No break for these Brisbane agents

AS a large number of agents wipe sand off their feet and or board a plane for a return trip to reality, Ray White Aspley is negotiating deals and pressing sold stickers onto signboards.

The established office in Brisbane’s north saw an opportunity for great business productivity and success at a time when its competitors traditionally down tools for the year.

“With the federal election coming up and the royal commission report announced by February, we wanted to take advantage of current market conditions ahead of the uncertainty,” Ray White Aspley sales director Robert Green said.

“We ended up selling eight properties between Christmas Day and New Year’s day, so the market hasn’t been quiet for us. We saw 250 buyers the weekend just gone, at 81 open homes. The market hasn’t taken a Christmas break.”

Nor have Ray White Aspley agents Ben Davanzo, James Hollis and Nathan Lansdell.

The trio are busy preparing to manage their share of the office’s seven auctions scheduled across Brisbane this Saturday, which is almost half of Ray White Group’s total volume Australia-wide.

“Originally we had nine properties going to auction this Saturday but two sold prior,” Mr Green said.

“We’ve created a super Saturday around buyer and agent energy. Our whole demographic has evolved, and a lot of our buyers and sellers don’t celebrate Christmas. Traditionally we would have delayed auctions until later in the month but we’ve seen the pace of real estate change so much and we didn’t want to miss the opportunity.”

Mr Davanzo is taking a "treetop retreat" at 17 Meilland Court, Eatons Hill (above) to auction at 2pm under the experienced hammer of Ray White Queensland chief auctioneer Mitch Peereboom.

The four-bedroom, three-bathroom home on a 900sq m block is on the market for the time in almost 20 years.

“I’ve had good numbers at open homes in and around Christmas and Boxing Day,” Mr Davanzo said.“People are still wanting to inspect properties and we’re getting offers. It’s about doing the groundwork and starting the year on the front foot.”

Mr Davanzo said he had bidders on all four auctions he’s holding this Saturday.

“I do work twice as hard during the Christmas period but I’m young, without a family and wanted to the start the year strong.”

Mr Green said a large motivator for their office was securing a head start on other agencies.

“2019 is going to be a year of uncertainty so we’ve been very proactive with the market and we’ve been process-driven, not market-driven,” Mr Green said.

“We’re seeing enquiry across both private treaty and auctions which is unusual in regards to the auction process interest, so there’s a buyer shift.”

Ray White Aspley auctions this Saturday, January 12:

9am - 57 Horn Rd, Aspley
10am - 41 Bartholomew St, Zillmere
12pm - 51 Dannenberg St, Carseldine
1pm - 14 Russo Court, Brendale
2pm - 17 Meilland Court, Eatons Hill
3pm - 22 Eustace St, Aspley
4pm - 39 Moree St, Kedron