Elle Ritson has secured $1.73 million for a four-bedroom house at 6 Handley Street, Helensburgh, via off-market private treaty after vendors tried to sell without an agent for $1.55 million.
Elle Ritson secured $1.73 million for a four-bedroom house at 6 Handley Street, Helensburgh, after vendors discovered the difference an agent makes.
The vendors had tried to sell the property themselves and received an offer of $1.55 million. Before accepting, they called Elle to ask if she could achieve more.
“I said yes,” Elle says.
She got 15 buyers through the property over three days. It went under contract for $1.73 million.
The database difference
The speed of the campaign came down to preparation that happened long before the vendors picked up the phone.
Elle runs an active database with a clear sales tactic: touch base with serious buyers every single week.
“A huge part of my sales tactic and success is to touch base with my great buyers every single week,” she says.
That weekly contact isn’t just checking in. It’s both relationship building and targeted property matching — sharing specific properties that might work for each buyer while staying front of mind.
When the Helensburgh vendors called, Elle already knew which 15 buyers from her database would be genuinely interested in a four-bedroom house in the area. She didn’t need to start from scratch.
Three days later, the property was under contract for $180,000 more than the vendors had been offered.
The vendor relationship
The vendors made the campaign easier by trusting Elle to run it her way.
“They were fantastic,” Elle says. “They completely trusted me and let me run the campaign.”
That trust allowed her to move quickly with the off-market approach and focus on bringing the right buyers through without second-guessing the strategy.
The Helensburgh appeal
Helensburgh offers a suburban lifestyle with a population of around 6,600. The area appeals to buyers seeking space and established amenity within reach of Wollongong’s coastal centres.
The four-bedroom house at 6 Handley Street sits on a 574-square-metre lot with two bathrooms and two car spaces.
What it means for the market
For anyone considering selling in Helensburgh, Elle’s advice is straightforward: “Sell with Elle, the local expert.”
The confidence comes from results like this one — where preparation, database discipline, and weekly buyer contact turned a three-day off-market campaign into a sale $180,000 above what the vendors thought was possible.
About the Agent
Elle Ritson is recognised as the No.6 Regional Sales Agent across NSW and ACT. A Psychology graduate with postgraduate qualifications in Communication and Counselling, she combines skilled negotiation with deep knowledge of the Sydney and Northern Illawarra markets. Her accolades include 2026 Rate My Agent Agent of the Year for Helensburgh and Elite Performer status in 2023/24 (top 3% of Ray White agents nationally). Visit Elle’s website for more information or call Elle on 0408512306.