A Styling & Strategy Success Story

When the owner of 9 Sands Avenue, Noosaville, asked our advice on selling, we first set about identifying the buyers most likely to see the greatest value in the property. We felt selling with vacant possession would give us the best chance of a strong result, allowing both owner-occupiers and investors to consider it. We had been managing the property as a rental, and with the lease coming to an end, the owner chose not to renew it. Once the tenants had moved out, we styled the home and launched an auction campaign designed to bring those buyers together.

The property sold for $1,600,000, with 32 days from campaign launch to contract. Although it passed in at auction, it sold the following week with multiple offers competing.

Presentation with a purpose

Styling helped buyers understand how the spaces worked and picture themselves living in the home. Vacant possession also gave us flexibility around inspections and allowed us to maintain the presentation throughout the campaign.

The aim was to make the property appeal to a wider group of buyers. Owner-occupiers could consider moving in, while investors could assess the home without an existing tenancy in place.

Presentation and strategy worked together: prepare the home for the buyers we wanted to attract, then give them a clear opportunity to inspect it and make a decision.

The auction was a step in the process

An auction campaign gave interested buyers a date to work towards and brought their interest together within a defined timeframe.

The property passed in on auction day, but negotiations continued. The following week, multiple offers created a competitive negotiating environment and the property sold.

This is why I assess an auction campaign by the whole process, rather than the result on the day alone. In this case, the buyers attracted during the campaign remained interested, and that interest carried through into the negotiations afterwards.

Putting the result in context

Four months earlier, a similar property two doors away had sold off-market for $1,460,000 while tenanted. Our sale was $140,000 higher.

There was an important difference: 9 Sands Avenue had a pool. The sales also took place four months apart, so the price difference cannot be attributed entirely to styling or the sales strategy.

The nearby sale nevertheless provided a useful local reference point. Our campaign tested what buyers were prepared to pay for 9 Sands Avenue with vacant possession, professional styling and broader market exposure.

A plan suited to the property

For this sale, the decisions about vacant possession, styling and an auction campaign were connected. Each formed part of a plan based on who was likely to buy the property and how we could best present it to them.

When the home didn’t sell on auction day, we continued working with the buyers the campaign had attracted. The result was a sale in 32 days, with competing offers and a price of $1,600,000.

If you’re considering selling in Noosa, I’m happy to talk through which improvements are worth making and how a clear selling strategy could work for your property.

Watch the video about 9 Sands Avenue, Noosaville