Teenager does the ‘hard yards’ to buy his first home

For many young people, home ownership seems like an unattainable dream. However, at just 19 years old, Taylor Henderson defied the odds by purchasing and renovating his own home.

The once-dilapidated character cottage that was originally in Lower Hutt now stands proudly in Featherston. Taylor, now 22, shared with Checkpoint that the renovation was a labor of love, funded by years of savings, allowing him to buy the cottage mortgage-free.

“It’s a funny story,” Taylor recalled. “I was driving to work and saw some furniture by the roadside. I picked it up and noticed an open garage. I chatted with the owner, who wanted to get rid of the house.”

Initially, Taylor intended to buy only the garage for a simpler project but ended up purchasing the entire cottage. There has been speculation that it might be the oldest house in Lower Hutt.

There has been speculation that the house is the oldest house in Lower Hutt. Photo: Supplied / Taylor Henderson

Moving and renovating the cottage was more challenging than Taylor anticipated. “It was a complete rebuild,” he said. “Thirty years of neglect had left it with significant rot.”

Due to relocating the house outside the district, Taylor had to reconstruct it as a new build. “In the end, it turned out well. It should last another 200 years.”

Taylor Henderson gave the cottage a vintage look. Photo: Supplied / Taylor Henderson

Taylor’s savings and hard work allowed him to buy the house outright. “I’ve been working for as long as I can remember, doing little jobs for pocket money and saving thanks to my parents’ guidance,” he said.

Choosing to move the cottage from Lower Hutt was driven by lifestyle preferences. “Lower Hutt lacks the culture or character I wanted, so I moved it to a quieter country town,” Taylor explained. “Now, it’s back in its era, in a lifestyle block with sheep and chickens roaming around.”

Featherston’s proximity to Lower Hutt made it an ideal location for Taylor. “It just seemed right to be closer to the city for work,” he added.

Taylor’s parents were very supportive throughout the project. “They gave me a lot of advice, guidance, and physical help. It was an A-Team effort,” he said. Rebuilding the cottage took three years of his free time and weekends alongside his full-time job.

There is speculation that the house was built by one of the first settlers in Lower Hutt. Despite limited historical documentation, Taylor has worked with a historian to date the house and keep it historically accurate.

The cottage is furnished with heirloom pieces from his parents and items he found online. “I pick and choose what looks right and fits,” Taylor said.

Although his friends find the house different from the norm, they love it. “It’s an old off-the-grid lifestyle, which isn’t easy, but that’s what makes it interesting,” he concluded. Taylor spent months dedicated to transforming the house, turning it into a unique and cherished home.