As humans, we seem to always want what we can’t have. It’s not until it’s gone that we realize how much we actually wanted it.

I was reminded of this today when a bidder who was only thousands of dollars away from securing their new home, said "No - I think we’ll leave it for now. We might just wait”.

I politely asked what it was that they might be waiting for. The answer - “not really sure but there don’t seem to be any other bidders, so we might just wait”

Although it is always the buyer's choice if they buy and what they pay, it struck me that if there happened to be other bidders competing for the home they would have paid tens of thousands more but because they were unopposed, they chose to let it go.

If this story sounds counterintuitive to you, it did to me too. I said to them that the cards had fallen in their favour and why would you wait for competition before you buy?

Rightly or wrongly they chose to pass. It got me thinking though - buying real estate can be a game of luck. Sometimes buyers jump onto an auction unexpectedly or they pull out. But if you are there, you’re confident of the property, its value, and your own ability to buy, you’re in the box seat if ever you get a chance to negotiate one on one directly with the owner.

So the advice from an expert - Be prepared. Attend the auction knowing what you are capable of spending and what you are comfortable spending. Research the property’s likely value based on other recent sales. And finally - make sure you are holding the highest bid. If the property is passed in to you, the agent is legally bound to negotiate with you and you alone immediately after the auction. This can block out other would-be buyers who chose not to put their hand up or who were outbid.

The market is opening up as we enter spring and is providing buyers with more choice than they’ve had in months if not years. Certainly, research before you buy but importantly - be ready to act.

If you’re looking for help in buying or selling a property, the team at Barry Plant are ready to assist. It’s what we do. After all, we’re just people helping people when they’re ready to make a move!

Please see below our impressive sales for the week!

• 9 Belvoir Street, Doncaster East sold for $4,250,000
• 3/33 Kireep Road, Balwyn sold for $2,000,000
• 23 Melissa Street, Donvale sold for $1,501,000
• 3 Otway Court, Doncaster East sold for $1,290,000
• 145 Ayr Street, Doncaster sold for $1,289,000
• 48 Bemboka Road, Croydon Hills sold for $1,180,000
• 19A Powers Street, Donvale sold for $1,150,000
• 5 Royston Street, Viewbank sold for $1,101,000
• 1/100 Diamond Creek Road, Greensborough sold for $902,000
• 46 Weidlich Road, Eltham North sold for $868,888
• 4/420 Church Road, Templestowe sold for $820,000
• 3/7 James Street, Heidelberg Heights sold for $690,000
• 3/2 Fernside Avenue, Briar Hill sold for $670,000
• 4/63 Patterson Street, Ringwood East sold for $545,000
• 913/18 Mt Alexander Road, Travancore sold for $451,000
• 15 Rasmussen Drive, Templestowe sold!
• 12 Kelly Street, Diamond Creek sold!
• 4/25 Barnsbury Road, Deepdene sold!

Currently under offer and will be sold soon:

• 79 Jolimont Road, Forest Hill
• 306/202 Surrey Road, Blackburn
• 218/2 Golding Street, Hawthorn
• 2/1-3 Grenville Street, Box Hill North
• 3/8 Hopetown Street, Mitcham
• 1/136 Parker Street, Templestowe
• 2/22 Sunhill Road, Templestowe Lower
• 303/9 Red Hill Terrace, Doncaster East
• 46 Greenslopes Drive, Mooroolbark
• 404/600 Doncaster Road, Doncaster
• 9 Streeton Lane, Doncaster East
• 4/420 Church Road, Templestowe
• 112/210 Reynolds Road, Doncaster East
• 2/5 Bayley Grove, Doncaster
• 4/258 Wonga Road, Warranwood
• 9 Peakview Drive, Viewbank
• 603/120 Burgundy Street, Heidelberg
• 35 Pyalong Avenue, Rosanna
• 123 Stewart Street, Brunswick East
• 17 Arthur Street, Bundoora
• 14 Helene Street, Eltham
• 48 Broad Gully Road, Diamond Creek
• 1280 Heidelberg-Kinglake Road, Cottles Bridge

Spiro Drossos

Managing Director

Barry Plant Eastern Group