My career began in 2001 with with L. J. Hooker. Moving forward from 2005-15, I became the leading business sales agent in Canberra specialising in selling complicated businesses in the range of $100,000-$10 million+. It was during these challenging times that I honed my unique negotiation and problem-solving skills that I now known for.
I commenced freelancing as an auctioneer in 2013 while also establishing my other businesses named Canberra Granny Flat Builders and, more recently, Fixed Price Extensions. Canberra Granny Flat Builders specialises in design and building secondary residences on suburban backyards across Canberra, while Fixed Price Extensions does exactly that, make beautiful and considered extension to existing homes. I am passionate about both of these businesses because they hold potential to bring joy and happiness to peoples lives.
I am Canberra born and bred and I hold 20 years experience as an agent and auctioneer that I would love to share with you.
It’s my goal to help up to twenty clients per year with the aim to provide all with a superior level of services. My experience spans 20 years as property auctioneer and real estate agent.
Over the past two years, I have called roughly 400 hundred auctions for approximately 15 agencies, and they include auctions for all the major Canberra-based franchises while coaching bidders on negotiation. Working alongside the agencies and bidders has provided me with unprecedented access to the very best – and worst – auction practices.
A major part of my business model is to take on fewer listings with the aim to achieve a higher level of service with an incentive-based fee. The incentive-based fee drives my focus to achieve more with a greater reward for all. Yes. Profit!
My knowledge includes the willingness to make experienced and tactical decisions, such as choosing to pass the property in if it becomes evident there is a better buyer on the horizon. I can confidently say that both our interests are in sharp focus using this model and you can be sure that I am not compromised by franchise owners who demand inevitable results, or the need for transactional speed.
$2,770 including GST – (plus styling in almost 70% of sales)
The investment includes:
If you want to run more, digital marketing is very effective in the form of targeted social media ads. We can target online users who have viewed your property, focusing on Canberra region with specific demographic criteria. This investment costs between $500-$800.
The average cost to style a three to four bedroom home is $3,000.
All marketing and styling investments can be deferred till settlement. And yes, they are absolutely investments.
If you don’t receive the level of service and professionalism that you expect, let us know and we’ll forward a prompt refund. That’s our 100% money back guarantee.
When you sell your property in the ACT, it is a requirement under the Civil Law (Sale of Residential Property) Act 2003 that the seller has prepared a contract for sale before marketing can commence. Established single dwelling housing requires certain documents such as building reports, compliance reports and energy efficiency rating reports to be provided in the mandatory contract for sale. Before you engage a building or pest inspector, my advice is to invest $400 in a pre-inspection report. This report will identify potential unapproved and non-compliant elements as well as potential red flags. My objective is to identify and neutralise and/or remedy any issues before the report is undertaken and I recommend two companies who offer this service. Upon meeting to discuss the sale, we can address this in more detail.
In almost all instances, it is far better to sell with no tenant and the success of a property campaign relies on two factors:
1) The presentation of the property
2) The ability to show buyers through the house on their terms.
A vacant property makes way for professional styling and 24/7 access.
The average weekly rent is $800. The average campaign length is four weeks, plus a settlement period of six weeks, totally approximately 10 weeks lost rent.
I balance this lost rent against generating focused buyer inspections (with re-inspections); therefor the value of a vacant property far exceeds a few months of lost rent
I work to open on Saturdays, Sundays and midweek.
This timing is critical to provide access and opportunity for buyers to come to inspect.
I offer a minimum:
This is documented in my service and communications guarantee.
My preferred method of communication is via telephone.
Contact hours are:
Between 7am and 8pm, Monday to Friday
Up to 10pm on Saturday and Sunday.
e: contact@auctionadvantage.com.au
m: 0400 446 605
Tuesday is the day that I aim to take off each week.
Suppose the primary skill of your agent is the ability to negotiate the best possible terms when handling the sale of your property. How is it then that agents, so skilled in the art of negotiation, invariably agree to a flat fee of $10,000 or a flat fee of 2%?
If you out negotiate your appointed negotiator then you might be serious trouble at the pointy end of the sale.
An example of how flat fees and fixed percentage commissions work against the sellers’ interests.
Take the case of a home with a market value of $1,000,000:
The owner calls two agents to compete for the responsibility of managing the sale.
Agent 1 — proposes a 1.75% flat fee of the total sale price
Agent 2 — proposes a flat fee of $15,000 irrespective of the sale price
Both these fee structures work directly against the interest of the seller.
Agent 1 gets rewarded 1.75% or $175 for every $10,000 they get over the market value of $1,000,000. The seller gets $9,825.
Agent 2 gets rewarded $0 for every dollar they get over the market value of $1,000,000, and it doesn’t cost them if they under-sell by $50,000.
Start with this principle … “Not all homes should (or need) to sell on auction day”.
Agents will deliberately under-quote to get more buyers interested interested in the property. When the auction day arrives, the price is 20-30% more than what was quoted. How frustrating!
By seeking two to three committed buyers you are better off than being overwhelmed by 15 underpriced buyers.
I encourage you to challenge my concepts during the auction campaign and will gladly answer any questions you may have.
First we make an agreement on the minimum price guarantee. Then following, we reach agreement on the fee structure.
My recommendation is a ‘high-low fee incentive‘.
I provide a fee the owner can select after the sale occurs, as well as an incentive above market value. This ensures the seller/client has an incentive to get the very best result, and not just the quickest or first.
Example option 1:
Fee range of $9,000—$16,000.
The seller/client holds exclusive right to choose the fee within the agreed range once the sale is successfully completed.
Example option 2:
1.5%—2.5% of total sale price.
The seller holds exclusive right to choose the fee in the agreed range once the sale is successfully completed.
Example super profits incentive:
For every $1.00 negotiated above $1,000,000, there is a bonus offer of 10—20% of the sale price.
If I do not achieve the agreed minimum price, then you are not obligated to pay the agreed fee structure.
I am a significant shareholder in two other Canberra-based businesses: Canberra Granny Flat Builders and Fixed Price Extensions. I will let you know if a potential client or an existing client is interested in your property during the marketing campaign. I do not own shares in real estate advertising companies. My business is not focused on rent rolls, and there is no incentive to orchestrate a landlord to purchase property at the expense of the seller client.
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