Auction Stalled at $1.62m… Then Everything Changed.
- Nish Jadav
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
The bidding was steady. Confident. Then it slowed.
A pause for negotiation. Another bid. And then… silence.
The auction sat at $1.62m — already well above the $1.475m CV — but short of where the real momentum of the campaign had been building.
For some sellers, that moment feels like the market has spoken.
For us, it felt like the moment everything could change.
A Home 35 Years in the Making
3 Seaford Place wasn’t just another listing.
Our vendors had built this home 35 years ago. Every level, every decision, every staircase reflected a chapter of their family life. Positioned proudly on an elevated site in tightly held Murrays Bay, it had light, presence and scale — the kind of home that rarely comes up first-time-to-market.
But from day one, we knew one thing: This home wouldn’t suit everybody.
The Features That Divided the Market
Multiple levels. Multiple staircases. Distinct separation between living spaces.
Some buyers saw character, flexibility and space for teenagers or extended family.
Others saw… cardio.
When a property is polarising, the worst thing you can do is shrink your audience. So we did the opposite.
Instead of trying to find “the perfect buyer,” we created a campaign that drew in as many buyers as possible — and let competition filter naturally.
We leaned into:
The elevated position
The generous proportions
The privacy and outlook
The premium coastal location
The in-zone schooling
And the rarity of a 35-year hold
Over the campaign, more than 80 buyer groups came through the open homes.
That volume matters. Because buyer psychology shifts when people see other people interested. Scarcity becomes real. Urgency builds quietly.
And that energy doesn’t disappear just because the hammer pauses.
When the Hammer Didn’t Fall
Auction day delivered genuine bidding.
But when it stalled at $1.62m, we knew something crucial: There were still buyers emotionally invested.
And that’s the part many sellers misunderstand — auction day isn’t just about the highest bid in the room. It’s about the depth of buyer engagement behind it.
So we moved quickly.
Within days, we re-engaged every interested party. We clarified position. We structured a multiple-offer process that created transparency and decisiveness.
No guesswork. No drifting negotiations.
Just clear terms and a level playing field.
The result?
Sold for $1.84m.
That’s $220,000 above where the auction paused — and $365,000 above CV.
Not luck. Not timing. Strategy.
And Then Came the Curveball
Just as we were ready to declare the job done, a compliance wrinkle surfaced.
Years earlier, a fireplace had been removed. No Code Compliance Certificate had been issued at the time. Not an issue by any stretch of the imagination - 9 times out of 10, a purchaser wouldn't care.
But this purchaser required warranties for the LIM to be rectified before it could go unconditional.
Council processes can stall momentum.Conditions can create nerves.And time can quietly erode confidence.
So we didn’t wait.
We engaged directly with council, followed the matter through proactively, and resolved it within three working days — a process that can take significantly longer when handled without guidance.
Condition satisfied. Contract unconditional. Deal secure.
The Real Outcome
Yes, the numbers were strong.
Sold: $1.84m CV: $1.475m Interest: 80+ buyer groups
But the real outcome was bigger than that:
Our vendors closed a 35-year chapter feeling confident they had left nothing on the table.
The buyers secured a substantial family home in a premium North Shore location, in-zone for sought-after schooling.
And a home that “wasn’t for everyone” found exactly the right new owners.
Every property has variables.
Some have multiple staircases. Some have compliance quirks. Some stall at auction.
The difference isn’t whether challenges exist. It’s how they’re handled.
Don't leave anything to chance when it comes to selling your home. Strategy, knowledge, and diligence matters. Call in the experts - let's have that conversation.
Because sometimes, the moment everything goes quiet…
…is exactly when everything changes.
About Nish & Charlotte
Nish Jadav and Charlotte Goudge are North Shore property specialists known for strategic campaigns, calm negotiation, and a hands-on approach when it matters most. From first-time-on-the-market homes to complex, multi-layered sales, they focus on one thing — creating the right competition and protecting their clients’ position at every stage.
They believe great results don’t happen by accident. They’re built through preparation, psychology, and knowing when to pivot.
If you’re considering selling — even if your home feels “a little different” — a strategy conversation could be the difference.
📞 Nish Jadav — 021 565 124
📞 Charlotte Goudge — 020 410 34267
Let’s talk about what your next chapter could look like.
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