Real estate Sydney: Auction heroes and horror stories, knife attacks, bikie gangs, money problems and marriage

Knife attacks, bikie gangs and love: Sydney is known for the cutthroat nature of its property market and this is proof it brings out the best and worst in us.

From knife attacks to brain attacks, from monumental money mistakes to matrimony and the ultimate of seller’s remorse – real estate auctions really do bring out the best and worst in us.

Sydney is known for the cutthroat, high stakes nature of its property market. At which arguably the world’s most competitive auction market sits at the pointy end. But some of the tales within them almost defy belief.

As an auctioneer with over 20 years experience, Property Auction Services’ Rob Trovato has pretty much seen it all on the frontline, including an attempted knife attack and bikie gang intimidation.

“It happened a little while ago in Brunswick St, Granville but I’ll never forget it,” he said.

Rob Trovato was assaulted prior to an auction, with the convicted offender also coming at him with a knife.

“A tenant who didn’t want the townhouse he was renting to be sold, decided to take matters into his own hands after the last inspection prior to the auction. After he and his flatmate both attacked me and laid into me in from of the prospective buyers, he came at me with a knife. I was able to stay clear of him. The police were called and both tenants resisted arrest and were tasered before being taken away.”

Records from Parramatta Local Court reveal the knife attacking tenant later pleaded guilty to common assault and armed with intent to commit indictable offence. He was convicted and entered into a good behaviour bond for 12 months.

The home was eventually sold via auction at the LJ Hooker office in Granville later that winter day but only three of the registered parties turned up to bid at the rescheduled auction.

“It was a good result to get the sale, but the day was memorable for all the wrong reasons,” said Mr Trovato, who appeared in court as a prosecution witness in the case.

He also recalls a time he was auctioning a home next to a bikie gang boss’s abode in Parramatta, whose second in command wanted to live there.

“The house next door had railway sleepers for protection and the bikies were trying to intimidate bidders at the auction by saying ‘there will be drive-bys here every night’. But most of the bidders didn’t care and someone other than the bikie bought the house.”

This Surry Hills home was he subject of some unhealthy bidding.

On the other side of town, at an auction on Richards St, Surry Hills, fast-rising prices made a bidder faint at an auction. Auctioneer Damien Cooley paused proceedings when the man in his 50s passed out — twice.

“I reckon it was a combination of the bids escalating quite quickly and the high-pressure environment,” Mr Cooley said.

“He obviously got a bit carried away and was bidding above what he’d set out to pay.” An ambulance was called, but never came. After a rest and some water the man even put in a few more bids before losing to an even more eager party.

The house was sold for almost $500,000 over reserve.

“I’d have fainted too, if I had just paid that,” local resident Tim Blanshard said.

On the other side of the coin, Tim Panos has experience first-hand the ultimate in seller’s regret.

“I was auctioning this Newtown home and had been talking it up on TV and during the auction, saying what a great place it was etc and the vendor was obviously paying a lot of attention,” Mr Panos said.

Tom Panos: the ultimate in vendor regret. Picture: John Appleyard

“After the home was sold under the hammer we went inside and the vendor said: ‘I’ve been listening to everything you have said and you’re right, this is paradise. I’ve decided I want to stay so I’m not selling’”.

Mr Panos explained the house had been sold and that was that.

“He was OK, the next day but he definitely had cold feet. I’ve never seen something like that before or since,” Mr Panos said.

An auctioneer made the ultimate mistake in a Redfern sale in 2017 when he declared a deceased estate on Boronia St sold, when it hadn’t even reached the reserve.

Builders Sean Piper and Martin Allen were overjoyed when they snapped up the dilapidated three-bed terrace with peeling paint, squeaky floorboards, mouldy walls and outdoor loo.

Sean Piper (l) and Martin Allen successfully bid on 46 Boronia St Redfern but were later informed that the reserve was incorrect. Picture: Jenny Evans

But after a legal dispute the home ultimately went to the underbidder who paid above the reserve.

At a South Coogee home the same year, A father and son became ­rivals in a $6 million bidding war over the house where their wife and mother was found dead in a pool of blood in 2012.

The pair were seen arguing before the auction and were eyeballing each other during it.

Robert Angius made the opening bid of $4.6 million via an agent. But it was John who ran out winner, beating his son and another would-be buyer.

Son of the late Laura Angius, Robert Angius pictured before the auctions starts in a heated conversation with supporters of his father John (Giovanni).

This article does have a happy ending though: Bronnie Roberts married Mark Husband late last year after she bought a home in Ellalong Rd, North Turramurra from her husband to be.

After exchanging texts about repairs and sorting out mail redirection the couple realised there could be more to their relationship.

Mark Husband and Bronnie Roberts outside the Turramurra home they met via. Picture: John Appleyard

“I liked him and we had another cup of tea and a bit of chit chat,” Ms Roberts said.

“I had to come out and ask him if we were going to go out – so we set a date and we went out.

“He’s so lovely and I was flat out so in love with him straight away.”