Monét Griffin of Ray White Townsville has delivered a $659,000 sale for a three-bedroom house at 17 Laburnum Street, Cranbrook, just 11 days after launch — attracting multiple offers above the $629,000 asking price from both local buyers and interstate investors.
Preparing an absentee vendor’s property for competitive sale
Monét Griffin of Ray White Townsville knew she had limited time when the vendors of 17 Laburnum Street, Cranbrook, handed her the keys with instructions to sell while they relocated interstate. The three-bedroom house needed work, but the owners had already moved south and couldn’t manage the preparation themselves.
“They were struggling with the chaos of end-of-year job changes and relocation,” Monét says. “They needed someone who could take full control of the pre-listing phase and make it happen without them being physically present.”
Monét organised a bond clean, fixed the pool’s chlorinator, repaired doors, completed yard touch-ups, and staged the home through Ray White Townsville’s PayLater program — allowing all preparation and marketing costs to come out of settlement rather than requiring upfront payment.
“Our main goal with staging is to ensure buyers feel more emotional about the property and can picture themselves living there,” Monét explains. “For this campaign, we wanted to attract both the investor market and first-home buyers chasing that North Queensland lifestyle.”
Dual-track buyer response to offers-over launch
The property launched at offers over $629,000 in mid-January 2026. Monét’s automated response system — providing floor plans, video walkthroughs, and rental estimates — captured investor interest immediately, generating offers before the first physical inspection.
But the staging brought a different buyer segment to the table: local first-home buyers drawn to the property’s lifestyle appeal.
“We had multiple offers all over asking coming from both locals and investors,” Monét says. “The competitive environment developed quickly because we’d positioned it to appeal to two distinct buyer profiles.”
The successful buyers were a local couple purchasing their first home, attracted by the dual-access driveway, inground pool, and space for their dogs.
“The dual access was a big factor for them,” Monét says. “They could see how they could add value and make the property more suitable for their needs over time.”
The vendor perspective
The vendors’ experience of the campaign — particularly given their remote location and time pressure — shaped the final outcome.
“Monét was very efficient and helped with every step of the process at a time when we were struggling with the chaos of end-of-year and changing jobs and locations,” they said in their review.
“Monét was the stability we needed to get the job done. Her work made everything run smoothly and on time. Her knowledge about who and where could help us made repairs so much faster. I truly believe we got such a good result and we sold so fast because of Monét’s knowledge and dedication.”
The property went under contract on 16 January 2026 after just 11 days on market, selling for $659,000 — $30,000 above the offers-over launch price and well above the three-bedroom median home price of $580,000.
About Cranbrook’s family appeal
Cranbrook appeals to families seeking established infrastructure and outdoor living space, positioned between Townsville’s western education and healthcare precinct and the city centre. The suburb’s corner-block properties with pools and dual access attract both young families and downsizers looking for low-maintenance North Queensland lifestyle homes, similar to neighbouring Heatley and Kirwan’s family-focused markets.
About the Agent
Monét Griffin joined Ray White Townsville in September 2022 and has quickly built a reputation for clear communication and empathetic client support. Originally from Whanganui, New Zealand, and raised in Townsville, she brings deep local knowledge and, as a Cranbrook resident herself, a proven track record across premium homes, acreage properties, and first-home buyer campaigns. Visit Monét’s website for more information or call Monét on 0403307623.