Page 35 - Tropic Magazine Issue 223

TROPIC • REAL ESTATE

Agent’s view

Nicholas Slatyer
Belle Property Cairns

Wow. What a difference a week… or nights in our holiday properties – make career can make some magic happen. It
a day… makes at the moment. Renae of that what you will but it seems like is hard to say whether it is their ability
and I ducked off to Bali for a short we might get some people riding out to keep an open mind, unjaded by years
break in early March. At that time, we the storm here rather than a heavily of ups and downs (putting it politely),
obviously knew the virus was spreading populated area. or just sheer enthusiasm. I suspect it’s
but there were no reported cases in likely a combination of both. Alison
Indonesia, and we felt the risk was The perfect scenario for a lot of sellers is Western has just shifted to sales
relatively minimal. There was certainly an “off market” sale. Limited marketing after years of being our new business
no Government advice to not travel. I expense, no chance of over-exposure manager for rental properties and she
wrote this update originally on the 12th and a much less intrusive process. One just hit one out of the park! She listed
of March poolside from the hotel. My a house for sale in Redlynch, three
tone was very buoyant as we had a great doors down from a basically identical
start to 2020. I’m re-writing now as the property (same builder, same age, same
consequences of coronavirus are being The perfect scenario for configuration) that had just sold for
felt in Cairns incredibly quickly. I have a lot of sellers is an $455,000. We had spoken to the selling
never seen such a dramatic change in agent for that property who said it
sentiment as we have in such a short “off market” sale took three months and was pretty hard
space of time. For us, it felt like the tap Nicholas Slatyer, work. In just over a week, Alison had
was simply turned off. Not like the GFC Belle Property a quick, cash contract for $485,000.
where we saw a dramatic slowdown, Cairns A great recommendation for (as we
this is a different thing altogether. always recommend) playing for the
It feels like a huge weather event is of the benefits we have of specialising strong price at the beginning of
coming more than a financial one. in a particular part of the market is a campaign.
Consequences are similar but maybe we meet a lot of buyers looking for Realestate.com.au is able to give
the recovery is quicker. different versions of what we have for great stats on agent and agency
I have no predictions for the next few sale. In the last month, Renae and I performance. I like to understand our
months. My hope is that Australia gets have had sales at $1.4 million, $1.34 marketplace - where are our buyers
on top of the situation quickly, people million and $850,000 for properties coming from, what marketing did they
take it seriously and some version of that weren’t formally marketed. A real see, along with our position in it. Renae
“back to normal” happens soon. win/win for everyone. and I sold 44 properties in the last year
If that ends up being the case, domestic There is no doubt that an experienced at a median of $876,000, which I am
tourism surely has to play into our agent brings a lot to the table - happy to say is the highest by some
hands... In the last week we have had especially if a negotiation gets tricky, margin in the region (for anyone selling
three separate bookings of over 20 but a hungry agent just starting their more than 30 properties a year). Our
“little” office is ranked sixth for number
of sales, with 141 last year, which is a
nice result given the number of staff
other offices have.
As always, my phone is on should you
wish to discuss anything at all.

Nicholas Slatyer: 0409 00 22 33
MORE: belleproperty.com/cairns

35 • tropicnow.com.au