The start of a new year is always an exciting time for real estate agents – we get to start with a clean slate, a fresh energy and the opportunity to reinvent ourselves. It’s an exceptional time for setting new goals, reassessing strategies, devising new systems and processes and planning for a more successful year than the last.

If you have been in the market for a new home over the past few years, there is no way you would have escaped the frustration of property ads that don’t have a price guide. Properties are being marketed without a price and with instructions for interested parties to ‘contact agent’. Even if you haven’t experienced this as a buyer, you would, as an agent, have seen countless listings that protect the price and put the ownness on the buyer to seek price information. While the method of withholding price has become all too common and has been deemed a strategy designed to avoid putting a ceiling on the price and achieving top dollar, but does it accomplish that in a market that has so much access to sale data and so many tools that can reveal a property’s value to a certain extent?

At Holmes Auctions, we are delighted to share some wonderful news from our community. Our esteemed auctioneer, Trevor Tippett, and his wife Stefanie have welcomed a new arrival to their family. On 24th May 2024, Maisie Ellen Tippett was born, weighing a healthy 7 pounds 2 ounces.

When it comes to real estate, property and auctions, bigger doesn't always mean better. While some companies boast a large number of auctioneers, it's the quality of service and results that truly matter. This is where Holmes Auctions shines brightly in the industry, proving that success isn't measured by the size of the team, but by the dedication, expertise, and passion for what they do…

Recently, Holmes Auctions, renowned for its exceptional service and remarkable achievements, added another unique and exciting chapter to its success story. This time, the spotlight shone on Trevor Tippett, the seasoned Holmes auctioneer whose expertise and finesse led to the successful sale of Gold Coast influencer, Darling Shine podcaster, Covergirl collaborator and model, Ellidy Pullin’s Elanora home.

Navigating lowball offers prior to an auction can be a delicate dance for any real estate agent. It's a scenario that often tests their negotiation skills and strategic thinking. As an agent conducting an auction campaign, I approach these situations with a clear mindset: I'm not just looking for a quick buyer or any buyer; I'm searching for the best buyer.

As the calendar turns to a new year, the collective aspiration for self-improvement permeates both personal and professional spheres. For real estate agents looking to revamp their approach and thrive in the ever-changing property market, this sentiment of 'New Year, New Me' extends into the realm of innovative strategies, particularly the use of property auctions.

October 28th marked an extraordinary chapter in the journey of our modest team as David Holmes proudly clinched the highly coveted title of Auctioneer of the Year for 2023 for the second time (first being in 2021), awarded by the Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ). In a fiercely competitive realm, this victory is not just a personal achievement but a testament to the dedication, skill, and teamwork that define our approach to auctioneering.

Anybody that has watched a competitive cooking show on tv knows that using quality ingredients can be the difference between creating a winning dish and falling by the wayside. It is drilled into us by the judges and the mentors throughout the process, that fresh, high-quality ingredients are the secret to any master chef! But did you know that same concept applies to cooking up auction success?

Did you know that this is one of my absolute favourite times of year. The weather is heating up, the birds are chirping, flowers are blossoming, real estate listings are becoming more plentiful, and we get to sit back and enjoy a few frothies as we watch the footy finals. As an avid Hawthorn fan, I have been left a little disappointed this season, but the competition must go on and there is great footy yet to come as we race towards the big dance. I must admit, one thing that has always intrigued me about AFL players and about elite athletes for that matter is their commitment to their game day rituals which appear to have such an abundant impact on their mental state, positioning them for success. I assume you would have heard how the old left sock and boot on first? This is a pretty stock, standard ritual for countless footy players before a game, while others have more elaborate or unique preparation routines – most seem to have some kind of superstitious process as they prepare to compete.

If you have read any of my previous articles, you will have figured out that I am all about the auction process. I mean, I am an auctioneer after all. There is just something about a well-executed auction campaign that floats my boat. As a selling strategy, you can’t go past the distinct timeframe or deadline, the security offered to sellers, the hype amongst the buyers and the adrenalin rush for everyone in the crowd as the hammer drops on another sold auction result. But what I haven’t talked much about in the past is how auction success really is contingent on the agent positioning the property correctly in the marketplace. That is not just in terms of managing the sellers’ expectations throughout the rollercoaster of a campaign, but also understanding the buyer that will essentially be willing to fight tooth and nail to secure the property.

We have experienced some of the most tumultuous and rapidly shifting markets across the country throughout the past two years. The pandemic brought with it exponential growth in terms of buyer demand and property prices, turning the industry on its head. Yet fast forward to the new financial year and the record prices, the rapid sales and the influx of activity across all aspects of the market have certainly started to level out and we now look forward in anticipation as to what we can expect from the next 12 months.