Auction for feud house
Family prepare to sell waterfront home at centre of bitter battle.
An exclusive seaside mansion at the centre of a bitter family feud will be auctioned next month. The sale of the multi-million-dollar property in Auckland’s Pt Chevalier was delayed as family members fought in court over details of the proposed sale.
Retired couple Trevor and Sue Gregory bought the two-level Wright Rd bungalow as a family investment with son Michael and his wife Simone in 2005 for $1.513 million.
It is estimated to be worth more than $2.3m in today's market.
The feud was sparked after Trevor and Sue Gregory wanted to sell the property.
Although the younger Gregory couple wanted to buy it, the family could not agree on a price.
Due to the dispute, Trevor Gregory said it was only fair the property went to auction.
He and his wife took their son and daughter-in-law to court because because of disagreements about the reserve price, who the real estate agent should be, what should happen if the property was passed in and how the property was to be prepared for sale.
In May, Justice Kit Toogood released a 23-point court order, including that the auction be held at the waterfront address on a Saturday to coincide with high tide.
Justice Toogood also ruled that if the property didn’t sell, it should go to the younger Gregorys, who would pay the parents half of its value.
This week Trevor Gregory said despite the court battle he was hopeful he could eventually mend the relationship with his son.
“People will draw their own conclusions about this but we needed to go to auction because there are more people involved than just me.”
The property is being marketed by Barfoot and Thompson agent Paul Donovan who described the 875m2 property as a grand home with views across the harbour to the Waitakere Ranges, Te Atatu Penin- sula and West Harbour.
The younger Gregorys live at the house with their three children and also own an adjacent home.
Trevor Gregory lives next door in a home he and Sue Gregory have owned for more than 30 years and where they raised Michael and his sister.
The house will be sold by court order on November 1 at the hightide time of 3pm.