Good fortune smiles twice

Bayleys Gisborne founding shareholder James Macpherson cutting the cake marking the agency’s 25 years in Gisborne, with owner and managing director Simon Bousfield and sales agent Dianne Holland. Picture supplied

Choosing Bayleys Gisborne to sell his cyclone-damaged house, resulted in a Gisborne man being $25,000 better off, just before Christmas.

That was because he was the realty company’s 25th anniversary prize draw, which saw a number of vendors selling their properties on auction day go into a prize draw.

After wading from his flooded home of almost 30 years through waist-deep water during Cyclone Gabrielle, the man, who did not wish to be named, saw his year completely unravel.

Originally, the Branson Road property was to be listed for sale with Bayleys just a week before the cyclone.

Months later the decision was made to sell in “as is, where is” condition and the sign was installed — “Tell us what you think it’s worth”.

Opting to sell by auction and coinciding with the Bayleys Gisborne $25,000  giveaway, competitive bidding was received for the property resulting in a fantastic sale being achieved.

Later in the day, the prize wheel was spun, topping off a massive day for the property owner, who won the $25,000 prize in a room full of agents and vendors from the day’s 18 auction properties.

Ecstatic from the sale and win, he and his close family celebrated the day’s results which were very well received, capping off what has been for some, a very difficult year.