Werribee family’s almost $200k Amazon thanks to cat

Ziggy the cat, pictured on the roof of 4 Amazon Place, Werribee, inadvertently helped their owners to an almost $200,000 windfall.

A Werribee home sale that had even the auctioneer nervous by the halfway mark, has gone on to raise the home’s price almost $200,000 in fewer than two years.

And a homemade cat run for their pet Ziggy was a big part of the success.

Josh Palmer and his partner Shayla were “pretty nervous” as the 4 Amazon Place home started off with low level bidding and stalled in the middle of its price guide.

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“And then it skyrocketed,” Mr Palmer said. “I was just in a whole lot of shock.”

Ironically, celebrations for the sale boosted by the carpenter’s renovation work had to be kept limited as he was booked in to help some family with a reno on Sunday.

“But we will be looking for another house to renovate,” he added.

They’ll also be taking some time to enjoy the space that they’ve filled with memories, including bringing their daughter Mia, 18 months, home to.

An impressive renovation to the home helped bring in buyers.

The charming facade appealed to a range of buyers, but it was ultimately a first-home buyer couple that claimed the keys.

While the renovation gave the buyers confidence they could just move in and enjoy the home, it was a cat run built down the side for the Palmer family’s cat Ziggy that had them enthused.

Hocking Stuart’s Justin Tong said while the home’s renovation, and feline-friendly reno, had given it an edge — buyers hadn’t let on until well into the auction.

“It was at $550,000 at the halftime break, with only two bidders, and I was a little bit concerned,” Mr Tong said.

“Then I came out and threatened to pass it in and it just went off.”

In a sign that fear of missing out (FOMO) is returning, the agent said such gambits hadn’t been as effective recently as buyers were better at holding their nerve.

Records show the owners paid $547,000 in 2023.

The family will remember the home as the property where they brought daughter Mia home to after she was born.

A cosy living zone in the Werribee home added to the appeal after a handful of frosty nights.

“So it has gone up nearly $200,000 in two years,” Mr Tong said.

A young couple buying their first home outbid an investor and a downsizer.

The agent said rising demand after rate cuts had created a “perfect storm” for home sellers in recent weeks.

“Two underbidders is fairly common at the moment,” Mr Tong said.

The agency sold three out of their four auctions yesterday, with the only one falling short priced over $1m. Co-worker Samantha McCarthy yesterday secured a $740,000 sale at the top of the advertised range for 22 Mirrambeek Rd, Hoppers Crossing.

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