{"id":16776,"date":"2024-08-29T12:54:31","date_gmt":"2024-08-29T00:54:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/builderscrack.co.nz\/blog\/?p=16776"},"modified":"2025-05-14T16:07:37","modified_gmt":"2025-05-14T04:07:37","slug":"baby-steps-transformed-this-quirky-1950s-home-into-a-city-oasis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/builderscrack.co.nz\/blog\/project-stories\/baby-steps-transformed-this-quirky-1950s-home-into-a-city-oasis.html","title":{"rendered":"Baby Steps Transformed This Quirky 1950s Home Into A \u2018City Oasis\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

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A<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

private oasis in the city was what Miranda and Elliot had in mind when they bought this quirky doer-upper. But what they ran into? Asbestos, roofing repairs, and multiple robberies, all in just a few months.<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>

Somehow, they maintained resilience and tenacity throughout every stage of their renovation \u2014 and the hard work is finally paying off. <\/p>\n

Today, there\u2019s little sign of the stressful months endured by Miranda, who was all smiles with the gorgeous new addition to the family, baby Basil.<\/p>\n

Find out how Miranda and Elliot overcame the tough times and take a look into one of their major projects: Fencing.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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All smiles for homeowner Miranda, and baby Basil in their new home.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>

City Living Done Different<\/strong><\/h3><\/div>

Miranda and Elliot bought this home in 2022, after seeing the results of their previous smaller cottage renovation.<\/p>\n

Within arms length of Christchurch CBD, this home had every element the couple were looking for; quirky, loads of character, and a huge backyard.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we bought it, we really wanted to embrace the feeling of a secret garden, or a private oasis in the city,\u201d Miranda shares.<\/p>\n

The home also came with a unique backstory.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe house was built in the 1950\u2019s by a Christchurch man in his 20s, who had held onto it for over 60 years, some of which were spent raising kids of his own,\u201d Miranda says.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Before: A home with many challenges yet to be uncovered.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>

Builderscrack: The First Port of Call<\/strong><\/h3><\/div>

Like with any home improvement project, Miranda and Elliot got stuck into some major DIY projects early on.<\/p>\n

But with things like asbestos removal, and a new front fence needed, a network of tradies was required soon after.<\/p>\n

The first port of call: Builderscrack \u2014 here\u2019s why.<\/p>\n

\u201cDuring our last renovation I discovered Builderscrack. I quickly figured out that it\u2019s great for jobs of all sizes,\u201d Miranda says.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know that the people you are connecting with are trusted, just by reading the reviews. For this reason, I\u2019m always sharing it with friends and family.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Post a job<\/span><\/a>

Full home reno? Get started.<\/h2>
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Tell us about your job, and we\u2019ll connect you with the right tradespeople.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Getting stuck in came easy for Miranda and Elliot, u<\/i>ntil the unexpected happened.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

The Golden Rule: Three Quotes<\/strong><\/h3><\/div>

The new fence was too big for the pair to DIY, so naturally Miranda posted it to Builderscrack.<\/p>\n

\u201cEach time I use Builderscrack, I try to get at least three quotes,<\/span>\u201d Miranda prefaces.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNate from Dodge Construction<\/a> gave us competitive pricing, his reviews were outstanding, and he seemed like a really nice guy both on his profile and in person.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe was warm and accommodating, and really listened to what we wanted in our design without trying to override it with his own ideas too much.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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A skeleton of a home, unlivable for the small family at one point.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>

The Experts Worked Through Rain or Shine<\/strong><\/h3><\/div>

Nate from Dodge Constructions was the tradie for the job.<\/p>\n

One of the non-negotiables for Miranda was that the new fence and gate posts needed to be constructed for an electric gate. <\/span>An easy challenge for Nate and his team.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, once the project was underway they were then faced with two more major challenges:<\/p>\n

1. The asbestos removal was happening in tandem to the fence build, meaning the site wasn\u2019t initially safe to commence work.<\/p>\n

2. Coming into autumn meant the weather didn’t always play ball.<\/p>\n

But even with the tighter timeframes, they quickly gave Miranda and Elliot\u2019s home the safety, security and curb-appeal it needed.<\/p>\n

The fence installation breakdown:<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>