Rhiff Larkings has sold a five-bedroom tidal waterfront house at 5A Central Avenue, Como, for $1.8 million despite the property having no vehicle access, proving the right buyer sees value where others see obstacles.
The property presented a unique challenge: accessed via foot down a right-of-way with a series of stairs, the five-bedroom, three-bathroom house had no vehicle parking on title. For a waterfront home at this price point, that’s unusual — and it shaped every conversation during the six-week campaign.
The positioning strategy
Rhiff knew early that pricing a property with no direct comparables required a broader buyer pool. The marketing campaign extended beyond the local area, targeting investors and affluent buyers who might see potential for short-term rental accommodation or a holiday retreat close to Sydney.
Digital marketing reached affluent Sydney suburbs, and print advertising ran in Domain and the Australian Financial Review. The strategy produced inspections from those demographics, but none converted.
Instead, the buyers who committed were a local family upsizing from within the Sutherland Shire — drawn not by the investment angle, but by what the property offered that money couldn’t easily replicate elsewhere.
What the buyers noticed
“Definitely the privacy and the serenity,” Rhiff said.
“It’s unbelievably peaceful where this one was positioned. Once you were down at the property, it had terraced sandstone gardens and stone steps down to a level lawn at the waterway. The peacefulness of being there was surprising when you realise you’re only 40 minutes from Sydney CBD by train.”
The buyers felt the property represented exceptional value for a north-facing tidal waterfront and were comfortable with the access, knowing it would be difficult to find something with the same qualities at this price point.
The relationship behind the sale
The vendors were repeat clients of Rhiff’s, adding a layer of trust to what could have been a difficult campaign. They had built the home in 1993 and been the only owners for more than 30 years.
“It’s always a great responsibility when it’s a home like this that’s been built by the owners,” Rhiff said.
“Given that we’d had a previous relationship — I’d sold properties for the family before and achieved great results — they put their trust in me to help guide them through this. Given that it’s obviously a challenging market at the moment and it’s an extraordinarily unique property, it was important that we had that trust there.”
The property went under negotiation before the scheduled auction date and exchanged later that week on 25 September. Three to four parties showed interest throughout the campaign, though not all were in a position to proceed due to waiting on their own property sales.
Como’s waterfront appeal
Como’s waterfront pockets offer a peaceful lifestyle within 40 minutes of Sydney CBD by train, with strong owner-occupier demographics and proximity to Como West Public School and The Jannali High School. Recent comparable sales in the area include 70 Rainbow Parade, which sold for $1.99 million in September 2024, and 9 Warraba Street, which achieved $2.6 million in 2025, reflecting sustained demand for larger family homes near the Georges River.
The sale at the $1.8 million guide price felt accurate to both parties — not too fast to suggest underpricing, not too slow to suggest overreach.
The vendors are now relocating out of Sydney, and both they and the buyers are pleased with the outcome.
About the Agent
Rhiff Larkings has built a strong reputation in the Shire prestige property market, particularly for unique properties requiring thoughtful positioning. His background in design and architecture adds value for vendors navigating complex sales, and his calm, patient approach has delivered exceptional results for repeat clients. Visit Rhiff’s website for more information or call Rhiff on 0412223099.