Auction watch: Manicured gardens excite bidders at Florey auction

A Florey home has surpassed the suburb median by $240,000 at an auction on Saturday morning, selling under the hammer for $850,000.

The four-bedroom, two-bathroom home boasted manicured gardens in the front and back yard with gardenias and hydrangeas in full bloom, exciting bidders and onlookers alike.

Situated on the high side of the street, the home at 128 Ratcliffe Crescent was in high demand with nine registered bidders and about 80 people gathered to watch the auction.

A quintessential family home, a number of the registered bidders were young families, which meant there was a lively atmosphere at the auction with children excitedly playing in the gardens.

Bidding for the property started at $700,000 and was quickly countered by a bid of $710,000.

It was declared on the market at $803,000 after five bidders had made a punt for the home.

At $815,000 a new bidder entered the race and from there it was a race between three parties to secure the home.

It took approximately 15 minutes for the home to be sold under the hammer and at $850,000 the sale is the fourth-highest sale ever recorded in the north-side suburb.

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LJ Hooker Belconnen listing agent Cameron Colquhoun said the auctioned “exceeded expectations”.

“I was certainly hopeful we would have a few registered bidders and I was hopeful that we would reach $800,000, but to reach $850,000 with nine registered bidders was just fantastic,” he said.

“I’m sure the owners are doing cartwheels at the result.”

The home had been held by the original vendors for 36 years who are planning to downsize.

The successful buyers were a young family.

“The buyers showed desire from early on, they were in touch fairly early in the marketing campaign and paid two or three visits to the home,” said Colquhoun.

“They were very determined all the way through the campaign.”

Check out the rest of the weekend’s auction results here.