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)!

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.

Saturday Opens

Well its been a little over a week now since I started my job- and so far so good!  I think with any new job- the first week can be a bit overwhelming- with all the training, new people, new schedule.. etc.  So I'm glad to have that out of the way.  I have learned a ton so far- and as much as people say "real estate is real estate, its pretty similar everywhere"  I've found that its SO different here.  I think once I learn it- I will actually like it better.  I can't wait for my first Auction (we have 4 auctions on Feb 25th!).  

I am off to drop Mrs. Bug off at daycare now- but wanted to share the 4 open houses we have for Saturday... not a bad place to be if you have to work on a Saturday, huh?!  Anyone interested in moving?!

McMahon's point

North Sydney

Kirribilli

Kirribilli

My New Job at Belle Property

Belle Property Neutral Bay

So, its official.  I am now a working woman!  I start my position as Junior Sales Agent at Belle Property in Neutral Bay tomorrow morning, bright and early, yikes!!  I will be working with one of their top Agents- as his Junior Agent- which is great for me- as I will get a base salary (+commissions) plus I will be learning the ropes from a successful and well established agent.  We went back and forth a bit- and finally agreed on a 4 day/week position - which will give me the flexibility I need to look after Dyllan.
aturday
As soon as I secured my new position at Belle Property- I got an email from my old boss (the plastic surgeon) - asking if I wanted to start back up with him 1 day a week- doing his marketing.  So I agreed to this- and will use my Fridays at home to work for him (plus Dyllan had to be in daycare a min. of two days anyway- so it kind of worked out well).  So our new schedule will be:

Monday: Dyllan and I get to hang out all day
Tuesday:  Dan drops Bug off at Yunny's in the morning before work- I go straight into work (I have training Tuesday mornings at 8am)- and Bug stays the night at Yunny and Lozzo's.
Wednesday:  Dan and I both work while Dyllan does Wacky Wednesday- I pick Dyllan up or she gets dropped off at home in the evening
Thursday: Dyllan goes to "School" (daycare)- She will be a "Dragonfly" at Little Dove down the street
Friday: Dyllan goes to school- and I work from home for the Dr./ get things done like laundry, groceries, etc.. that i'm sure I won't have time for during the week (gonna have to get organized here..)
Saturday:  I work- doing open houses (each open house is only 15 min here- unlike in the US where they are 3 hours!)