Bradley Philbrick has sold 20 Helen Street in Newstead, Tasmania, for $760,000 via private treaty after seven days on market — a result built on pre-launch buyer targeting and a deliberate decision to test the market.
The campaign’s success came from strategic discipline. Bradley had a ready investor buyer before the property went live, but chose to launch publicly to maximize competition — generating five offers and proving the value of testing the market properly.
The pre-market targeting work
Before the 3-bedroom brick house hit the portals, Bradley spent considerable time establishing where the likely buyer would come from — local or interstate, demographic profile, life stage, profession. That research shaped a targeted campaign designed to reach potential buyers before the listing went public.
“The vendor was really happy,” Bradley says. “Five or six agents had pitched for the business, but no one had talked about that early work and strategy other than myself. So when the property launched and everything fell into place, the vendor was incredibly happy.”
The cosmetically renovated home launched early in the week, with open homes stacked late-week and Saturday to concentrate inspection traffic in the first seven days — creating the conditions for multiple offers quickly.
The investor who waited
One of those five offers came from an investor Bradley had been working with for weeks. The buyer was seeking a low-maintenance brick home in a blue-chip area with strong rental yield — boxes this property ticked precisely.
“I could have sold it to him off-market before it launched, but the end price wouldn’t have been as strong,” Bradley says. “Although I’d done quite a bit of work with him and talked to him about this property, I needed it to go to market to get into multiple offers to be able to get the price to where we eventually got it to.”
The vendor backed that approach completely.
“She was fully confident in the strategy from the start. I said that if we’re going to spend the money and invest the money into marketing, then it needed to go to market to make sure that we fully tested the market and knew that we were getting the highest price.”
The location appeal
Newstead is an established inner-Launceston residential area favoured by professional households, with around 66% owner-occupied homes in 2021. The suburb’s appeal centres on proximity to quality schools — Punchbowl Primary is 500 metres away, Queechy High School 1.1 kilometres — and its family-friendly character.
Two more listings nearby
After the second open home at 20 Helen Street, the owner of 16 Helen Street approached Bradley directly. He’d just completed a cosmetic renovation and wanted to know what his property might achieve.
Bradley did a quick walkthrough and suggested a sale range of $750,000 to $760,000 based on the work happening two doors up. The vendor agreed. Bradley shot a video walkthrough on his phone at 10am Saturday morning. By 7pm that night, he’d sold it off-market to an investor for $760,000.
That momentum secured a third listing — 26 Walden Street, a 4-bedroom, 2-bathroom property around the corner that will come to market in the next fortnight.
“I’ve spoken to them about both of those recent sales, how both of them worked, what the strategy was,” Bradley says. “They’re investing a significant amount of money to take their property to market.”
The vendor of 20 Helen Street captured the experience in her testimonial:
“Bradley was attentive throughout the process of selling my home. He understood the property, the market, and kept me updated throughout the process of photography, open homes, feedback. Bradley was a pleasure to have sell my property, and I heartily recommend him.”
About the Agent
Bradley Philbrick is a Property Partner at The Agency Launceston who believes the right strategy for each property is rarely the same one. He maintains an active database of investors and buyers focused on the Launceston market, meaning vendors are often introduced to qualified buyers before a sign goes in the ground. Whether selling, investing, or buying, Bradley’s approach starts with understanding what you actually need, then building the strategy around that. Visit Bradley’s website for more information or call Bradley on 0499823130.