Welcome to Behind the Sale (BTS). A new series by BresicWhitney, sharing a look inside recently sold homes across Sydney’s most coveted suburbs. Follow along for the stories behind interesting sales, and tales from the people who make them.

In the private enclave of Kirribilli sat a three-bedroom residence, touted as a ‘waterfront hideaway’. With views over Careening Cove, a never-to-be-built out waterfront vista and scope for a future renovation, it was the first time the home had been offered to market for many years. We speak to selling agent Louise Barton for the ins and outs of the $4.9 million sale.

Who, What, Why?
A longer selling timeframe is not always a given in Sydney property – the fastest-moving market in the country. But sometimes, it pays to wait, as the owner of the three-bedroom residence on Kirribilli’s Elamang Avenue knows intimately. In late 2024, his property sold for $4.9 million after a five-week campaign with BresicWhitney.

In reflecting on the process, selling agent Louise Barton shed light on how and why the decision to extend the campaign for the north-facing home was key in delivering the result. “Demand was very solid throughout the campaign but as the auction drew closer it was clear that a few of the serious parties weren’t going to be 100% ready to purchase the property if we held the auction on that day,” she says.

“The seller had quite a flexible timeline,” which Louise adds is the exception, not the norm. “This allowed us to follow the needs of the buyer group and deliver the exact conditions we knew would get the best result. In this case, it was all about timing.”

The BresicWhitney team had been working with the eventual buyer for some weeks, Louise said. “He was a first-time purchaser funded by his parents. We knew his intentions were serious and we didn’t want timing to be the only reason that he couldn’t bid for the home,” she said.

In that fifth and final week on the market, the purchaser completed additional due diligence and brought his family through the property. “They agreed that it was a special home and that they’d not seen something like it for months. His mum particularly loved it and I understand that after the sale they negotiated an agreement as a family where she would rent it from him until he was ready to move in.”

Strategy sells.

While the property had three spacious bedrooms, two private balconies, a renovated stone kitchen, an entertainer’s balcony and more – there was one thing it didn’t have. “Stair only access was a drawback for a few parties, particularly downsizers who loved the property but were looking for lift access,” she shared.

This meant it was critical to nurture the buyers – which included investors and owner occupiers – to understand their specifics needs and ambitions. “We took our time with each buyer which left no doubt as to who the property was and wasn’t suitable for, which parties were ready and which ones weren’t quite there yet. It’s really important to us that we service buyers to same extent we do our sellers. Ultimately, they’re both as important as one another in achieving a great result.”

Something in the water.

With a direct water view that couldn’t be built out, balconies drinking in three aspects, and a harbourfront swimming pool, proximity to the deep blue was one of the leading attractions of the home.

“The waterfront location had broad appeal – it’s what people spoke about the most. This one was particularly special given that it was a view that could not be built out,” shares Louise. She adds that north-facing waterfront homes aren’t easy to come by in Kirribilli either.

It was not only local buyers who showed interest, but those from the Eastern Suburbs and Inner West. There were also neighbours in the building interested, with a mix of ambitions: adding-on to their apartment, purchasing for their family, or for an investment.

“What’s special about Kirribilli is that it’s so quintessentially Sydney,” Louise says. “It’s very well serviced by transport and just has a lovely community feel as well. I think when buyers are weighing up their options of the type of lifestyle they’re after, it’s absolutely an area that’s on their list.”

Key takeaway.

The tightly held nature of these older-style properties was another factor in the value proposition.

“Turnover is quite low in Kirribilli, even lower than some of the neighbouring suburbs which I think also delivered the result [for Elamang Avenue]. Broadly speaking we do tend to see a different level of excitement when a quality home like this becomes available on the Lower North Shore. Often these properties have been built and purchased in the 50’s, 60’s or 70’s are passed through generations. Once they’re gone, they’re gone.”

Thanks for reading Behind the Sale. Look out for more stories from across the Lower North Shore, Hunters Hill, the Eastern Suburbs, Inner City, and Inner West. To find homes like this and more, head to bw.com.au.