Gordon Tran has sold a 3-bedroom house at 22 Willow Avenue, St Albans, for $707,000 at auction — $72,000 above reserve — after a 24-day campaign that drew five registered bidders.
The challenge was straightforward: an older home in a competitive market where location would have to do the heavy lifting. Gordon’s response was to make sure no one in the area could miss it.
Street-flooding strategy
“We flooded the streets with our boards, made sure everyone around knew that the property was for sale,” Gordon said.
“That includes letterbox drops, phone calls, boards, everything. Anyone that drove through St Albans knew that 22 Willow Avenue was going to auction on July 18th. Everyone had to know about it.”
The hyper-local approach worked. By auction day, Gordon had five registered bidders — all local buyers drawn to the suburb’s transport links, schools, and hospital proximity.
The auction atmosphere
Gordon’s team at Area Specialists St Albans built the kind of energy that turns interested buyers into competitive ones.
“We know how to make an amazing atmosphere, get the energy pumping, and create the excitement on that day,” Gordon said.
“People hate being sold to, but they love shopping with friends. We made it feel like they were shopping with friends.”
The buyer who secured the property was a local family pushed to their limit by the auction environment. Despite the home’s age, the location carried the appeal — and the competition pushed the final price $72,000 past reserve.
What buyers noticed
The house itself is older, but buyers weren’t focused on the building. They were focused on proximity.
“The house is very old. I think it’s more the location which really sold it,” Gordon said.
“We’re walking distance to Ginifer train station. We’ve got the Holy Eucharist Primary School right around the corner. Sunshine Hospital is right around the corner as well. The development now and the growth in this suburb is spectacular.”
Why St Albans is attracting buyers
St Albans sits within walking distance of Ginifer train station, Holy Eucharist Primary School, and Sunshine Hospital, with the new Albion station one stop away. The suburb’s growth and development are drawing strong owner-occupier demand, with recent comparable sales for 3-bedroom homes on similar-sized blocks sitting in the mid-to-high $600,000s to low $700,000s across nearby streets.
The ripple effect
The vendors were ecstatic — not just with the price, but with the level of care throughout the campaign.
“They were literally blown away. They didn’t expect that level of care, that level of detail,” Gordon said.
“Everyone is always kept in the loop at all times. No stone got left unturned, and we delivered a result way above their expectations.”
The campaign’s success didn’t stop at settlement. Gordon’s team picked up additional listings in the area from the momentum.
“We ended up listing a fair amount of houses around that same area where we did the auction. It just goes to show that the effects do compound, and the word spreads when you do good jobs and do right by people.”
About the Agent
Gordon Tran is a results-driven sales agent and auctioneer with Area Specialists St Albans, known for his client-first approach and dynamic auction presence. Fluent in English and Vietnamese, Gordon combines traditional expertise with modern marketing strategies to deliver exceptional outcomes. His proactive follow-up and attention to detail ensure every client feels supported throughout the process. Visit Gordon’s website for more information or call Gordon on 0467713864.