Homes.co.nz

The first website to check out is homes.co.nz. This site has over half a million users every month. It calls itself “The home of property in New Zealand.” Since 2021, it has been owned by Trade Me. The website is simple to use, and the layout helps you find what you need easily. Just type in your address, and it will show you a map of the property and its area. You can pick the property you want or look at nearby listings and recent sales. This is helpful for learning about the neighbourhood! If you need a housing agent, you can also search for agents by location.

We think the information on homes.co.nz is very good. While many sites just give a range for property prices, homes.co.nz also offers a rental estimate for some homes. It has great historical data to see how prices have changed over time. You can also find estimated home loan rates and average monthly costs, like electricity and insurance for your property. These extra features are a big plus.

Property owners can keep track of their property by getting updates as information changes. They can also monitor the property value and add images and updates to HomesEstimate. You can view:

• The market value of the property from homes.co.nz

• Information on Capital Valuation (CV)

• Past sales data for the property

• Property details from the council (like floor area, land area, and number of bedrooms/bathrooms)

• Estimated home loan payments

• Expected rental price and yield

• Potential solar power generation estimate

• A map showing nearby properties - their valuation, for sale, or rent

• Locate property agents nearby

• Basic info about the neighbourhood (such as the number of schools and the distance to the CBD)

Hot tip: When buying a home, it’s not just the mortgage repayments you need to consider; house insurance premiums are an essential part of protecting your property investment. For an overview of what to expect, check out our guide on the average cost of car, house, and contents insurance in New Zealand. This can help you budget for these ongoing expenses, giving you a realistic snapshot of monthly costs.

OneRoof

OneRoof is owned by media company NZME. We think it gives users less information than homes.co.nz and lacks some extra features. However, it still offers important details that home buyers want. This includes mortgage rates, price estimates, sale history, and property listings. Users can also read the latest property news and insights from Newstalk. A nice addition is the overview of suburbs. This section provides demographics and property data for Kiwi buyers. It also includes updates throughout the year, like changes in basis points influenced by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand that can impact mortgage rates.

This site stands out from others because it offers more than just residential property. It includes commercial properties, rural land, and even businesses for sale. This adds variety but takes the focus away from what the site originally aimed to do. Like homes.co.nz, you can also sign up to watch a specific property and get updates if anything changes.

You can view:

• Market value of property by OneRoof

• Registered Valuation (RV) details

• Previous sales data for the property

• Property information (like floor area and land area) but not as detailed as homes.co.nz

• Estimated home loan payments

• “About the area” - displays flood zones, underground services (wastewater, etc.), school locations, and zoning

Hot tip: Once you’ve found the right property, it’s time to think about securing it with the right insurance. Our homeowner’s guide to house insurance covers everything you need to know, from choosing coverage to understanding common terms and what to expect from your policy.

PropertyValue

PropertyValue is owned by CoreLogic, a leading property information and insights firm with a global presence.

PropertyValue allows users to access some of this information for free. However, people can also buy extra reports. Their Property Report is available for $29.95, which includes a $20 discount as of now. The Title Details Report costs $5.95. This is different from homes.co.nz and OneRoof, as they do not sell information.

One important difference is that Property Value gives a range for home values instead of just one number like other sites do. For example, homes.co.nz and OneRoof will show a value like $1.33M or $1.47M. In contrast, Property Value will show a range, such as $1.3M to $1.4M.

PropertyValue does not have all the extra features that homes.co.nz provides. However, it puts more attention on data. You can see this in its Suburb Insights feature.

This feature is different from OneRoof’s because it looks at market data. It includes the median sale price, median rent, price changes over 12 months, and Average Days on Market. Because of these details, we believe that investors, sellers, and buyers who want to explore the data more will find PropertyValue helpful and a better option.

We believe that homes.co.nz and OneRoof provide a better experience for users of the platform.

• An estimated range for the property's market value by Property Value

• Details on Rating Valuation (RV)

• Basic property information, like floor area and land area, but fewer details compared to other sources

• History of sales for the property

• Information about median sale price, price change, median rent, and average days on the market

• View similar properties nearby that have sold or are for sale

• Pay to get a more detailed Property Report and Titles Report

Hot tip: Buying a home is a big financial commitment, and keeping up with ongoing costs can be challenging. To help you make your insurance more affordable, check out our article on 8 budget hacks for house insurance. These tips can help you save on your premiums without compromising on coverage.

Relab

Relab is a property data startup in Auckland. They launched their new website last year and have grown a lot since then. In May 2023, they told NZ Business that now 25% of real estate agents in NZ are using Relab.

The newest kid on the block is trying to stand out with map-based features. They offer a free version, but it's only for REINZ members. Others can try out a free trial that lasts for 14 days.

You can get more value by buying a Pro Plan for $59.90 each month. Or, you can choose the Prospect Plan for $320 a month to unlock all their features. If you pick a yearly subscription instead of monthly, you will save 38% on both plans. With these plans, you will have access to many helpful features. These include advanced maps, details about subdivision potential, and title information. These tools are very useful for property investors, real estate agents, or anyone who loves data when buying property.

Overall, Relab is a useful tool for those interested in real estate. It's great for investors, developers, and even serious home buyers who rely on data. This is especially true if they have the premium subscription. You can view:

• A rough idea of the property's market value (powered by QV)

• Information on council valuations and rates

• A rental estimate

• A map view of the area, with options to show flood zones, services, and consents

• Details on past sales of the property

• A calculator for subdivisions

• Information on school zoning

• Demographic details about households like income, age, education, ethnicity, housing, and jobs

• A fee is required for access to Market Analysis, Title & Planning Report

How accurate are the price estimates?

These property websites are helpful for buyers and investors. But if you are like us, you often use them to satisfy your curiosity. You want to know how much your neighbour's home is worth. No matter your reason for checking, you might be thinking about how accurate these price estimates really are.

It's important to know that the estimates you see come from a computer. They can't fully consider all market factors. If you want an accurate estimate, it's best to hire a professional valuer. However, this doesn't mean the estimates are worthless. They can be very helpful as a first indication.

You will see that most websites provide a price range or a single number. We found that PropertyValue usually showed the smallest range. After that was homes.co.nz and OneRoof. While the ranges and estimates from these sites were mostly similar, there were some differences. This is normal because each site uses its own methods and data to figure this out. Valuing a property is not an exact science.

If you're looking at these websites just for fun, the price estimates should be fine for what you need. However, if you need more accurate information, it's best to check several sites. You might also want to look for professional help or more in-depth reports.

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How to use property data for insurance comparisons

When you compare properties, it's not only about getting the right place or size of the home. The facts you find on property websites can help you choose better home insurance. The value of your property, its location, and any risks will impact the costs of your insurance.

Using property data can help you make better insurance choices. Here’s how you can do it:

Rebuild costs: ensuring full coverage

Start by looking up the estimated value of your home on property websites like Homes.co.nz or Property Value. This is important because it helps figure out how much it would cost to rebuild your home. The rebuild cost is the amount needed to rebuild your home if it gets completely destroyed, like in a fire or an earthquake.

Is your home insurance policy covering the total cost to rebuild? Many homeowners do not have enough insurance. They often use the market value of their home, which might be lower than what it would actually cost to rebuild.

Make sure you change your insurance to show the true cost of fixing your home. You can get rebuild estimates by using Property Value’s official values.

Neighbourhood risks: protecting against crime and natural disasters

Your neighbourhood greatly affects your home insurance costs. Websites like One Roof offer crime statistics and profiles of areas. If you live in a high-crime area, insurance companies may ask for more money for theft protection.

Do you know if your neighbourhood is safe? Have you looked at your insurance policy to see if it covers theft protection? If you haven't, now is a good time to check it.

You can use Relab to see if your home is in a flood zone or a high-risk area. Homes in flood zones or near fault lines usually have higher insurance costs. If you find out that your home is in one of these areas, it’s important to get an insurance policy that covers natural disasters. This includes protection for things like earthquakes or floods.

Want more guidance on choosing the right insurance as a first-time buyer? Check out our Rethinking Insurance for First-Time Home Buyers article for practical tips and insights on managing costs and understanding your coverage needs.

Save time by comparing insurance with Quashed

Once you have this information about your property value or risks in the neighbourhood, the next step is to find the right insurance coverage. This is where Quashed can help. Quashed lets you compare different home insurance policies in one place. This saves you time and helps you get the coverage you need.

Why waste time calling several insurance companies? You can easily compare policies that fit your needs. Use Quashed to discover the best insurance choices based on how much it costs to rebuild your property, the crime rates in your area, and local zoning information.

Example: How Quashed and property websites work together

Let’s say you found a house in an area that might flood using Relab. This means there is a higher risk of flooding. With Quashed, you can look at different insurance policies that cover flood damage. This will help to make sure your home is completely protected.

You check One Roof and find out that your new home is in an area with a lot of crime. Then, you can use Quashed to look for insurance policies. These policies can give you better protection against theft for your personal items.

If you feel unsure, this is the time to check your insurance. You should compare your policies with Quashed.

It’s a wrap

Using property data is not only about finding a good home. It is also important to get the right insurance. You need to know your rebuild cost and check for risks in your location. The information from property websites will help you make better choices for your insurance.

Use your time wisely. Don’t guess or visit many insurance websites. Instead, use Quashed. It helps you compare home insurance plans that suit your property needs.

Get ready to guard your home! Join and begin looking at insurance quotes today.