Dimitri Cassidy has sold a two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment at 506/19 Masters Street, Newstead, for $915,000 after the property spent more than 90 days on the market with another agent without receiving an offer.
A fresh start
The owner had initially considered Dimitri before appointing another agent, with fee among the factors influencing the decision.
More than 90 days later, with the apartment still unsold, he contacted Dimitri after seeing him sell another unit in the same complex for $940,000 within 30 days.
The owner wanted to understand what had worked in that campaign and what could be done differently with his own property.
Dimitri’s first recommendation was to reset the presentation.
The apartment was in largely original condition and had been marketed fully furnished with older furniture, so he recommended new styling, premium photography and a fresh marketing campaign.
“We needed to do things differently to what had been done last time so it looked like a fresh and active listing,” Dimitri said.
The relaunch drew more than 10 groups to the first open home, while Dimitri said buyers from the previous campaign did not return.
The Wednesday lunchtime buyer
With plenty of apartment stock available in Newstead, Dimitri also opened the property several times each week, including outside standard weekend inspection times.
That approach introduced him to the eventual buyer at a 12:30pm Wednesday open home.
She was a young medical professional looking for her first home and had struggled to attend Saturday inspections because of her work schedule.
“This lady couldn’t make Saturday inspections, and that lunchtime open home is where we met her,” Dimitri said.
The buyer had been searching for some time and was drawn to the apartment because it had not already been renovated.
She wanted the opportunity to update the flooring, kitchen, bathrooms and other finishes herself, rather than pay more for a completed renovation.
Its location near Gasworks Plaza was another factor that worked in its favour.
Building a stronger offer
The best offers campaign generated several offers, although some included conditions such as subject to sale and did not meet the owner’s expectations.
There were also multiple second inspections, but some buyers chose other properties as they compared options available below $1 million.
The successful buyer had also considered another property before returning to the Newstead apartment.
By then, the owner was considering converting the campaign to auction.
During negotiations, the buyer strengthened her position, completed her due diligence and removed her finance condition.
She ultimately presented a cash unconditional contract at $915,000, the strongest price on the table.
Settlement followed 30 days later.
Feedback shaped the campaign
Regular communication also became an important part of the campaign.
Dimitri said the owner received frequent updates on inspections, buyer responses and offers, helping him assess the market as the campaign progressed.
That became particularly important because the owner had hoped to achieve more based on the earlier $940,000 sale in the complex.
However, the apartments differed in position and condition, and Dimitri said buyer feedback ultimately helped establish where the market sat.
“The owner was overwhelmingly pleased with the outcome,” Dimitri said.
After more than 90 days without an offer in the previous campaign, the property attracted multiple offers and sold unconditionally within about 60 days under the new campaign.
What made the difference
For Dimitri, the result came down to changing the presentation, refreshing the marketing and giving more buyers the opportunity to inspect.
“You never know what people’s work schedules are like,” he said.
“If we have access to a property during the week, I like to open at different times during the day so you can give a different audience the opportunity to come through.”
About the Agent
Dimitri Cassidy is a Licensed Real Estate Agent with Ray White New Farm, specialising in Brisbane’s inner north. With a background in aviation sales and customer service, he brings clear communication, strong negotiation skills and a measured approach to every campaign. Recognised as a Ray White Elite Performer, Dimitri combines local market knowledge with firsthand property investment experience to guide buyers and sellers through the sales process with confidence and care. Visit Dimitri’s website for more information or call Dimitri on 0419790458.