Bidderman 2.4
by Gina Kantzas, Mal James, Simone Clarke, Kathy Russell, Phoebe James, Randall Smith, Maddie James, Ellen Russell, Catherine Ross, Jo Gallagher
Ready to bid
Her first auction. Her first bid – $5,000,000 and we are away @ 62 Kinkora Hawthorn with Maddie James. Thank you to Phil de Fegely, Richard Earle, Tim Picken, Simone Clarke, Chris Barrett, Campbell Ward and Chloe Quinn.
More high calibre women are needed in real estate. Better people managers, better negotiators, more empathy with the decision-makers.
If you don’t have more than a token female on your public negotiating team, you’re missing a trick and starting behind the eight ball.
It’s about more than equality, image, political correctness – it’s about your result.
Bidder focus
Today was not quite as robust as last week (91%) with 75% clearance, making an 83% average clearance rate on our 3 weekend 100 auction test to date.
STRONG.
Today we are focusing on Bidderman or bidders per auction. This stat when combined with clearance rates gives you the true market picture.
Today at the 32 auctions we attended, we counted 77 bidders or 2.4 bidders per auction.
RISING.
The winning bidder tells you something, but the wounded underbidders tell you more.
For instance, at my first auction for the day at 62 Kinkora Road Hawthorn, there were 4 bidders and the home ended up $1.25million over the top end of the quote, at $6,550,000.
Although that says a few things, it also tells you there are still 3 bidders at or near this level looking for a home. It is human nature, that all things being equal, they will go harder next time – we call them wounded underbidders.
A stronger example of wounded underbidders: at least 9 buyers are still looking in Hampton for the same $2m to $3m home after 2 auctions today.
It’s the wounded underbidders that are a large driving force in any rising market – they push the prices up, they are emotional, they are in pain and next time most will pay more to avoid that pain.
Oh c’mon, how many of you who have recently missed out, are now on higher budgets than you were six weeks ago? Yep, the wounded underbidders drive the frenzy in a rising market.
Bidderman history

Bidder measurements.
- Less than 1 bidder per auction and we are in a recession.
- Approaching 2 bidders and we are in a rising market
- Consistently 2.5 to 3 bidders per auction across the board and history shows us we are in a roaring market and prices will rise whilst this stat remains current.
Bidding highlights
Geographic Bidderman – Boroondara continues to be on fire and why? The return of the Aussie Underbidder of Asian background. Back in force. Bidderman was well on the way to 4 today – 4, that is buyer scary. This geographical market is very hot – no question.
Boroondara Bidders today: 4, 7, 2, 3, 2, 3, 5, 3, 3, 5 and two bought befores
Dollar Bidderman – Hampton and the $2m to $3m price range – 11 bidders – that’s at least 9 who didn’t buy, who will be looking again next week. This is a big issue if you are trying to buy a half-decent home at this price level. This dollar segment is hot – no question.
Bidder Spread – Drill down to the duck auctions. They are at our limit, where we say it is an across the board even market – this market may prove to be more volatile than the headline numbers portray. Drill down stats can lie, so not sure about the evenness of the market issue yet.

CLEARANCE RATES in the 70 and 80 percents tell us the market is STRONG.
BIDDERMAN @ 2.4 across a wide range of auctions tell us the market is also RISING.
Kew

17 Sackville Street, Kew
Agent: Peter Vigano, Jellis Craig
Open: $3,600,000
On Market: $3,910,000
Under Hammer: $4,001,000
Bidders: 5
Crowd: 80
Lots of chuckles and mutterings under masks during this protracted auction. Bidding halted at $3,825,000 before taking off in $10,000s. A newcomer stepped in at $3,920,000 after it was announced on the market. A string of $1000 rises with big pauses in between unfolded in the final stage and squeaked the price over the $4 million mark.
Malvern


26 Parslow Street, Malvern
Agent: Fraser Cahill, Marshall White
Open: $3,200,000
On Market: $3,640,000
Under Hammer: $3,675,000
Bidders: 3
Crowd: 120
A large crowd of 120 people lined Parslow street, Malvern, clustered around the many cars and Plane trees with coffees and dogs and all looking very neighbourly. Fraser Cahill from Marshall White placed a vendor bid of $3,200,000 and although the crowd was slow to get going, two bidders quickly drove the price to the reserve of $3,640,000. A third bidder then helped the sale to the final, winning bid of $3,675,000 and a delighted young couple with a baby kissed while everyone clapped.
Hawthorn

56 Elphin Grove, Hawthorn
Agent: Stuart Evans, Marshall White
Open: $3,700,000
On Market: $3,900,000
Under Hammer: $4,425,000
Bidders: 3
Crowd: 80
The auction started with a strong opening bid of $3,700,000. Shortly after, the second bidder was in play and the property was officially on the market at $3,900,000. With no half time break required, the third and final bidder swooped in to buy the property for $4,425,000.
Albert Park

74 Mills Street, Albert Park
Agent: Simon Gowling
Open: $3,200,000
Pass in: $3,350,000
Result: Sold After ($undisc)
Bidders: 2
Crowd: 120
A noisy, large crowd fell silent once the auction began. The property was passed into Bidder one, who had lack luster competition from Bidder two. Negotiations moved inside.
South Yarra

18 Rockley Road, South Yarra
Agent: Justin Long, Marshall White
Open: $4,500,000 VB
Pass in: $4,500,000 VB
Bidders: 0
Crowd: 15
Just 15 people gathered for the auction in Rockley Road, South Yarra. Justin Long of Marshall White was in full persuasive flight to the audience, highlighting the potential and position. A vendor bid of $4,500,000 was tabled, and although he wanted just a rise of $20,000, no bids were placed and the property was passed in.
Glen Iris

22 Park Road, Glen Iris
Agent: Michael Millington, Shelter
Open: $2,400,000
On Market: $2,800,000
Under Hammer: $3,010,000
Bidders: 7
Crowd: 85
Bidders are dotted all about and enter at points along the way, keeping the price rolling on in a steady rather than feisty auction. Michael Millington proudly announced the home as having reached ‘three, triple zero, triple zero’. A couple more $5000 bids saw it soon knocked down.
Hampton

46 Retreat Road, Hampton
Agent: Jenny Dwyer, Belle Property
Open: $2,300,000
On Market: $2,600,000
Under Hammer: $2,872,000
Bidders: 6
Crowd: 75
The bidding was quick to start and began at $2,300,000, Bidders continued to outbid one another with three more joining and the property selling under the hammer to the final bidder for $2,872 000.
Port Melbourne

19 Rouse Street, Port Melbourne
Agent: Kaine Lanyon
Open: $1,550,000 VB
On Market: $1,770,000
Under Hammer: $1,770,000
Bidders: 5
Crowd: 40
Kaine Lanyon began with an opening bid of $1,550,000 and that’s all it took. Bidders 1, 2, 3 and 4 had a crack at taking the title but it was Bidder 5 with their one and only bid that took home the keys.
Hawthorn East

31 Hastings Road, Hawthorn East
Agent: Richard Winneke, Jellis Craig
Open: $2,500,000 VB
On Market: $2,760,000
Under Hammer: $3,027,500
Bidders: 3
Crowd:35
A bid of $25,000 was rejected. Only $50,000 rises on the opening vendor bid were sought. Two bidders eventually moved until a firm ‘Two point seven’, was called out by a third bidder. This proved to be his only bid and he soon