Bryce Gibson of LJ Hooker Cessnock has sold a three-bedroom freestanding house at 46 Fouth Street, Weston for $728,000 after 13 days on market, with a first-home buyer securing the property following competition from two offers.
Bryce Gibson knew the first open home would set the tone for everything that followed.
The LJ Hooker Cessnock principal and sales agent planned a maximum impact week-one strategy for the three-bedroom freestanding house at 46 Fourth Street, Weston — and it delivered exactly what his vendors needed.
Thirteen groups attended that first open home. Two offers followed. A first-home buyer from within 30 minutes of the property secured it after 13 days on market for $728,000.
The week-one approach
Bryce’s strategy centred on creating immediate traction rather than letting the campaign build slowly.
“The pricing strategy was certainly not overpriced,” Bryce said.
“The presentation of the property was on point from the owners and we tried to create a good atmosphere with the open home being not too late in the afternoon, but also not too early in the morning.”
The property’s 1,019-square-metre block became the standout feature during the campaign. Buyers commented consistently on the land size throughout the first open home, with that scale of residential land becoming increasingly difficult to find across the Hunter Valley.
“They also loved its location, but really supporting all the facets of the property that we advertised all sort of came together,” Bryce said.
Navigating the due diligence timeline
With two offers on the table, Bryce’s focus shifted to managing the buyer’s due diligence requirements without losing momentum.
“The major sticking point was satisfying all the buyer’s need for due diligence like valuations, pest and buildings,” Bryce said.
“So that was our major hurdle to find out how we could get that done in a timely manner.”
Bryce structured a five-day cooling-off period that gave the first-home buyer breathing space to complete valuations and building inspections while keeping both parties committed to the transaction.
“There was an element that I thought it would stall, but the best way forward was we entered into a five-day cooling off period, which gave a bit of breathing space for the purchaser to facilitate what they needed to do to get the job done,” Bryce said.
The vendor response
The vendors had followed Bryce’s preparation advice closely, presenting the three-bedroom house with two bathrooms and parking for five vehicles to showcase its full potential.
“The vendors were very excited to see the property sell,” Bryce said.
“Obviously, they put all effort into presenting the home and following my strategy. So, they were quite excited to see the result done and dusted.”
The quick timeline and competitive outcome validated the maximum impact approach — proving that when pricing, presentation, and timing align from day one, the market responds.
About the Agent
Bryce Gibson is the owner of LJ Hooker Cessnock and a high-performing sales agent with deep local market knowledge across Cessnock and the Hunter Valley. A Certified Practising Valuer, Bryce brings strategic campaign planning and data-driven pricing advice to every transaction. His agency has been awarded Small Agency of the Year by the Real Estate Institute of New South Wales twice and Best Real Estate Agency Hunter Region in 2025. Visit Bryce’s website for more information or call Bryce on 0422 227 668.