A slower market requires strategic decisions in Phillip Island.

The power of wise advice, trusted agent collaboration, and strategic pricing.

When a Private Wealth Adviser from Geelong reached out to us, he’d never worked with Industry Insider Property before. However, he trusted his client’s referral, and that trust proved to be a great decision!

The property, located at 70 The Esplanade, Sunderland Bay, was a much-loved holiday home owned by a couple in their 70s and 80s since the 1990s. This wasn’t just a home. It was the keeper of 30+ years of memories. So, when it came time to sell, they sought independent guidance to ensure everything was handled with care.

But there was one challenge:
Over 420 homes were listed for sale across Phillip Island and San Remo at the time.
The market was slow. Interest rates were high. Days on the market had stretched beyond 90. And recent land tax changes and tenancy reforms were spooking investors.

Step 1: The Right Agent, Backed by the Right Strategy!

We interviewed three local agents and chose to work with Kristina Walters from OBrien Real Estate. Her experience, local knowledge and ability to collaborate made her the right choice in our eyes.

We then added layers to the campaign that most vendors don’t consider:

• Showcased recent upgrades like a $60,000 deck and roof.
• Commissioned draft plans for a side-by-side development from Adrian at Barn House (a local professional builder)
• Targeted a broader buyer pool, from lifestyle owners to investors
  
  

Step 2: Patience, Timing and a Strategic Play

Low offers of $900,000 and $950,000 were submitted and declined during the campaign. Following the rate cut in May, buyer activity gradually increased. One buyer submitted an offer of $930K, which was negotiated up to $980K. However, one of our vendors would have accepted $980,000. As a vendor advocate, I read the play and advised our clients to counter-sign at $1,050,000. At the same time, we repositioned the online advertised price range – $1,000,000-$1,050,000

This was a calculated move to:

• Apply subtle pressure on the original buyer.
• Reignite competition.
• Draw in fresh enquiry.

It worked.

Step 3: The Buyer Interest spiked.

Three days later, we had three competing offers.

The final buyer?

• Original $930,000 buyer, Increased to $1.010M and went unconditional.
• We had two other offers, one at $1,000,000 and another at the end sale price, but they had conditions attached.

We secured the right price, the right terms, and the right buyer in a market many thought was “too slow to sell.”

Why It Mattered.

This was more than just a sale. Our clients were emotional after signing the contract, and this was understandable. They were also over the moon with the outcome. They leaned on us throughout the process, trusted our advice, and we helped them move on with clarity and confidence.

Take a look at our blog about how we helped our clients sell their family home in Toorak! 

Final Word

Vendor advocacy isn’t about replacing agents.

It’s about elevating the process and ensuring vendors are protected, informed, and represented independently from start to finish.

If you’re a professional adviser with clients considering selling, or you’re a homeowner unsure of your next steps, let’s chat. Or visit this page to learn more about our Vendor Advocacy Service.

I’m Andrew Date from Industry Insider Property.

Our clients consistently say we’re the best decision they made in their property journey. Read our reviews on LinkedIn and Google to see why.

Industry Insider Property
Level 3, 489 Toorak Road, Toorak 3142
+613 8374 7652
+613 402 346 810
industryinsider.com.au