Nick Berman has secured $2.34 million for a newly built five-bedroom house in Mount Colah, with post-auction negotiations proving critical to achieving the final price.
The result came after 45 days on market in a segment experiencing lower buyer turnout due to the premium nature of the property which sits at the top of the Mount Colah market.
With only two active bidders at auction, Nick’s ability to navigate post-auction negotiations with auctioneer Paul Hancock (2025 REINSW Auctioneer of the Year) proved essential in reaching the vendor’s premium expectation.
Strategic auction approach
The property at 17A Willarong Road attracted three registered bidders on 12 October 2025, though only two competed actively during the auction phase. When bidding stalled, Nick and Paul moved into negotiations with the lead buyers and vendor to bridge the gap.
“The house has been sold near the top of the Mount Colah market, so there was a lower number of bidders turning up to bid at the auction,” Nick said.
“The negotiations afterwards were important to get the best possible price for the vendor.”
The five-bedroom, three-bathroom house with two-car accommodation represents a premium offering in Mount Colah, where Domain data shows median house prices for four-bedroom properties sit around $1.735 million. The $2.34 million result positions the sale near the upper threshold of the suburb’s market range.
Vendor satisfaction
Nick said the vendor acknowledged the effectiveness of the auction strategy despite softer competition in the top-end segment.
“The vendor was happy with the results and saw that the strategy used got the best result from the available buyers,” he said.
The post-auction negotiation phase allowed Nick to maximise competitive tension between the two active bidders while managing vendor expectations in a market segment where buyer numbers are naturally constrained by price point.
Mount Colah, located in Sydney’s Upper North Shore region, shows varied demand across different price brackets. While median prices for three and four-bedroom houses sit between $1.51 million and $1.735 million, properties at the premium end require more targeted marketing and skilled negotiation to achieve results.
The 45-day campaign provided sufficient market exposure to identify serious buyers in the upper price range, with the auction format creating the competitive environment necessary to drive the final negotiated outcome.
About the agent
Nick Berman a highly respected agent in the Hornsby Shire, ranked Agent of the Year for Mount Colah in 2022 by Rate My Agent. With over a decade at McGrath Hornsby and a background including 18 years on Hornsby Council—nine as Mayor—he combines market expertise with deep local knowledge.
Visit Nick’s website or call Nick on +61411216332.
