The client

My clients found out their neighbour was about to sell and they approached me and asked for my help to buy it. They loved their street, knew the value of the neighbourhood, and when the property came up for sale, they recognised it as a once-in-a-lifetime chance.

Owning the house beside theirs meant future flexibility for their family.

But there was a problem:

If the sellers knew the buyer was their neighbour, they might not want to sell to them.
Even if they did, there was a real risk of a “neighbour premium” — the assumption that sentiment would drive the price up.

The mission was clear: secure the property without revealing my clients’ identity until the very last moment.

The property

This was a well-presented home with solid bones and plenty of charm. Its layout and condition meant it was move-in ready but still offered potential for future renovations or expansion.

For my clients, it wasn’t just another listing — it was part of their long-term vision, and they knew an opportunity like this might not come around again for decades.

The Valuation & Strategy

Our strategy hinged on precision and timing, built around a clear valuation and a top-end limit:

Auction Guide Price Updates: The original auction guide was $1,550,000, but after the first Saturday open inspection, the agent lifted it to $1,600,000
Fair Market Value: My research placed fair value between $1,750,000–$1,800,000—a level high enough to compete but grounded in comps.
Staying Anonymous: Sending a pre‑auction offer risked exposing my client’s identity. Plus, there was already strong early interest and the agent signalled they’d proceed to auction regardless.
Tactical Registration: I registered to bid just 5 minutes before auction—the plan being the agent (and hence the sellers) would learn who was bidding too late to adjust emotionally or strategically.

The Auction

When the gavel dropped, four bidders were registered—including one on the phone, whose bids the agent called out:

Opening Bid: A young first-home buyer kicked things off at $1,500,000.
Phone Competition: The phone bidder quickly jumped to $1,600,000.
Third Bidder: Came in with a strong but likely one-shot offer at $1,655,000, then dropped out.
Down to Two: It was now the phone bidder versus me.

Up to $1,700,000, I slowed my bidding—leaning into small increments to make it seem like I didn’t believe the value extended further, even though I did. The phone bidder was counselled by the agent to raise by $10,000 steps—but responded with only $1,000 jumps—signalling hesitation.

By slightly adjusting increments and keeping the pressure measured, I let them burn emotional energy and nerves until they ran out of steam.

At $1,725,000, when the hammer fell—it was in my client’s favour.

The Outcome

Final Price: $1,725,000, smack in the middle of my fair-value range.
No Neighbour Premium: The strategic anonymity protected the purchase from emotional overpricing.
Control Without Exposure: My client now owns the house next door—securing neighbourhood peace of mind and future flexibility.

Why Strategy Wins?

This wasn’t about having the highest funds—it was about how you deploy them. By mastering timing, bid flow, and anonymity, we neutralised emotional risks and took control down to the final second.

In scenarios where personal proximity or relationships could tilt odds, a well-planned bid strategy can protect both price and outcome—even when emotions run high.

People often ask why they should hire someone to bid on their behalf. This story is the perfect answer. If another buyer is truly willing to pay more than you, no strategy will stop them. But in many cases, like this one, the difference comes down to knowing how and when to bid.

Would you invest $825 to save $100,000?
That's the power of strategy. The quicker you get the underbidder to walk away, the less you pay. That’s how you win at auction.

Click here to learn more or contact us today.

Secretly Buying the House Next Door