We know there are resources out there for the do-it-yourself types. There are heaps of services to help homebuyers and home sellers; however, one thing we all understand and value is TIME. While getting the grunt work done yourself may save you the commission rates, there is one thing you won’t win while flying solo: Your time. Some efforts might actually cost you more than a realtor’s commission in the long run.

We understand the huge financial and emotional undertaking that buying or selling a home becomes. Here are 5 quick reason why you shouldn’t discard the notion of hiring an agent just yet.

1. Better Access/More Convenience
2. Negotiating Is Tricky Business
3. Contracts Can Be Hard To Handle
4. Real Estate Agents Can’t Lie
5. Not Everyone Can Save Money

Read the whole article from Forbes here… http://tiny.cc/egjh2

The land of the long white cloud has given one fluffy white creature celebrity status. This week, we have had to say goodbye to the fluffy white creature. In case you didn’t know…Shrek, New Zealand’s most famous sheep, is dead at 16.

Shreck gained his celebrity status in 2004 when he was discovered in a cave near Otago. Now this was no ordinary cave-dwelling sheep…Shrek had been on the run for 6 years. This means no sheering and an extra ordinary pile of fluff. Ordinary, non-celebrity merino wether or castrated male sheep usually get a clipping once a year. Not for this big guy.

Six years on the run will give you heaps of baggage…over 27kgs worth of the stuff. That’s nearly six times the average amount of untrimmed fleece for merino sheep. This extra baggage landed Shrek a first class flight to Wellington and straight to the national parliament to meet Prime Minister Helen Clark. Talk about the big times.

Shrek has used his celebrity status for good. His wool has been auctioned off at top dollar with all proceeds heading to charity. Cheers to a lovely fluffy white creature.

How did you spend the weekend? Canadian Kevin Fast, has been busy pickin’ up chicks. Literally. For all the lovely Canadians making New Zealand their home, here is some uplifting news from the motherland in light of Canada Day.

The Canadian Strongman preformed for the acclaimed Ripley’s Believe It or Not, lifting 22 Canadian broads at once. That’s over 907Kgs (2,000 pounds!). According to Ripley’s, Fast is said to be one of the strongest men they’ve ever documented. Whoa.

But it didn’t stop there…Kevin’s son, Jacob, joined the macho-fest to help his father pull two fire trucks 69,399Kgs (153,000 pounds) across 100 feet…with only one rope…in 38 seconds.

Give these guys a golden maple leaf or something!

The answer is a stock-drop in the New Zealand home and real estate market. Realestate.co.nz has put together data which explains the good news for Kiwi property owners and those looking to sell. The data details that there has been a continuing drop on properties listed for sale on the market, which makes those properties already listed, or looking to list soon, very desirable.

Higher levels of sales and lower numbers of new listings that were seen in April have fallen through May and now June. But there is more good news. The average asking price has remained solid at $415,053. This number is slightly higher than last months $414,308.

So there you have it. You’ve got the good news for home sellers. Your homes are in demand. You’ve also got the better news. You’re going to get the price you want for your home. Win and win for people, families and businesses selling their properties.

That’s what we like to hear!

Over 500 shredders took the box run Thursday. The field has had their 29 snowguns pumping out the white stuff nonstop in preparation for opening day. Fingers crossed for cooperative weather and a decent frosting.

Lift operator Hadley Boyle said he got to practice his dancing whist riding moves because “beats were mean” and “it was just dope”.

Here is a great clip from opening day, filmed and edited by apparel company,  Sponsor This…?  http://vimeo.com/25853829

“The good news is we were able to make some snow at higher altitudes late Tuesday night and into the early hours Wednesday,” said Snow Park NZ snowmaker Daz Macale, whose initial focus is on the top of the halfpipe and the box run. “At this point we’re optimistic that this is the turn in the weather we’ve been looking for. Conditions look good for the weekend.”

Snow Park NZ is the only Wanaka ski and snowboard area that can open entirely with man-made snow, and General Manager Robin Sadowski-Synnott said a decision on a new opening date will be made once snowmaking operations are in full swing.

“Mother Nature is notoriously unpredictable,” said Sadowski-Synnott. “But the tide seems to have turned so we don’t expect this will have much of an impact on the seasonoverall.  We have a great crew in place, all ready to go, and some fantastic new programmes for the 2011 winter season, so it’s great to see the first snow on the slopes.”

Snow Park NZ veteran and Assistant Slopes Manager Jamie Kennerley and Head Groomer, Joe Mackenzie “Jo Mac” reported that once snowmaking is in full swing, it won’t take long to get Snow Park NZ open. “The new snowcats and state-of-the-art grooming equipment we’ve acquired will make building the park a lot faster and easier than in year’s past,” said Kennerley.

Snow Park NZ, a mountain resort renowned for it’s world-class terrain park and awe-inspiring views, is tucked away in the stunning Southern Alps of New Zealand. Snow Park NZ is this year presenting a wider range of experiences for anyone with a sense of adventure, be it on snow or off.

You read about it last week: locals calling Q-town pub a giant ugly eyesore on tourist route. However, could this just be a fixer-upper waiting to find the right hands?

The attitude definitely needs a makeover. The under-fire owner of a crumbling eyesore on a popular Wakatipu tourist route says he has no desire to “piss off” the community. Not exactly a shining start.

Disgruntled Queenstowners have been making noises about the derelict Arthurs Point Tavern – owned by former councillor Rick Pettit and business partner Paul Halford – for months.

The latest to complain is Blanket Bay lodge boss Philip Jenkins, who commutes past the shabby tavern, situated on the road linking Queenstown to Coronet Peak and Arrowtown.

Jenkins, who’s complained to local mayor Vanessa van Uden, tells Mountain Scene “it is very disappointing that visitors to this part of the world are left with an impression of this derelict building with smashed windows”.

He goes on: “We spend tonnes of money trying to position ourselves as this glorious destination, then you get Hendo’s Hole at the main entrance to Queenstown and this at the other end of town – it’s not a good look.”

The bashed-up building is being demolished by Pettit as part of a land-swap agreement with Queenstown Lakes District Council which has dragged on for four years, Pettit says.

“I have no desire or intention to piss the community off – but the wheels of council turn slowly,” he maintains.

Pettit: “Basically it took council four years to work out what it wanted to do with the road, so while all that was going on it wasn’t really necessary to demolish the pub.”

Pettit says once he gets his “ass into gear” and applies for resource consent to remove the decaying boozer, it could be razed within a few weeks.

“I certainly would like to see the building gone and the site cleared before tourist buses start making their way to Coronet Peak.”

The building isn’t pretty. There are broken windows, chipped paint and a very sad face But, instead of looking at the once-was pub as a smudge on the postcard worthy entrance to Queenstown, why not see it as a piece of history that needs a little love…and maybe a lot of paint too.

Original story published by The Mountain Scene, Liz Proctor, 16 Jun 2011

As the snow continues to deny us, we have a hearty list of fun activities to keep your snow-brain busy until the white stuff starts falling.

It’s as close to Cardies as you’re going to get. Cardrona Adventure Park is located between Queenstown and Wanaka. They offer a wide variety of Quad Bikes, Buggy and Monster Truck rides for the whole fam. Get the tykes on bikes and Nanna up in the monster truck.

Adrenalin junkies will LOVE this place. They have quad bikes too but let’s be serious, who would want to drive a quad bike when YOU COULD DRIVE A MONSTER TRUCK! May or may not be geeking out over this.

The School Bully looks especially awesome being the world’s biggest school bus monster truck. You get to drive these bad boys through an obstacle course over cars. Everyone can drive it too! SCHAWEET.

The “School Bully” seats 12 and is suitable for all ages. Booster seats and helmets are provided for younger children.

64) 3 443 6363, http://adventurepark.co.nz/

Wanaka’s latest Radio Station. This week, Roy FM 94.6 was launched to Wanaka listeners. We tuned in to give it a proper nosy…ear-y…hear-y? Anyways, we love it. Roy’s DJs Amber Russell and Dan Pfeifer have been playing some real winners. We’re talking Florence and the Machine, Blink 182, Naked and Famous, The Black Keys, Nirvana and Dr. Dre all before a commercial break.  Love.

They are all about new music with a mix of the latest electro, indie, pop, rock and rap along with a big dose of Kiwi tunes. Parent company Radio Wanaka, says the hosts want to reach a younger audience. Ms Russell said Roy 94.6 “isn’t about convention”. “It’s all about new music, breaking new bands and keeping listeners entertained with different genres all day, just like your iPod on shuffle.”

Go on, pretend you are in an iPod commercial while driving around Wanaka. Worthy of a tune-in, check em’ out and support your local station.

As long as there is still no snow, we will fill you in with more fun things to do and places to go.  Wanaka’s Basecamp climbing centre is a perfect place to get busy and stay fit while the snow continues to ignore us.

Basecamp is just up the road; you’ve probably driven by on your way to Q-town. Stop your snowless sulking and pack up the fam, everyone from Nanna to the wee ones. They’ve got the works. The standard rock-climbing wall is just that, a standard climbing wall. Clip ‘n Climb consists of funky climbs and uses automatic belays, so no one has to manage the rope. The standard climbing wall requires two people, unless bouldering. Climbers are welcome to abseil in any time and stay all day if you like.

This is where climbing wall meets theme park and fun for the whole family. Did we mention this is all inside and awesomely warm?  Shoes are available for hire or you can bring your own closed toed kicks. Basecamp recommends comfy clothes and no skirts…unless you want to literally get cheeky.

Call 03 443 1110 to make a booking. www.basecampwanaka.co.nz