The Public Holiday Advantage to Purchasing Pre-Auction!

There’s a common misconception in Sydney that the property market slows, stalls, or stops during public holidays. But in reality, these breaks often present unique opportunities. Last Christmas marked the third consecutive year I helped a client secure a purchase within a week of the holiday. This Easter was another win—leveraging the public holidays to secure a great on-market property pre-auction.

This week's purchase

The clients contacted me early last week about a property they were keen on, and we immediately began due diligence. The property had been on the market for just a week, with the auction still three weeks away—weeks that included the Easter long weekend and Anzac Day.

We acted quickly to complete all our due diligence before Easter—giving us the flexibility to make an offer at just the right moment. This included a further property inspection, strata report review, contract review, discussions with the broker, and research into local projects and neighboring properties.

I’ve worked with the sales agent before, and we’ve built a strong relationship over the years through aligning buyers and sellers. The time and effort invested in these connections often lead to the best outcomes for my clients. It’s a value many overlook—especially those who question whether a buyer’s agent is worth the investment.

The owner was open to selling before Easter, and we were ready to submit an offer. But—we waited.

Why?

Because placing an offer with no pathway to an immediate contract exchange can be risky. It leaves your offer exposed. Other buyers have time—time to increase their offers, and time to finish their own due diligence.

So, we held off—strategically—until Easter Monday afternoon.

I confirmed with the sales agent that he’d be available to receive the offer on Monday afternoon. (As someone who values holidays, I always respect time with family and a break from work.) We agreed that if the owners were open to our price, the offer would be presented to other buyers and interested parties on Tuesday morning.

Perfect timing. By then, other buyers would be back at work—mentally unprepared to compete. Catching buyers off guard is often the key to moving from offer to exchanged contract. And for sellers, there’s incentive too: they don’t want to lose a committed buyer with an unconditional offer.

A common mistake many buyers make

It’s also why I always tell buyers—answer the phone when a sales agent calls. If you’re serious about a property, that call could be the window of opportunity.

I often hear buyers say, “We told the agent we’re not interested right now—we’ll bid at auction.” But here’s the thing: when an offer comes in, that agent probably won’t call you.

Purchased 24 hours later!

A little back and forth later, and we had exchanged contracts by lunchtime on Tuesday. Thank you, Easter Bunny!

So next time you hear someone say, “The market’s quiet,” don’t be so sure. That quiet might just be your edge.