Sydney homes with architectural or design merit are often snapped up quickly by the market, with the power to encourage buyers to expand their shortlisted suburbs. 

The sale of 1/101 Milson Road Cremorne Point is testament to that. A one-bedroom apartment nestled in a Federation building of only six homes, it came with extra je-ne-sais-quoi  thanks to a sleek interior renovation.

Outperform the norm.

The interiors didn’t just present well – they played a role in delivering a premium result, said selling agent Scott Thornton.

“The eventual buyers were downsizers from the Southern Highlands and were after a sea change on the Northern Beaches until they saw this property. Cremorne Point wasn’t on their radar as they had been concentrating their search on homes that offered that more typical beach lifestyle. I think it took them by surprise.”

Most apartments in Federation-era blocks across the Lower North Shore sell well due to their quality, low density, and historic facades, said Scott. “They tend to weather the market’s fluctuations better than some contemporary builds in terms of the prices achieved. This property had somewhat of a superpower because it had been so meticulously designed and upgraded internally as well.”

That was thanks to the home’s owners at the time – one half being the founder of emerging design practice Coffey Hallett. From its travertine kitchen – with an integrated fridge, Perrin&Rowe taps, and Smeg induction cooking – to its luxe bathroom, complete with marble bathtub, the home offered layered luxury at an accessible price point. A venetian-plastered EcoSmart fireplace weighted the living room as a central space of comfort, while custom linen curtains and bespoke cabinetry elevated the quality.

It was perhaps no surprise therefore that the buyers moved fast, with the home selling prior to auction for $1.28 million. “A lot of today’s buyers are more into design and architecture now than they were even five or 10 years ago. I think many of them who came through this home loved the idea of having great design at their fingertips, without having to undertake works or have a larger mortgage attached to it,” Scott added.

Buyers were also attracted to the property’s northwest aspect, original hardwood floors and three-metre-high ceilings. The stroll to the ferry wharf, parks, community pool and shops sweetened its charm and convenience.

Location, location, location.

Many buyers with a specific area in mind as to where they’d love to live have often, rightly so, focused their research into two or three key suburbs. That means that if other postcodes pop up during their search, there’s more work to be done, said Scott.

“With most buyers there is a baseline understanding of the key lifestyle areas – and sometimes even a misconception – about some areas. However, if they’re from the regions or interstate or have been particularly focused on one area, you [as an agent] do spend more time helping them understand the local landscape and community,” he said. 

Key for Scott and the team, therefore, was to not only communicate the value proposition of the property at hand, but what life in this harbourside enclave could be like. “That’s one of the more rewarding parts because you get to help them discover what their life would be like if they lived there. You’re sometimes the first person they get their understanding from, which is a responsibility not to be taken for granted.”

Key takeaway:

By the same token, plenty of the prospective buyers were very familiar with Cremorne Point and the Lower North Shore – many of them hailing from the Eastern Suburbs, Inner West and Inner City in pursuit of value.

Scott shared this was reflective of a wider buyer trend. “The current economic state has seen more buyers cast the net wider of where they’re looking for property. That’s a positive because it gives them more choice and options to find something great within their budget. It’s also good for sellers because essentially you have a new generation of buyers who will more often than not, follow a great opportunity more so than a postcode.”

Even more so when it’s built to last – inside and out.