Against The Odds

Last year will go down as one of the strangest in living memory. Being thrust into the midst of a global pandemic was traumatic for all, and the lockdowns, while necessary, were surreal and stressful. For Sharon Blaikie and husband Malcom, the Covid-19 pandemic was just one of the dramas that beset them as they tried to renovate a crosslease unit purchased in mid-2019. But through adversity, the couple managed
to complete the renovation and sell the property for a profit. Their story of resilience and determination is likely to inspire any wannabe property trader.

The Blaikies purchased the late- 1960s property in the middle of 2019 for $515,000. They had just completed the renovation of a similar property in Tauranga the year before - bought initially for Sharon’s mum (who didn’t end up moving in). This was the first renovation they had done while living in a separate house.