First-home owner smashes reserve in $960,000 Bayswater auction win

2 days ago 10

10 Stafford Court, Bayswater North, where a first-home buyer’s lockdown renovation has delivered a $960,000 auction result.

A Bayswater North first-home buyer has turned a lockdown DIY disaster into a $960,000 auction windfall after ripping out a side deck he feared could “fall straight through”.

The renovated three-bedroom home at 10 Stafford Crt sold under the hammer after four bidders competed, selling $40,000 above its $850,000-$920,000 price guide.

Homeowner Nathan Catania said he went into the auction expecting the worst.
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“I was honestly nervous going in,” he said.

“You hear a lot of horror stories about auctions and I just wasn’t sure if we’d hit that minimum.

“But we got there, and then some. So anything above that was just gravy.”

Mr Catania bought the property during Melbourne’s 2020 lockdowns as his first home, taking on a house that required major work.

“The previous owner was a bit of a DIY enthusiast, just maybe not the best one,” he said.

“There was a deck down the side that looked like you could fall straight through it. It wasn’t up to code, so we had to rip that out and rebuild it properly.”

The covered alfresco deck was a key highlight for buyers, offering a fully renovated space for year-round entertaining.

Inside, the updated living zone delivers a clean, modern finish designed for comfortable family living.

Over time, he completed upgrades including a new bathroom and improvements to the outdoor entertaining area, transforming the home into a move-in-ready property.

Mr Catania said the effort paid off at auction, with strong competition from local buyers.

“There’s been a lot of blood, sweat and tears,” he said.

“The couple who bought my place are a young family as well, first-home buyers, which is great to see.

“It was my first home too, so knowing it’s going to another young family feels really special.”

The renovated central bathroom was one of several upgrades completed during the owner’s transformation of the home.

He said the Bayswater North community had been a major drawcard, particularly as more young families moved into the area.

“I had some fantastic neighbours, and there’s been a real influx of young families,” he said.

Ray White Ringwood director Chris Watson said the auction gained momentum once bidding reached the reserve.

“It was a little slow to get going, but once we hit the reserve it really picked up and found its rhythm,” Mr Watson said.

“We had four active bidders, so it was good, genuine competition.”

Mr Watson said presentation had been key to the campaign’s success, with buyers responding strongly to the home’s renovation and outdoor entertaining.