Auction delivers life changing windfall

Ray White Dalkeith | Claremont elite agent Emma Milner had signed up 17 registered bidders all vying to win the keys of this timeless classic home at 24 Park Road, Mount Lawley which sold for $2,250,000 under the hammer. The auction was pulled forward by a week due to the intense buyer interest.

Ms Milner’s 82 year old seller had recently inherited the three-bedroom home from the man she cleaned for, for more than 30 years.

“I was a single mother with five kids when I met him. I have always lived in a housing commission unit on a pension. I met Kevin more than 30 years ago at ballroom dancing classes - he used to go with his lady friend and he asked me if I knew anyone who would clean for him, and in the end I said I would do it,” the seller said, who wished to remain anonymous about her unexpected windfall.

“He never married or had any children. He was an electrician before he retired and he left his house to me, I still cannot believe it.

“I think he left it for my children too, I have four left, in their 40s and 50s now.

“He knew all my kids but he would have needed their full names and addresses to add into his will, so I think that’s why he just left it to me.

“I am still in shock. I used to clean for him weekly up until he died last December, he was in his mid-80s. I would just clean the inside and do his washing. He kept to himself and I had no idea he was planning to leave me the house,” she said.

“I am still on the pension and I have been living in the same rented housing commission for 37 years. I have never had any money and I have never owned property and this was my first auction!

“To be honest it hasn't really sunk in, we just went out for Chinese food for lunch to celebrate.

“I think the stress might have taken 10 years off my life!

"I don't know what it means but I would like to buy the housing commission unit I am living in if I am allowed to and help my kids out.”

The seller was full of praise for Emma Milner and the Ray White Dalkeith | Claremont team for managing the sale so brilliantly.

With thin volume on this long weekend in many parts of the country, Ray White recorded a preliminary clearance rate of 78 per cent of all the 375 auctions booked today and recorded an average of 4.5 registered bidders and 3.1 active bidders per auction today.

The top auction result for the day was marketed by Tian Hong of Ray White Epping in Sydney who today sold 36 Kandy Ave, Epping under the hammer for $3.62 million to an upsizing family from the inner west. The auction recorded 7 registered bidders and 5 active bidders.

The auction with the highest number of registered bidders was marketed by Ray White Norwood agent Nick Roma who recorded 22 registered bidders at 3 Park Terrace, Gilles Plains. The property was sold under the hammer for $1,825,000.

There was a huge jump in attendance in open homes across Australia. According to NurtureCloud, Ray White conducted 6958 open homes across the nation today, with 31,205 attendees, some 18 per cent more foot traffic than last weekend.

The open home with the most attendees was at 4/64 Sunbury Road, Victoria Park in WA. The property, which is being marketed by Ray White Whiteman & Associates agent Edward Lim, who welcomed 81 attendees through today’s open homes.

Ray White New South Wales head of auctions David McMahon said there wasn't a lot of choice on offer today for buyers. “As predicted for the long weekend, we saw a low level of scheduled auctions today sitting at just 76 compared to 196 last week. We sold 15 per cent of the 76 prior to auction which is down slightly from our average of 20 per cent,” Mr McMahon said.

“The interest rates being kept on hold and the expansion of the incentives for first home buyers this week provided continued confidence to our buyers today as we averaged 4.9 registered and 3 active bidders today.

“With the low auction volume this weekend it’s perhaps too early to see the true impact of those announcements but the early signs are positive.”

36 Kandy Ave, Epping

• Sold under the hammer for $3.62 million

• 7 registered bidders, 5 active bidders

• Lead agent: Tian Hong - 0451 977 781

• Ray White Epping

• Auctioneer: Alex Pattaro, Ray White

Seller Jason Ge said Tian Hong and her team did a great job today.

“She put a lot of heart into the sale. She certainly works very hard. Her whole team did an awesome job. We have moved now, and we have downsized as it’s such a big house and we don’t need so much room now as our daughter has moved out but it is a perfect spot. The auctioneer was great too.”

Agent Tian Hong said this was a busy campaign with 36 groups of buyers coming through this massive seven bedroom family home on a whopping 1069sqm.

“There was good competition from all six groups who were registered at the auction. And a family from Leichhardt bought the house. They can’t wait to have some room to move as their house in the inner west is on only 300sqm. There is so much more land here in Epping.

“My seller is so happy too. It was an amazing auction.”

15 Buckingham Road, Baulkham Hills

• Sold under the hammer for $2.180 million

• 10 registered bidders, 4 active bidders

• Lead agent: Angela Xu - 0423 619 684 and Matt Langdon

• Ray White Castle Hill

In front of a huge crowd of 90 people, Angela Xu and Matt Langdon sold this beautiful home to a young family from Epping who are upgrading.

Seller Eric Zhao said that after a sleepless night, he was thrilled with the outcome.

“We are very happy now. I didn’t get any sleep at all last night. My mother and I were both didn’t sleep, we were nervous but we all are so happy now.”

The family is upgrading to a bigger house in Castle Hill better suited for the multi-generational family.

“I actually wasn’t at the auction as I was minding my baby but my friend texted me when it was over.”

“Angela and Matt worked so hard during the three weeks, they contacted every single buyer and asked everyone for feedback. They stayed in touch with us every day via WeChat and they came to our new property to help advise us. We are thrilled with the result,” he said.

Mr Zhao said he has attended a few auctions before and said it was the only way to sell. “Some of my friends actually came to the auction today and because of the strong competition they are now willing to sell with Ray White Castle Hill.”

9 Wilson Road, Hinchinbrook

• Sold under the hammer for $1.225 million

• 7 registered bidders, 5 active bidders

• Lead agent: Nicholas Makrinakis - 0414 840 065

• Ray White Green Valley

• Auctioneer: Bryce Bevan, Ray White

The owners have been in this house for 31 years, and they are now moving to be closer to their son's family in Jervis Bay on the South Coast.

The seller’s son, Nenad, said his mum and dad were very happy but it was also a little bit bittersweet for them after so long in their home.

“They were calm. I think I was more nervous during the auction. There was a big crowd of around 30 people and we just found out that the back neighbour bought it. Nicholas and his team also did a wonderful job keeping us informed every step of the way.”

Ray White Victoria Chief Auctioneer Jeremy Tyrell said that with the AFL season wrapped up for another year, it was beginning to feel more like spring as auction volume and the Melbourne market bounces back.

“This week there were 249 auctions scheduled for the Ray White group across the state of Victoria, with buyers welcoming the increase in property listings,” he said.

“Buyer activity remains strong, with first home buyers being handed an extra boost of support from the Federal Government during the week, as all income levels are eligible for the Home Buyer scheme, where five percent deposits and no LMI can get them into the market.

“Competition was strong across the majority of auctions, with 3.1 active bidders on average and clearance rates at 83.5 percent.

“With only 10 Saturdays until the festive season is upon us, it's going to be a hot run to the end of the year.”

4 Rosewood Court, Frankston

• Sold under the hammer for $1.050 million

• 4 registered and auction bidders

• Lead agent: Ashley Weston - 0439 101 677

• Ray White Frankston

• Auctioneer: Jeremy Tyrrell, Ray White

The opening bid was a strong $980,000 and went in $10,000 increments before finishing on $1,050,000 to an online bidder from Byron Bay. Pictured above is the happy seller with agent Terry Wheeler.

16a Luxmoore Street, Cheltenham

• Sold under the hammer $1.465 million

• 3 registered and 3 active bidders

• Lead agent/auctioneer: Kevin Chokshi - 0430 195 517

• Ray White The Bayside Group
  

Mr Chohski said this was a battle of the first home buyers and investors and the FHB won the keys today in front of a big crowd.

Ray White Queensland chief auctioneer Gavin Croft said September saw 646 auctions completed with 5.7 registered bidders per auction and a clearance rate across the month for 74.8 per cent.

“What a wonderful insight into the current state. I think it's become a real focal point in the Brisbane auction market at the moment as we continue to see the steam and energy underneath it really underpinned by government stimulus and the Olympics. He said Ray White Rochedale agent Isaac Turner sold 3 Tourmaline Road, Logan Reserve for $842,000 with 12 registered bidders with a local upgrading winning out over an interstate phone bidder. “The sub $1m market really has some fuel underneath it now.”

3/1 Jerdanefield Road, St Lucia

• Sold under the hammer for $1.310 million

• 4 registered bidders, 3 active bidders

• Lead agent: Jamie Smith - 0450 734 401

• Ray White Indooroopilly

• Auctioneer: Gavin Croft, Ray White

Ray White Indooroopilly agent Jamie Smith managed a very busy textbook auction campaign for this long held investment property near the university in St Lucia in Brisbane’s leafy inner west.

“We had 4 registered bidders, 3 offers prior and 60+ groups through the campaign and about 30 or so groups here today,” Mr Smith said.

“We had active bidding from $900,000 to $1,050 million and we then saw a third bidder drive from $1.1 million to $1.235 bidding then went in $10,000s and then $5,000s all the way through from $1.298 million to our sale price of $1,310,000.

The property had been owned by Janice Luchich for more than 30 years.

“Jamie ran an excellent campaign and the auctioneer was also excellent and I was delighted with the outcome. The auction was very professional. We owned three properties in the same complex over the years and the family used it as a base while studying at UQ.”

The winning bidder was buying on behalf of their mother.

Ray White South Australia chief auctioneer John Morris said that while much of the state pressed pause on auctions last week due to the AFL Grand final, the action certainly did not stop at Ray White.

“Across the state 78 auctions were scheduled with Ray White responsible yet again for the lion's share of those with 55 scheduled, and we conducted 48 of them, giving us around about a 70 per cent auction market share,” he said.

“So rather than shy away from the calendar, as many other agents did, our team pivoted, we moved many auctions to mid-week, put them on in the morning before the grand final and we produced some standout results. 


“Our clearance rate reached around 86 per cent auction day clearance and the rest of the market was at just 52 per cent auction day clearance right.

“Our bidding depth remains strong. We had strong bidding, many, many registered bidders throughout the week. 


“This week is much the same. Our clearance rate sits north of 80 per cent as we enter the weekend. We've got about seven registered bidders and once again, the numbers tell the story. 
When it comes to auctions in South Australia, Ray White continues to lead from the front. We drive momentum for our sellers and we keep the competition fierce for the buyers, in an open and transparent sale method.”

23 Waterbrook Court, Mawson Lakes

• Sold under the hammer for $1.050 million

• 9 registered bidders, five active bidders

• Lead agent Stefan Siciliano - 0403 171 489

• Auctioneer: John Morris, Ray White

There’s a delicious homemade butter chicken curry dinner coming up for John Morris and Stefan Siciliano soon from these grateful sellers in Mawson Lakes.

Kavita and Joby owned their Mawson Lakes home for more than 17 years.

They only sold it as they had moved closer to their children’s school a few years ago.

“Stefan is a fabulous agent, he’s very approachable and very reliable. I have never seen him miss an opportunity to be in touch with us. If we were feeling nervous, he never shied away from reassuring us and answering all our questions. He was very forthcoming with information,” Kavita said.

"We have never sold a house before, this was our first sale and it is nerve wracking as often buyers can be brutal with their feedback. I guess it is also a buyers’ tactic to hold back information and Stefan kept assuring us not to worry and we never doubted him.

“When Stefan suggested auction we were a little fearful as there’s a lot of houses for sale around Mawson Lakes via private treaty - that is the trend in this area for whatever the reason - but Stefan explained the auction process. He never promised anything to us, one way or the other as he cannot predict the market but he is very experienced and we trusted him.”

The sellers actually met Stefan Siciliano more than 10 years ago when they were looking to buy.

“He diligently kept in touch with us over all these years with market information and a card at Christmas. His manner was always respectful and not pushy. I told him I would appoint him to sell when the time was right, and it was,” Kavita said.

“John Morris was also incredible. His energy is amazing - we had never met him before and we placed such trust in him!

“I told him I am making him a curry for dinner very soon - whatever he wants, I will make it for John and Stefan. It will probably be a butter chicken as I know how popular it is in Australia, and even masala dosa. John is very confident and has such a friendly manner that all the buyers love him too. He's equally as friendly with buyers. We couldn't recommend them both highly enough.

35 Beaufort Street, Woodville Park

• Sold under the hammer for $1,366,000

• 7 registered bidders, 6 active bidders

• Lead agent: Peter Kiritsis - 0411 501 520

• Ray White Woodville