Sarah Mairs has secured an off-market sale at 35B Cambrian Street, Churton Park, Wellington, matching a buyer from her database with vendors who needed a swift exit to secure their next home.
Sarah Mairs had a buyer in her database who had been searching for a few weeks, buying new furniture for the next property but struggling to find wall space to accommodate it.
When she walked into 35B Cambrian Street, a 1970s two-bedroom townhouse in Churton Park, she immediately knew she had found the answer.
“As soon as I walked in, I immediately thought about this particular buyer,” Sarah said.
“It was offering ready move-in, easy living. I had just recently shown her some other properties and felt this was by far the best option for her, the safest option and the happiest place I could really see her living in.”
Visualising the furniture
The property had something the buyer’s previous options lacked: enough wall space for the furniture she had already purchased. Sarah found herself mentally staging the home before her client even saw it.
“You would think I was the buyer, not her,” Sarah said.
“But it just had everything going that she was interested in. The internal access garage was a real bonus along with a small, manageable section and a lovely outlook.”
The match was intuitive. The co-ordination that followed required precision.
Making the timing work
Sarah had met the vendors at one of her other open homes. They were keen to secure that property but needed to sell first. Sarah’s tagline — “Matching Hearts with Homes” — suddenly became literal.
“In order for them to secure that place, I knew I had to step it up into first gear and do something for them,” Sarah said.
“They are absolutely thrilled, they have got much closer to family. In actual fact, just around the corner, which is what they wanted.”
Co-ordinating the sale alongside the vendors’ planned purchase meant managing two transactions that had to move in lockstep. The vendors needed their sale to fund their purchase. The buyer needed certainty. Both needed speed.
“Timing was of the essence,” Sarah said.
“We had to line our ducks up in a row with both deals going on.”
One week to settlement
The property went under contract on 7 June after just five days on the market. Settlement was set for 19 June — one week later.
“By Wednesday, I was calling both of them saying, ‘You need to talk to your lawyers. We all need to be on the same page,'” Sarah said.
“From going unconditional to settlement, it’s one week. There’s been a lot of action to move forward with both parties.”
Sarah stayed in constant contact with both parties and their lawyers, with everyone’s consent, to keep the process moving.
“I am never one to get ahead of myself — quietly confident, definitely hoping it was going to work,” Sarah said.
“But when people still have to do due diligence and search council records, you never know what’s going to actually happen.”
Churton Park context
Churton Park is an established northern Wellington suburb with a mix of family homes and townhouses.
The area offers local shopping at Churton Park village and standard suburban amenities, appealing to owner-occupiers.
The moment it came together
When both deals went unconditional, the relief was audible.
“It’s just the tone of voices when you hear that things have happened,” Sarah said.
“Words that are said to you about how much they appreciate what you’ve done over this past week — that’s probably it, really.”
The two-bedroom townhouse sold for $650,000. Both parties are settled. And somewhere in Churton Park, a buyer finally has enough wall space for her furniture.
About the Agent
Sarah Mairs has been in real estate since 1997, winning the Just Paterson Award of Excellence in her first year. She has consistently ranked among the top agents at Ray White Khandallah, building a business on repeat and referral clients through clear communication, honest advice, and strong negotiation. Visit Sarah’s website for more information or call Sarah on +64272474375.