Dalton Stewart has sold a two-bedroom apartment at 20/156 Chalmers Street, Surry Hills for $1.4 million prior to auction by introducing buyers from recent terrace sales to create competition where the market wasn’t naturally delivering it.
A beautifully presented challenge
When Dalton Stewart listed the two-bedroom apartment at 20/156 Chalmers Street in Surry Hills, he knew the fundamentals were strong — the property was immaculate, nothing to do but move in. But he also knew what he was up against.
Two other units in the same complex were on the market. The building had higher-than-average levies. Upcoming works loomed. And buyers felt no urgency to act.
“Buyers at the moment feel like they have choice and no urgency to act,” Dalton said.
“So we had to carefully position the property, make sure it looked amazing online and in person, and we also worked harder than usual to create separation and momentum.”
Creating competition from scratch
The breakthrough came from an unconventional source. Dalton had recently sold two small terraces in the area. Rather than limiting his buyer search to apartment hunters, he actively introduced those terrace buyers to the Chalmers Street unit.
“We actively introduced buyers from different campaigns and different asset types,” Dalton said.
“By introducing buyers from those sales who may not have considered an apartment, we got them to focus on our unit specifically and broadened the buyer pool and created competition where it naturally did not exist.”
The strategy worked. Three standout buyers emerged, all making offers. The competition eventually narrowed to two serious contenders.
One was a young first home buyer couple who loved the area. The other came from a neighbouring suburb and hadn’t originally considered Surry Hills, but the property fit both partners’ needs perfectly.
Both were drawn to the same thing: a property in great position with nothing left to do.
The Surry Hills advantage
Surry Hills offers inner-city convenience with a young professional demographic, sitting just minutes from Central Station and surrounded by parks, pools, and vibrant street life. The Princes Gardens complex provides resort-style amenity with mature landscaping, gym, and sauna — rare for Sydney’s inner ring at this price point.
What worked
Dalton knew the campaign was succeeding when repeat inspections started rolling in. The vendors were extremely pleased with the final $1.4 million result achieved prior to the scheduled auction date.
For sellers considering the current market, Dalton’s advice is clear: focus on the three things within your control.
“The presentation of the property, the marketing — how it’s displayed online and how you show it to the highest quality buyers in the marketplace, including those who are not initially considering that type of property. And lastly, the price positioning.”
In a market where buyers have options, creating urgency requires strategic thinking.
“I’d ensure that you are working with an agent who is able to create competition and create urgency when the market is not delivering that,” Dalton said.
The Chalmers Street sale demonstrates exactly that principle in action.
About the Agent
Dalton Stewart from Ray White Touma Taylor combines a marketing background with hands-on sales experience to deliver strategic, well-rounded real estate outcomes. Known for understanding buyer behaviour and positioning property effectively, he guides clients with clarity and builds long-term trust through strong results and a calm, considered approach. Visit Dalton’s website for more information or call Dalton on 0458668119.