The Queanbeyan home that’s being sold via live online auction 

At the peak of the coronavirus pandemic, Canberra real estate agents were quick to adopt various methods of selling property, and now, more than 12 months on from when the pandemic first hit, one practice has remained for one agent.

Online auctions.

“It’s like a traditional [on-site] auction but online and live,” said Ben Stevenson of Estaterealty.

“From the first day a property is online, it’s under auction conditions. Bidders can put in an offer anytime during the campaign, which could go on for weeks, and the listing will be updated to reflect the bids.”

Mr Stevenson said the method allows buyers to gain insight into how the market is going as it happens.

“At a traditional auction, buyers would flock to a house, make time to go to it and are given a rough price guide for the property,” he said.

“But in these market conditions, it’s really difficult to do so, especially in the spur of a moment. With this type of auction, buyers know what others are willing to pay for the property and have time to consider it before putting in a counteroffer.”

One property Mr Stevenson is selling via online auction is 34 Kathleen Street, Queanbeyan.

The house has been lovingly renovated and restored under the seller’s ownership and extended to include a studio at the rear of the home.

The Federation-style home commands attention from the moment you set foot onto its wraparound verandah. 

Inside, the living room pays homage to its era with its white-painted window frames and period ceiling rose. But as you walk further into the home, a more contemporary residence takes shape thanks to a renovation and extension in 2019.

“The sellers had the assistance of an architect to help design the home, but the owners are pretty successful builders in their own right, so everything was done to the highest standard,” Mr Stevenson said.

The timber flooring has been replaced by polished cement; the sleek kitchen boasts a large waterfall benchtop, and the high ceilings and grand windows bring in a wealth of light and make the home feel larger than life.

A spiral staircase also features in the main family room to a loft retreat spacious enough to be an additional living space or playroom for the kids.

While Queanbeyan has no shortage of charming homes, 34 Kathleen Street is in a league of its own, thanks to its neutral palette and its seamless transition from old to new.

“[The house at] 34 Kathleen Street is an exceptional example of how to blend different eras and do so in a way that works brilliantly,” Mr Stevenson said.

The upgrades were made with the intent of it being the seller’s forever home, but they’re ready to part with the property in a bid to move further into the country.

“They’re ready for someone else to love it as much as they did,” Mr Stevenson added.

The online auction for 34 Kathleen Street will close on June 24.

At the time of publication, the highest bid for the property was sitting at $1.06 million.

“We’ve had a lot of interest in the house since we listed … and should a bidder make an offer way above the seller’s expectations, the house will sell to that party. It could sell by this afternoon, really,” Mr Stevenson said.