Auction comedy: prankster waves $100 to speed up bids

A neighbour made a cheeky cash offer during 77 Albenca St, Cheltenham’s auction on the weekend.

A marathon auction in Melbourne’s south east turned into a “carnival” when a cheeky onlooker jokingly offered to give bidders cash to speed up the event on the weekend.

Ray White Bayside Group’s Trevor Bowen said almost 60 people turned out to watch the three-bedroom house at 77 Albenca St, Cheltenham, go under the hammer.

Three buyers competed for the blonde brick home featuring a garden with a pergola, built-in barbecue and outdoor kitchen.

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“It was a great auction and it went for a long time, about 40 minutes and there was a total of 49 bids,” Mr Bowen said.

“At one stage, someone in the crowd yelled out, held up a $100 note and said, ‘I’ll give it to you if you buy now’.”

The interjector, a neighbour, drew plenty of laughter from the crowd.

The owner of 77 Albenca St, Cheltenham, lived there for 30 years before deciding to sell.

The large garden was a major attraction for buyers.

Mr Bowen returned the banter, offering to buy the house himself so that he could get the cash.

“The auctioneer said ‘no’ because they knew we were all joking,” Mr Bowen said.

A couple who plan to rent out the residence for a year or two before moving in themselves were the successful buyers.

“They loved the garden, it was beautiful,” Mr Bowen said.

“The reserve was at the top of the range at $1.29m and the home sold for $1.325m.”

Mr Bowen said the entertaining auction had given the house’s owner a fun-filled send-off.

“Because of all the laughing and the guy in the crowd, it was like a carnival,” Mr Bowen said.

“The vendor had lived there for more than 30 years, a lot of love had gone into the home.”

60 Waverley Park Drive, Mulgrave, also sold on the weekend.

The main kitchen is fitted with stone-topped benches, a 900mm Smeg oven and gas stove, Haier dishwasher and an island breakfast bench.

Another Saturday auction saw a Mulgrave house with views across the iconic Waverley Park grandstand and complex that served as Hawthorn’s base until recently, when the club sold the site to the AFL ahead of its move to a new base in Dingley, go under the hammer.

BigginScott’s Ming Xu and Jing Chen starred in a Hawks-themed online listing video showing the four-bedroom home.

Mr Xu said three bidders contested the auction for the 60 Waverley Park Drive residence.

“It ended up selling to a lady who used to live in Mulgrave, she likes the view from the balcony,” Mr Xu said.

“During the auction, I said that because the AFL has bought Waverley Park, for non-Hawks’ fans that is maybe good news as the AFL might put a different team in there.”

Mr Xu also joked that the home’s balcony could serve as a “corporate box” for any football games held there in the future.

The residence, advertised with a $1m-$1.1m range, sold for $1.19m.

3/61 Blackburn Rd, Blackburn, was inspected by a lot of first-home buyers but was snapped up by a downsizer.

And two-bedroom unit in Melbourne’s east sold shortly after passing in on a $680,000 bid at an auction involving two bidders.

Woodards Blackburn partner Rachel Waters said the home at 3/61 Blackburn Rd, Blackburn, had been inspected by several first-home buyers during the sales campaign.

However, it ended up selling to a downsizer, the highest bidder, for $701,000 following post-auction talks.

This kitchen features new cabinetry and stainless steel appliances.

“It didn’t take long to negotiate after the auction because it’s a fantastic unit,” Ms Waters said.

“The location was really important to the buyer as it was within walking distance of the library, her favourite cafe, the train station and Blackburn Lake.”

The home features polished hardwood floors, new blinds and a recently updated kitchen, bathroom and bedrooms.

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