A Whirlwind Sale in Beenleigh

A Whirlwind Sale in Beenleigh – How Nortons Real Estate Got it Done

Selling a property can sometimes be a rollercoaster ride. With the right team by your side, however, even the bumpiest journeys can lead to fantastic outcomes. Our recent sale of 5/2-4 Elizabeth Street in Beenleigh is a perfect example. This seemingly straightforward unit sale turned into an action-packed saga of last-minute twists, quick thinking, and unwavering commitment to our client. In just about a month, we went from listing to settlement – navigating two buyer withdrawals, a failed finance approval, and a surprise auction purchase – and still achieved a result above the owner’s expectations. Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at how it all unfolded.

Fast Out of the Gate

5/2-4 Elizabeth Street (a modern 2-bed, 2-bath unit in a secure complex) hit the market on a Friday at “Offers Above $570,000”realestate.com.au. Within days, our marketing had worked its magic – by the following Wednesday we had an individual viewing booked. This was an incredibly promising start, showing strong buyer interest almost immediately. (For context, the average time to secure a buyer can be a few weeks, though the market in Beenleigh has been quite active.) Unfortunately, life doesn’t always go as planned: just 30 minutes before that first meeting, the potential buyer cancelled. Disappointing? Yes. Deal-breaking? Not even close.

By the very next day, another interested buyer was in the wings. But, in an odd repeat, that opportunity also fizzled out before it could fully materialise. Two false starts in one week could rattle anyone, but we understood these things happen. We stayed focused and doubled down on preparations for the main open home scheduled that Saturday.

Turning Challenges into Opportunities

Come Saturday, our open home drew a great turnout. Among the attendees was a highly interested buyer who put forward an offer on the spot. Given the seller’s personal circumstances (she was keen on a quick sale and minimal fuss), we knew this was our chance to secure a good outcome swiftly. We negotiated the details and by the end of the day, we had a signed offer in hand – a big win, achieved just one week from listing.

However, the story doesn’t end there. Early the next week – on Tuesday – that contract hit a bump: it was subject to finance, and by Wednesday we got word that the buyer’s loan approval had fallen through. The buyer had to cancelcolumbusgarealestate.com. This was a heartbreak for everyone involved, especially for our seller who thought her property was essentially sold. But Nortons Real Estate isn’t a team to sit and mope. We treated it as a temporary setback and immediately went back to work to find a solution.

In fact, within 24 hours, we had lined up another buyer – at a higher price point. Quick action is crucial in situations like this; we tapped into our network of interested buyers and reached out to those who had inquired about the property. Our swift pivot paid off: by Thursday, we were negotiating with Buyer #2, and by that evening we had sent out a new contract of sale.

The Unexpected Twists Continue

Just when we thought we’d put the turbulence behind us, we got an unexpected late-night call. It was the second buyer, delivering surprising news: she had attended an auction that night and ended up purchasing a different property on a whim. As a result, she would not be proceeding with our contract. It was a curveball, to say the least – in the span of a week we had now lost two buyers, each for very different reasons outside our control.

While this situation was unusual (only around 5–10% of home sale contracts fall through on averagecolumbusgarealestate.com, let alone having two back-to-back), we didn’t let it derail us. By now, our seller was understandably anxious, but we reassured her that we had other avenues to pursue and that we wouldn’t rest until her home was sold on her terms.

Leveraging Our Network – The Third Time’s the Charm

The next day, bright and early, we tapped into a resource that many agencies overlook – our internal buyer database and email campaign leads. Not all buyers find properties via the big real estate portals; some are in our network waiting for the right opportunity. In this case, an investor from Sydney on our mailing list had shown previous interest in Beenleigh properties. We reached out about 5/2-4 Elizabeth Street, and it turned out to be a perfect fit for what he was seeking.

Within a couple of days, Buyer #3 had conducted a virtual tour and due diligence, and we moved to a signed contract. This offer was solid and even higher than the previous ones, reflecting how well we managed to maintain competitive interest. The contract was, of course, conditional – standard stuff like finance approval, plus building and pest inspections, and the buyer requested a body corporate report (sensible for a unit purchase). He initially asked for a 14-day cooling-off period to gather all information and finalise his financing. Understanding our seller’s desire for a quicker resolution, we negotiated that cooling-off down to 10 days, striking a balance that the buyer accepted.

Stepping Up to Secure the Sale

Everything looked on track: we had a committed buyer, a signed contract, and a clear timeline for due diligence. But if this journey taught us anything, it’s to expect the unexpected. Midway through the process, the building and pest inspection report came back with a few findings – specifically, some moisture and waterproofing concerns in the bathroom, kitchen, and laundry areas. These were not catastrophic issues by any means, but to an interstate investor, any red flag in a report can be cause for hesitation.

Our team’s philosophy is to be proactive rather than reactive. So, we immediately consulted with a trusted local handyman and organized the necessary repairs without delay. Over the course of just two days, all identified waterproofing issues were addressed and rectified. We kept both the buyer and seller fully informed, turning what could have been a deal-breaker into a demonstration of good faith and thorough service. By showing the buyer that we were on top of the issue – and backing it up with receipts and reports of the fixes – we reinforced their confidence to proceed. Not every real estate agency would jump in to coordinate (or literally help with) repairs, but at Nortons we’ll do whatever is needed to get a great result for our clients.

Meanwhile, we were in constant communication with the body corporate to obtain the strata report the buyer wanted. As the 10-day cooling-off period drew to a close, we were still eagerly awaiting that document. It finally arrived in the afternoon of the last day (talk about cutting it close!). We rushed it to the buyer’s inbox for review. By a little after 5:00 PM that day, we got the thumbs-up: the buyer was satisfied, all conditions were met, and the contract went unconditional. We had made it over the finish line!

A Happy Outcome for Our Client

From listing on August 28th to unconditional on September 29th, the entire process took just about a month – an incredibly swift timeline given the hurdles encountered. Settlement was executed smoothly on 29th September. In the end, the property sold for $580,000, which was $30,000 above what the owner originally thought she might achieve. (We had appraised the property around $570k, and we’re delighted to have exceeded that for her.) For perspective, this price is significantly above the average unit price in Beenleigh (approximately $486krealestate.com.au), underscoring how successful this sale was.

But beyond the numbers, what we’re most proud of is how we achieved this result: by listening to our client and putting her needs first at every juncture. Our seller was dealing with personal health challenges and had specific requirements about the sale process. We made it a point to be respectful, patient, and responsive to her wishes. If she needed a quick decision, we made it happen. If she needed time or extra reassurance, we provided it. Every strategy we employed – from the timing of the open home, to accepting an early offer, to negotiating terms with subsequent buyers – was done with her comfort and best interest in mind.

We also maintained a positive, solution-oriented approach. Real estate transactions can be emotional, and when deals fall through it’s easy for a seller to feel discouraged. We took it as our duty to stay upbeat and keep finding alternatives. Our client trusted us to handle the bumps in the road, and we made sure that trust was rewarded. In the end, she was not just satisfied with the price, but also grateful for the care and dedication we showed throughout the process. That, to us, is the ultimate success.