RE/MAX agent Claire Uttley has blown the Bribie Island record sale price out of the water with the sale of a Seaside Drive, Banksia Beach home this month, surpassing the existing Island record by almost $2million.
Claire lives on Bribie Island and was very familiar with its unique property market, but it was her initiative in bringing a focus to the island’s premier homes that gained her the listing of the truly stunning Kwilena.
“I have a strong network of buyer agents and invited a group of them to come to Bribie Island and look at some of the upper-end properties after I’d made contact with agents who had good listings in that top level.”
As it happened, one of buyer’s agents, Ryan Haller from Cohen Handler, introduced Kwilena’s owner to her.
“We were in the street and it turned out that he was thinking about selling. I’m so thankful to Ryan,” Claire said.
The homeowner agreed to a meeting but told her firmly ‘don’t show me any paperwork, no glitz, just come for a chat and don’t bring anything with you’.
“I had to commit everything to memory – market information, facts, figures, what’s on the market, previous sales and so on. I had to completely focus on listening to him and taking in what he wanted.
“I realised his whole decision to have me on board as the listing agent was based on trust.”
The total marketing budget was around $20,000, but it had to be negotiated.
“Initially, it was a very moderate expenditure, especially in relation to the property,” explained Claire. “The vendor was not a fan of print media and wouldn’t agree to any originally; plus, being a ‘smart home’ of the highest order, the marketing would be tech-based.”
She hired a social media company to manage the campaign.
“I was strongly looking at the international market but with COVID restrictions in play, changed the focus to intrastate. Once we heard ‘the gates are open’ announcements come through, we really stepped up the focus.”
She said really working the data coming from the social media campaign, and using that to best direct retargeting campaigns, contributed to overall success.
When marketing the property, Claire said ‘Kwilena will make a significant mark in real estate history that you do not want to miss’. The new owners, from New South Wales, ensured they became part of that history.
“My whole amazing team continually helped me with open homes and behind the scenes work, including four of them – Brianna Howe, George Hayes Walsh, Brianna Wereszczuk and Mitchell Day – featuring in my video.
“I’d also like to mention others like agents Ming Body and Rob Levy, and buyer’s agents Klein Hunter, and, of course, Ryan who well-deserved his referral fee.”
Of the four biggest Bribie Island sales since 26 May 2020, being $1.95million, $1.85 million, $2.1 million and this record sale, Claire Uttley from RE/MAX Advanced has sold three of them. All were waterfront, two-storey homes with four or five bedrooms, and pool.
Claire has since picked up a similar listing in the street for what may well be her next record sale.
Contacts for media:
Claire Uttley, RE/MAX Advanced – M. 0413 469 993
Lyn Cox, RE/MAX Public Relations – M. + 61 418 793 096
About RE/MAX: From a single office that opened in 1973 in Denver, Colorado, RE/MAX has grown into a global real estate network with more than 134,000 sales associates in more than 110 countries and territories. Its entrepreneurial culture affords its agents and franchisees the flexibility to operate their businesses with great independence.