Belle of the Ball

Last week was the first annual Belle Property Belle of the Ball awards night.  It was a black tie event with live music and dinner- and a great chance to meet all the Belle agents/staff from all over Australasia!

Our office did really well- 5th over all office, top principal (Tim Foote), and Mark Jackson (my boss) won top sales agent.  Looks like I will be learning from 2 of the best in the business- not a bad start to my real estate career.

Our table- Sally, me and Tatiana

Our team- Tatiana, Mark and me- with Mark's #1 agent award

Sandor was the MC for the event- he is also our Auctioneer (and works across the cube from me)

Mark, Emily and I- Emily is also from the US (San Francisco)- she married an Australian and never left.. we have a little bit in common ;)

A few people from our office.. on the dance floor- toward the end of the night (but before the casino)!

Dan's New Gig

So, its official... Dan got a promotion! 

Fitness First has been going through big changes- restructuring, cutting down on staff, and changing the way they do business.  Its been sort of a crazy couple of months for Dan in the work department... lots of uncertainty- as they were deciding who to let go.  Dan's been doing a great job- and has been actively involved in implementing some of these changes, so he wasn't too worried about losing a job- but his position was changed.. which forced him to step out of his comfort zone- and interview for a more senior position.  After several interviews- he made it through- and is now the new National Sales Strategy Manager (he was previously Area Sales Manager).  Woo hoo!  Bug and I are so proud of our man!

We were supposed to go out and celebrate- but unfortunately Dan came down with food poisoning (again! twice in 2 years.. ) .  He is on the mend today- so we might go out this weekend and cheers to his new role.

High Fives Dan Newton!

After the Sneaky Sound System Concert - at the Manly Surfing Open

Dyllan trying on Dan's Fitness First shirt

"Umm, Dad, great job on the promotion and all, but the focus is still on me"

Dreaming Big!

Celebration time

A Living Social Valentines Day

This year was my turn to plan Valentines day- Dan did such a great job last year, so this year I was determine to make it special.

I was sick on the Monday (week before Valentines day)- and while laying in bed with a sore throat, fever and wild toddler running around wild with a black sharpie (thats another story..)- I decided I needed to just book something before it got too late.  Lucky for me- in that instance I got an email from none other than living social.  The daily deal was perfect- Tapas for 2 with a bottle of wine for only $29- at a restaurant called Vue in Bondi (where Dan works)!  So I purchased it instantly- and called up to make our Valentines Day reservations.  Of course they told me they were all booked up for their Living Social vouchers on Valentines Day.. but after a little negotiating- we made a deal that if we arrived by 6pm and were done by 7:30pm we could come... phew!  We are losers early birds anyway- and that time was actually perfect.

It was a great night- food was amazing, view spectacular, and we had a ball people watching all the lovey dovey couples down on Bondi Beach with picnic baskets and blankets.. bean bag chairs on the lawn, guys with big bouquets of flowers walking home from work... we were surrounded by awkward first (or second) dates.. fake laughs, too much cologne, and romantic candles and music...

After dinner we walked over to Smooch for a frozen yogurt before heading home....what a perfect night.

Under the Hammer

"Sydney, Australia is the only place in the world where the majority of homes are sold at auction. It's an extraordinary, emotionally-charged event: for some exhilarating as prices soar on the auction floor; for others fraught with fear and anxiety as their homes and lives go under the hammer." Frank Davis
 

Saturday I got to experience my first live auction- as we sold our listing under the hammer.  It was so exciting!  We had a 4 week marketing campaign + 4 weeks of open for inspections (OFI's) twice a week leading up to the auction.  By auction day we were able to gather a crowd of about 60 people, with 2 registered bidders- not bad considering this was the 3rd time this property had been listed.. with no result.  


Our strategy was different- we had the property professionally staged (which makes a HUGE difference especially in photos) and priced the property according to market value (another massive difference from before)- and the end goal was to sell it at auction.  Auctions are great if excitement is generated, the seller is motivated, and the property is priced to sell.  Otherwise you are just setting yourself up for an embarrassing situation... no one bidding.  


Luckily we were able to drum up a ton of interest- a few hundred people came through over the past 4 weeks- a few people were genuinely interested- which lead to 2 registered bidders- and only 1 who was actually close to the reserve price (the minimum price the sellers would sell it for).


The reserve in this case was set at $2,500,000.  The opening bid was $2,100,000.  The second bidder came in at $2,200,000... then silence... Sandro (our auctioneer) talked up the house, location, and opportunity...and silence... so we brought the highest bidder downstairs.. showed them the reserve letter- and explained that if he wanted this property he needed to increase his bid substantially.  Meanwhile we went to talk to the owners (who were waiting outside on the porch) and see if we could get them to budge on their reserve.  Mark was able to get them to agree on accepting $2,450,000.  He then encouraged the bidder to bid $250,000 over himself - which won him the property!  Contracts were signed, a few tears were shed.. we stuck up a big sold sticker on the sign... and off we went to our next open house... our 3rd of 5 for the day!  


Whew.. a crazy day to say the least.. but very eventful and so exciting!  I think I like this whole auction thing.. in, out, sold, and onto the next one. 


Next week will be even crazy/exciting/eventful.. next week we have 2 auctions- and 5 open for inspections.. All in one day.  Quite different from America- where you sit at one open house for 3 hours.. only to have your prospective buyers meander through the first 10 min you are open or the last 5 min as you are closing up.

Australian Open of Surfing

 This past weekend and next Manly is hosting the Australian Open of Surfing.  Its been QUITE the scene down there.  People packed on the beach, grandstands, clothing shops in tents, (free) live music, kettle corn... and surfers of all ages, and levels EVERYWHERE to watch and participate.  Sunday we ventured down to Manly to check out the scene...

Main stage for the concerts next weekend- looking forward to seeing Sneaky Sound System play on Friday night!

Dad and Dyllan checking out the surf heats

On the way home- Mrs. Bug kicked up her heels and enjoyed the ride with sushi and a cool drink - not bad while dad pushed her up the hill

Um, Dyllan no longer likes to ride IN her stroller.. the view is much better on top!

A cute little puppy we met down at the beach.. and guess what her name is .... MYLO!!

I can always make you smile :)

She can always make us smile!

Thought this was interesting.. saw it on a friends Facebook- and did the test myself
I got thoughtful, passionate, wrestles, and secure.. what are the first 4 words you see?!

A walk around Watson's Bay

Last weekend Dan, Dyllan and I woke up early and headed over to Watson's bay to check out the beaches and walk the trails.  Dan has been meeting a co-worker every Wednesday morning at a place called Parsley Bay (pictured below where Dan and Dyllan go swimming)- and has been talking about how pretty it is- so we decided to venture across the harbor bridge, make a pitt stop at Starbucks (thanks to the Thorsvigs for our Starbucks Christmas gift cards!!) and spend the morning exploring. 

Weekends we love to get out and see new places.  We rarely stay home past 8am - usually because we can't stop snacking and never get going if we don't get out right away.  Also our house is just a little too small right now to all do our own things- if we are all up- that means we are all in one spot- the couch or the kitchen.  

It was fun seeing Watson's Bay- and we decided this was one place that makes the short list for Dad and Tatyana's visit in just 3 short weeks (to the day) from today!  

Dyllan has to stop at every park and play!

Dad!  I wanna be a monkey too!

Dyllan Monkey!

Sunshine on the headland

Lighthouse on the headland

Headland (dont know what one?!)

Watsons' bay.  Loved all the little row boats on the shore!

The 3 of us sitting on the dock of the bay

Just a casual water polo game in the bay.. awesome!

3 hats watching the polo 

Doyles - fish and chips

view from our walk

Parsley Bay- where Dan goes swimming on Wednesdays

Back to the water polo game.. pictures got out of order..

Parsley Bay bridge

I loved this building.. reminds me of the 70's