or interest rates.
“We’re seeing a bit of a mismatch. While buyers are hunting for high-quality, renovated homes, 50 per cent of homeowners have no plans to renovate any time soon. Of those who are renovating, more than half (53%) are doing so to stay put and enjoy the comfort themselves, rather than to sell,” says Casey.
This scarcity gives vendors of modernised homes a significant competitive advantage in 2026.
About the report: The Summer Buyer & Seller Mindsets survey was conducted by Trade Me in December 2025 and surveyed 2244 Kiwi to understand current trends and intentions within the New Zealand property market.
Source URL: https://metropol.co.nz/death-of-the-do-er-upper/
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