Our Sale of 13 Caithness Crescent, Glen Waverley

Elsewhere we explain the process as to our plans to downsize and the necessity of selling our much loved home of 23 years.  We had completed the purchase of our new home and effected settlement and commenced the design and process regarding the project management.   

In July we holiday in the top end in Northern Australia firstly Uluru and then to Alice Springs before flying to Darwin where we commenced a wonderful holiday with APT travelling through the Kimberley's to Broome.  Upon our return home we approached our agent with the proposal to sell by Auction with a timeline of 29th August, 2015.  This was with the objective of achieving a quick sale given the booming market conditions and the frenetic buying behaviour of Chinese owners and investors.  This involved preparation and "dressing" of our home by design consultants and the removal into storage of quite a bit of our furniture.  It was more than uncluttering, but the house was beautifully presented when the first opening occurred.  We had an excellent result of some 22 couples and parties through in the first presentation. 

Merelyn commented that a number were neighbours and window shoppers, but her expectations as to the type of person and the general value was confirmed.  She commented that the wonderful views and the size and variety of the rooms were the selling points.  But she also cautioned that this was an unusual property with the stairs and large garden.  So we waited and waited through another 4 openings and we were subsequently advised that we had 5 firm offers, but only 2 in the range that she would want to sell it at.  There was then a period of uncertainty and reflection as we waited for guidance from Merelyn, but one of the keen buyers has dropped out, two others have entered the race, but with undefined offers and there is one very keen person, who has travelled back to China.  She is an Australian / Chinese resident who is marrying a Chinese national from Shanghai in February 2016.  Merelyn will put an offer / proposal to her on her return. 

We also reinforced our desire to rent the property and only have one move.  That of course is secondary to a sale at the best price. 

Time passed and despite further openings, we heard nothing from Merelyn or her offsiders as to progress, and without being apprehensive we hoped for a quick result. 

On Monday night , some 12 days prior to the Auction date we received a telephone call from Merelyn wanting to review and discuss our strategy and approach, because we had some issues.  We agreed, but were somewhat disheartened and waited the tine for the scheduled meeting at 6.30pm.  Merelyn arrived and appreciated that we were nervous, then went through recent events before producing a signed unconditional contract for an amount above and beyond our wildest dreams.  

We celebrated with champagne and can only describe a sense of relief. It means that we can now progress and finalise design plans and be quite relaxed. 

Subsequently, we negotiated a lease from settlement date of 8 December, 2015 through to 8 May 2016 by which time we hope to have our new home constructed and ready for occupancy.

This is a great result, delighted with the sale process and the ending price consequence as well as the ability to achieve a long lease which means we will only have the one move.