Selling a Sydney property? Here’s how to beat the competition

But with consumer sentiment weak due to persistent fears about inflation, sellers need to act smart to achieve high sale prices.

Inner Sydney agency BresicWhitney has shared its top insights for home owners looking to sell this winter.

1. Don’t delay

Transactional flow has slowed this quarter, meaning fewer properties are on the market and fewer buyers are actively looking.

For sellers, lower listing volumes represent a rare opportunity to have more eyes on your property.

And for those looking to stand out from the competition, it’s a good idea to act now – BresicWhitney is expecting a fresh influx of properties to come onto the market in spring, swamping existing stock.

“It’s likely Sydney will experience an early start to the ‘spring selling season.’ BresicWhitney data reveals listing volumes increasing and an uptick in owners intending to sell over this period, reflected by a higher-than-average number of agency agreements signed,” the brand revealed.

2. Auctions are king

Auctions are a time-honoured strategy to push offers to the top end of a seller’s price range, and remain a favoured sale method in Sydney.

Currently, the average metropolitan Sydney auction clearance for the three months to June sits at 66.9 per cent, with higher clearance rates in inner-city locations.

BresicWhitney revealed: “Sellers who chose to auction their homes benefited from this strategy, as BresicWhitney’s average auction clearance rate remained high at 80 per cent.”

3. Be prepared to sell off-market

One trend that has reared during Q2 of 2024 is an uptick in pre-auction and off-market sales.

Buyers have eschewed traditional sales routes in favour of less traditional pathways to home ownership.

“This was exemplified during auction activity on the last weekend of June, in which of 23 scheduled auctions, 15 of those sold prior,” BresicWhitney revealed.

“Q2 also welcomed an increasing proportion of sales occurring off-market […] reflecting the broad-based appetite to buy Sydney property among current buyer groups.

“Off-market transactions conducted swiftly and confidentially will remain a key feature of Sydney’s property landscape.”

4. Capitalise on lifestyle offerings

For those who own a Sydney property, especially those in suburbs flanking the city centre, lifestyle is your strongest asset.

Suburbs in the inner west, inner east and lower north shore “remain the most sought-after for buyers seeking connection, community, and the quintessential lifestyle that our harbour city offers”, the brand said.

“BresicWhitney has witnessed persistent demand for quality properties throughout the year, and this has driven not only steady but competitive sale prices.

“As we navigate through the remainder of winter, the market is poised to transition into a robust and balanced phase by Q3, accommodating sellers, buyers, tenants and investors alike.”