Open Property

Open Property, real estate sales agency in Townsville

Open Property is a real estate agency based in Townsville (Australia) focused on the sale of residential properties. Its proposition is built around a fixed fee structure instead of a percentage of the sale price, a formula with which the firm claims its clients can save up to 50% on commissions. The agency presents itself as a team with knowledge of the local Townsville market and offers its services to both sellers and buyers.

Fixed commission model and savings for the seller

The agency's differentiating axis is its fee structure: it does not charge a percentage of the sale price, but rather a reduced fixed fee. According to its own presentation, this formula allows savings of thousands of dollars in commissions and can represent up to 50% less than conventional commissions. The website includes a savings calculator so that property owners can estimate the difference compared to other charging models.

The agency supports this model with a "no sale, no fee" guarantee and a marketing package with no upfront costs, so that exposing the property does not require an upfront outlay.

Services for sellers

The catalogue of services aimed at owners who want to sell includes:

• Free, no-obligation appraisal.
• Advice on the sales process for those facing a transaction for the first time or repeating the experience.
• Property marketing with no upfront costs.
• Photography for marketing the property.
• Suburb profile reports.
• After-sales service.

The agency describes its marketing method as a way to give "powerful exposure" to the property without the upfront outlay that other packages usually require.

Services for buyers

For those looking to buy, Open Property offers listings of properties for sale, a recent sales section, information on open homes and an alert system to receive notifications of new properties.

Team

The agency identifies two professionals as the main people responsible:

• Michael Gilbertson, principal of Open Property Gilbertson & Co.
• Carrie Hubert, principal of Open Property.

Both appear as direct contacts for sales and purchase enquiries.

Recent activity in the Townsville market

The website includes examples of sold homes that illustrate the type of transactions in which the agency participates:

• A house on Gilby Ct, Kirwan, with three bedrooms, two bathrooms and two parking spaces on 528 m², sold for $630,000.
• A house on Walleroo Ct, Rangewood, with four bedrooms, two bathrooms and seven parking spaces on 3,306 m², sold for $990,000.
• A house on Waterbury Tce, Idalia, with three bedrooms, two bathrooms and two parking spaces on 525 m², sold for $667,000.

These examples correspond to neighbourhoods in the Townsville area and show a range of prices and land sizes ranging from urban homes of around 500 m² to large plots of more than 3,000 m².