..the pre-Christmas Rush is on!

With only two more weekends left for the year until Melbourne’s auctions take a break for nine weeks, there is a feel of motivation (and in some cases, desperation) in the air. Some buyers have been searching for weeks, some for months, and we recently met someone who had been searching for a year.

Buyers want to buy before Christmas to know that the job is now done.

It’s no surprise that this week we had four auctions scheduled for our clients. Agents are bringing 2015 to a final close and this weekend and next weekend (15th) are jam-packed and action-fueled for most. While we anticipated the pre-Christmas rush effect, we underestimated the strength of this motivation for two properties in particular.

One of our campaigns took a turn on Wednesday when we received a call from the agent who’s listing had been ear-marked for auction only. We understood the request – this vendor wanted to see the property progress through to auction. Another advocate’s strong pre-auction offer in the face of the request had firmly placed this stunning Yarraville property on the market however, and so it was to be sold the next day to the highest bidder. We went into battle and secured this beauty for our happy clients.

With one down and three to go, our Saturday promised some excitement.

A fabulous two-story property in Campbell St Coburg suited our buyers down to the ground. With two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a study and a fantastic off-street-carport at the rear for two cars, we expected competition.

And competition we got; from buyers and another advocate.

But not enough for us to miss out. We proudly secured this gem at 10.15am.

The next two properties were back in Yarraville; each at either end of the spectrum. A beautifully renovated period family home in Cuming St near the primary school, and a gloriously light-filled one bedroom unit with courtyard on the Seddon-side of the Village.

Competition was keen at both. Disappointingly we missed out, but some things are not meant to be.

Cuming St sold for $1.215M to another advocate, while Stephen St sold for $487K to a brave young bidder who managed to fight off two advocates to secure her dream home while her supportive Dad stood by her side.

Christmas sets a tough deadline, every year.

But 2015 has been full-throttle all the way to the finish line.

Buyers will find that January will be even tougher. Limited new stock (if any), agents taking a much needed break, competing buyers who are increasingly frustrated from a fast-paced 2015 and unrelenting pressure from other buyers throughout this low-interest-rate period means that there is no easy opportunity on the horizon.

Off-market help, strong agent relationships and a preparedness to move fast with due diligence and a purchase decision is the only way for buyers.