First published 1 Nov 2026, 12:00pm
3/22 Gillman St, Cheltenham, moved its auction forward by a week to beat the Reserve Bank, after finding a workaround to Victoria’s new auction laws.
A Melbourne homeowner’s decision to bring forward their auction by a week to beat an expected interest-rate hike on Tuesday has paid off with a bonus $77,000 above expectations.
The sellers of 3/22 Gillman St, Cheltenham, had listed the home with a reserve price disclosed from day one, paving the way for them to consider an auction earlier in the campaign if they had felt it would benefit the sale.
Others planning an auction for next weekend would have been unable to make the same move after concerning inflation data emerged on Wednesday, effectively forced to wait seven days and until after the Reserve Bank makes its next interest-rate call, even if they had disclosed a reserve price immediately after the inflation figures emerged.
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Sellers are required to advertise their reserve price at least seven days before a planned auction or set-date sale under Victoria’s new underquoting laws, which kicked off in October.
Ray White’s Kevin Chokshi handled the sale and auction and said the auction had been shifted as a result of concerns over the RBA’s next move.
“We brought it forward to today thinking of the potential interest rate increase, rather than taking the chance on negative sentiment if there is a rate increase – and I think that was the right move,” Mr Chokshi said.
An enviable kitchen with glass splashbacks and substantive benchspace.
The home’s indoor living zone opens seamlessly to an outdoor area.
Despite the happy final result, buyers did try to minimise the price with an opening bid at $850,000, almost six figures below the $945,000 reserve.
The agent said he had been forced to make two vendor bids, and to reject a $5000 offer made at the $875,000 mark, to keep things moving.
But eventually it sold for $1.022m to a buyer planning an upsize. They beat out another with the same intent as well as a younger couple.
Mr Chokshi said the sale reflected that well-presented and priced homes were attracting bidding.
The early disclosure also meant they could be confident they had the right price.
“If we are forced to put the reserve out there, we might as well do so in a way where we can test it out properly,” Mr Chokshi said.
An established hedge provides privacy for backyard gatherings.
A neutral decor around the home makes the most of natural light.
The double-storey home features a three-bedroom floorplan with an open plan living and dining zone flanked by the kitchen which has the laundry and a bathroom concealed behind it.
Sliding doors open to an outdoor entertainment deck lined with established hedges provide a private space to entertain and a verdant backdrop.
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