DIY dream fades as buyers pay for certainty
New Trade Me research suggests the classic Kiwi “doer-upper” is firmly out of fashion, at a time when national sales in 2025 rose more than 10% while prices were flat, signalling a more balanced, sustainable market heading into 2026.
In a December survey of 2,244 people, 49% of active buyers said they are looking for a home that feels new or updated – with 33% targeting renovated existing homes and 16% focused on new builds.
Trade Me Property spokesperson Casey Wylde (pictured) said buyers are increasingly paying for certainty rather than potential.
“The DIY dream appears to be fading,” Wylde said. “Only 6% of buyers are now explicitly looking for a fixer-upper, while just 15% 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.”
Quality gap: renovated stock has pricing power
The survey underlines a widening “quality gap” shaping negotiations and valuations. For 51% of active seekers, the main barrier is a lack of suitable properties, not finance or interest rates.
Wylde highlighted the supply mismatch.
“While buyers are hunting for high-quality, renovated homes, 50% 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,” Wylde said.
This scarcity of modernised stock “gives vendors of modernised homes a significant competitive advantage in 2026.”
Summer ‘slump’ is a myth – advisers should stay on the front foot
Trade Me’s data also challenge the idea that demand disappears over summer. The survey found 33% of people browse property sites “often” or “very often” while on holiday, and only 3% fully step away from their search.
“The idea of a summer slump is largely a myth,” Wylde said. “The audience is captive and relaxed, but they are still very much looking. For sellers with unrenovated stock, the advice is clear: adjust your price expectations or use tools like digital staging to help buyers see the potential they might otherwise overlook.”
Platform data back this up: properties listed in January typically receive 23% more views than average, with February at 14% above; watchlists are also higher in both months.
For Kiwi mortgage advisers, the combined message is clear: borrowers are chasing turnkey quality in a stabilising, not booming, market – and they are active through summer. Structuring advice around finished‑home demand, realistic price expectations and a steady, balanced 2026 outlook will resonate most with clients.
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