Angelo Svic has secured $1,690,000 for a three-bedroom Black Forest bungalow held by one family for 59 years, delivering three siblings $90,000 above their $1.6 million reserve in an 18-day auction campaign.
The family story that made auction day emotional
The property at 4 Coulter Avenue wasn’t just another listing—three siblings were selling on behalf of their mother to fund her retirement after she moved into care. On auction day, their mother attended to see her home one last time.
“Mum was beside herself that a beautiful family was going to buy this property,” Angelo says.
“Being a 1925 bungalow, she was glad that somebody wasn’t just going to push it down and build something else. The legacy was going to stay on. It was just a good real estate story for everyone—buyers, sellers, neighbours.”
The result meant the family could ensure their mother was properly looked after, exactly as they’d hoped when Angelo first met them in January.
Building competition through transparency
Angelo’s campaign strategy centred on something many Adelaide agents avoid: advertising a clear price.
“I advertised $1.5 million as the auction guide,” he says. “It gives everyone a clear indication that the vendors are expecting a figure above that. Buyers knew exactly what was expected, and the people walking through the door were there for a reason.”
The approach worked. Sixty-two people inspected the property across seven open homes, with Angelo deploying three agents at every inspection to capture buyer feedback. Nine people returned for a second look. Four came back three times.
Four buyers registered for auction, with two pre-registered before auction day and two arriving on the morning.
Black Forest’s tightly held appeal
Black Forest sits among Adelaide’s most tightly held inner-southern suburbs, valued for tree-lined streets, heritage character, and proximity to the CBD. The area’s median house price sits at $1,675,000, reflecting strong owner-occupier demand in a neighbourhood where properties rarely change hands.
The three-bedroom, two-bathroom home on a 731-square-metre block offered four car spaces—a rare feature that attracted significant buyer interest.
When bidding stalled, then took off
Bidding opened at $1,550,000 but stalled. Angelo and auctioneer Joe Murdoch walked inside to consult the vendors, who agreed to private negotiation if no further bids came.
When Joe announced that plan to the crowd, a second bidder entered at $1,560,000.
“We increased at $10,000 increments until we got to $1,690,000,” Angelo says. “The second bidder—the person who came in at that second juncture—was the winning bidder.”
The vendors weren’t nervous. Angelo had walked them through every possible scenario the Friday before auction, from nobody turning up to achieving the reserve and beyond.
The buyers who found it while on holiday
The successful buyers were local to the area but were interstate on holidays when the property came to their attention. One set of parents inspected the property on their behalf while they were away. The buyers then inspected when they returned, followed by the other set of parents.
“They knew they could afford this property,” Angelo says. “It came down to whether they wanted it more than the next person on the day. That’s ultimately what happened.”
The transparency of the campaign gave them confidence to compete. They knew the price expectation, understood the vendor’s settlement requirements (a maximum 45 days), and could see genuine competition forming.
Several other interested buyers couldn’t meet the settlement timeline, requesting 60 to 90 days, which removed them from contention.
What Black Forest sellers should know now
Angelo’s advice for anyone listing in Black Forest or across Adelaide is direct: tell people what you want.
“If you’re running a campaign where it says ‘contact agent’, more than 50% of people are put off by the lack of openness and transparency,” he says.
“You can control how you present the property and which agent you choose—the agent has more impact on your final result than anything else. You can’t control location or the market, but in every market there’s always a pool of buyers. The best communicator for both buyers and sellers will get the ultimate result.”
Angelo predicted the property would sell between $1.65 million and $1.7 million when he first appraised it in January. The final result of $1,690,000 landed exactly where he forecast.
About the Agent
Angelo Svic is a sales consultant and auctioneer with Klemich Real Estate, specialising in Adelaide’s eastern suburbs including Hectorville, Tranmere, and Rostrevor. Known for transparent campaigns, strategic marketing, and skilled negotiation, Angelo works closely with clients to deliver strong outcomes in any market conditions. Visit Angelo’s website for more information or call Angelo on 0418855575.