RELATIONSHIPS ARE EVERYTHING IN REAL ESTATE

Success in real estate really comes down to the quality and authenticity of your relationships. It’s about building genuine trust and ensuring that clients know they can rely on you to have their back, guarantee complete transparency and arm them with all the information they need to make smart decisions. Whether you’re selling through us, buying through us or simply after some astute advice, we pride ourselves on being the touchpoint for everything that’s going on in the local market.

Our database is one of the best resources we have at our disposal, giving our vendors access to a vast network of buyers from right across the Inner West and Lower North Shore many of whom we have developed personal relationships with. We take the time to nurture these connections and really get to the heart of what our buyers are looking for.

A number of recent sales highlight the importance of trust and relationships, especially during the strange times we’ve all been facing. These sales also highlight another common theme being the current popularity of properties with plenty of potential.

210 Illawarra Road, Marrickville

Joseph Karam and Jim Nikolopoulos sold 210 Illawarra Road, Marrickville under the hammer for $1.42m. The property was a charming entry level semi with loads of charm as well as great further scope. Joseph comments, “The vendor engaged us because we gave him all the time he needed and any information he requested at all times. To ensure a smooth and transparent auction campaign we came up with a carefully planned strategy and a workable timeline. We made sure we were in constant communication with all parties. This involved providing detailed feedback to the vendor, updating him daily on progress which allowed him to meet the market come auction day. Buyers were also given all of the information they needed to make an educated and confident purchasing decision.

Marrickville has progressed into a trendy neighbourhood thanks to its proximity to the CBD and local café culture. It attracts young couples and professionals who often work in the city and enjoy all amenities within walking distance. This property ticked a lot of boxes for first homebuyers and investors and as such we had 15 contracts issued and eight registered bidders on the day.

We pinpointed who we thought would be the ultimate buyers from the very first open home. They asked all the right questions, were eager to move forward with the sale and had their finances ready. We nurtured the relationship, provided progress on the campaign and ensured we held their interest until auction, confirming their attendance to participate.

Database access to the extensive Cobden & Hayson network allowed us to communicate to as many buyers as possible, leveraging the relationships built through C&H to help our buyers purchase successfully and secure an outstanding result for our vendors.

This sale showed just how important relationships are in our industry, which requires us to stand out in a competitive environment. We focused heavily on servicing our vendor and buyers by building relationships beyond the realm of property, understanding who they are and what they truly want. This level of engagement allows us to build confidence as the experts in the area and instil trust that our advice is genuine.”

17 Janet Street, Russell Lea

Daniel Patterson recently sold 17 Janet Street, Russell Lea, a character-filled Californian bungalow with enormous potential in a premium enclave. Daniel comments, “The owner liked the fact that we could introduce the property to buyers from other areas as well as locally thanks to our vast database network, which was something no other agency could deliver on. They also liked that we could have award-winning Damien Cooley as their auctioneer.

Demand for homes with renovation or knock down potential is particularly strong at the moment – in fact it’s the most in-demand type of property right now. Consequently, Janet Street proved extremely popular, with more than 5000 online views and 17 contacts issued.

We had the majority of local buyers on our database already and they were alerted that the listing was going live before it actually hit the market. We also alerted buyers who weren’t looking directly at Russell Lea but more the surrounding areas, which is how we delivered more buyers to the open homes. The eventual buyer was already on our database and had been looking for 10 years.

To ensure they felt at ease and completely dialled into the campaign right throughout the process, we reported to our vendor daily by phone and issued detailed written reports. Thanks to a well-managed campaign and a great auction with the right buyers who had ample budget to afford the home, we secured a strong result of $2.405m, which really highlights the power of relationships.”

70 O'Connor Street, Haberfield

In a particularly emotional sale, David Carrozza sold 70 O'Connor Street, Haberfield under the hammer. Set in a sought-after pocket of Haberfield, this immaculately maintained Federation home was offered for the first time in 60 years. The generous 578sqm land size and vast untapped potential drew plenty of demand.

“It was a tough time for the vendors as they’d just lost their mother,” says David. “We only had a very short time to get everything prepared for the sale as they wanted to put it on the market in November. The home had been in the family for decades and to get it market-ready we helped out the overwhelmed vendors by lining up tradespeople to refresh the home. They were amazed by the changes and the speed at which it was done.

Throughout the five-week campaign we kept in constant communication with our vendors after each inspection, provided detailed weekly reports and gave advice on how to best prepare the home.

To ensure that we didn’t miss a single buyer we kept every interested party updated with the progress of the sale, even when it came to increasing the guide twice. Given that we had vacant possession of the property, we were showing the home at an array of different times and days to make it easy for buyers.

The response was amazing with 81 inspections, 17 repeat visits and 24 contracts issued. We had strong buyer demand right from the very first open and given that we obtained feedback above our initial guide of $2m, we increased the guide to $2.1m, $2.2m and lastly $2.2m-$2.3m. ·        

The property was sold at auction with fierce competition. I personally went around to each buyer to ensure we had their best offer and made it clear when the property was on the market and that we were selling. The ultimate buyer was an Annandale local helping their parents relocate from interstate, paying in the mid $2m range.

Our competitive advantage was Cobden & Hayson’s great reputation and the fact that we’re completely transparent and a pleasure to deal with. People seem to genuinely feel that we want to help both purchasers and vendors alike to achieve their goals.”

282 Wardell Road, Marrickville

Alex Mastoris and Kate Fitzsimmons recently sold a deceased estate at 282 Wardell Road, Marrickville for $1.562m. A great buying opportunity, this well-presented freestanding home offered an easy start to family life in a great location close to the Cooks River.

Alex comments, “We were engaged to sell the home based on our exposure in the area and our previous results on similar properties. This home was really tired so we arranged a number of trades and a professional stylist to give it a quick makeover so it presented in its best light. We addressed the gardens, repainted inside and out and replaced some cosmetic details.

Transparent communication was really the key in this transaction. The property was unique in that it became a deceased estate part way through the campaign meaning there was a number of parties involved in the final decision. Therefore, clear, honest instructions and feedback were essential to ensure everyone was on the same page.

Given the popularity of the area, the potential of the home and the generous land size, we had a huge 16,391 online views and 25 contracts issued. However, while enquiry was strong, based on the feedback throughout the campaign we didn’t have interested buyers at the top end of our expectations so we readjusted the campaign by pushing the auction out by two weeks. We paired this with displaying the price guide which seemed to open up the property to those who may have disregarded it thinking it wasn’t within their budget. There is definitely a strong buyer pool out there, it’s just a matter of correct timing and pricing.

One of the challenges we had to combat was that we were on a main road directly opposite a service station. This is where the presentation of the property was a big factor, helping to create a feeling and an emotional attachment which enhanced the results. Listening to buyer feedback and making appropriate decisions based on this feedback also really helped to drive this campaign forward.

Planning also makes all the difference. Rushing a property to market doesn’t do it justice. Take the appropriate time to prepare it and showcase it to its best potential. This is where we can really help because we know how to turn properties around really efficiently.”

Buyer work

It’s what we do behind the scenes all day every day that matters most 

At Cobden & Hayson we know what it takes to help you through the buying process. We conduct weekend, mid-week and private inspections to ensure potential buyers can view a property at a time that suits them. At C&H we have a centralised database shared between five office locations with an avg of 600 new buyer’s being entered each week. We inform eager buyers of the freshest new property listings through email, text or a phone call providing them with an opportunity to view a property before it’s listed on public real estate portals. We build close relationships with buyers with our aim being to link them with their ideal new home all the while providing them with accurate area information, so each buyer can make a smart buying decision. If you’re looking to buy, we’d love to help you today.