Open Plan Luxe Living

An elegant sandstone Tudor gets a modern makeover in Linden Park. Harris Real Estate property consultant Effie Vlachoulis shows us through.

Curb appeal is everything in real estate, and this classic two-level Tudor home overlooking Austral Park in Linden Park has it in spades. But it’s what’s behind the imposing double entry doors that really impresses – a transformation that pays homage to the original home while adding a new modern open-plan rear extension, perfect for family life. The result is grand.

Every inch of this majestic home has been thoughtfully planned – in actual fact, from concept to completion it took four years, with the old 1932 home being architecturally recast with the help of award-winning design studio Enoki.

The flexible floor plan is at the heart of the build’s success and the dedicated outdoor space demands instant attention. A full-sized turfed tennis court, heated pool, two alfresco pavilions and outdoor kitchen making it an entertainer’s dream.

Inside, there is a lavish master suite, which takes up the entire upper floor, and a plethora of luxe fittings and finishes including Jarrah floors, Miele appliances and more. Add to this, the home’s enviable park-side location, within the prized zone for Linden Park Primary and Glenunga International High School, and you have an impressive, inviting, exquisitely finished home that is perfect for the family who wants a little more.

“The luxury market in South Australia is still performing well as buyers are looking for high quality homes in sought after suburbs and preferred school zones. I am confident we will have a lot of interested buyers for this property!”

Effie Vlachoulis, Harris Real Estate

Effie Vlachoulis
Property Consultant
0412 677 189
effiev@harrisre.com.au
@effievlachoulisrealestate

Get To Know Effie Vlachoulis From Harris Real Estate

Effie Vlachoulis from Harris Real Estate knows the importance of trust and relationships better than most, and now it’s paying dividends.

We chat to the property consultant to find out more.

You’re a property consultant now, but that hasn’t always been the case– tell me about what you were doing before Harris.

Before real estate, I owned and operated a fashion boutique in Burnside and Norwood called Niki Belle. I stocked some beautiful brands including Zhivago, Lexi, Viktoria & Woods and was the go-to for any formal occasion. Working in fashion introduced me to so many people; I formed so many great relationships and really became part of my client’s lives, helping them choose outfits for special occasions and enjoying their return clientele. Helping people gave me such a great sense of job satisfaction, and luckily for me I continue to enjoy this same job satisfaction as a property consultant.

So, what made you decide to make the move from fashion retail to real estate?

I have always had an interest in real estate and, after approximately 10 years in retail, I felt it was time for a change. Surprisingly, the two industries are really quite similar – it’s all about helping people, it’s about relationships and it’s about trust. I have been able to maintain many of the relationships formed during my time at Niki Belle, and some of these people are now also clients of mine at Harris.

This is obviously one of your key points of difference.

Yes, and this is because I understand the importance of trust and commitment. My clients know that I will put 100 percent effort into their property campaign, from arranging trades and getting them sale ready, to doing the negotiating and ensuring the settlement runs smoothly. When I am selling a property, all of my attention is about that property, I’m not just thinking of the next one.

What other attributes make you a great property consultant?

Being personable, friendly, genuine, approachable and humble are attributes that I believe make me a great property consultant. Positive energy and a capacity to work under pressure is also very important.

You made the change just before COVID hit, at a time when interest rates were low and house prices were on the increase – what impact did this have on your entry into the industry?

Fortunately, it was the best time for me to get into the real estate industry. Properties were selling quickly for increased vendor expectations. Everyone was very optimistic and everyone was getting great results. I believe you still need to work hard when selling a property in any market as there are high and low times and managing buyer and vendor expectations is essential.

Where do you see yourself in the next five years?

I hope to be able to help as many people buy and sell in Adelaide. I am committed to ongoing training and development and want to be known as Adelaide’s most honest, genuine and successful real estate agent

Effie Vlachoulis
Property Consultant
0412 677 189
effiev@harrisre.com.au
@effievlachoulisrealestate

High-Touch Real Estate

Like many industries, the real estate industry has had to adapt due to changing market conditions. Effie Vlachoulis from Harris Real Estate talks to us about the importance of an effective online presence when selling your home.

An effective online profile and an engaging social media presence seems to be more important than ever before for real estate agents. How are these platforms used to attract buyers?

Social media is an integral part of my business; it enables me to promptly advertise current properties and provide an update on what is happening in the current market. Potential buyers are also often interested in what their day-to-day life will look like after purchasing in a particular area, so I advertise the lifestyle surrounding my properties for sale on social media. Other than attracting relevant buyers, social media also helps me to engage with buyers or sellers easily and efficiently, and it also gives prospective sellers the ability to look at my track record of sales.

I imagine social platforms are also important tools for ‘off market’ sales?

Platforms such as Instagram and Facebook are important for off market sales as they provide those on the Harris buyer database with information about properties that may match their buying requirements. Buyers interested in these off market properties are able to directly message me about the property to ask questions and to submit offers before the property is advertised on realestate.com.au and Domain. Off market sales are all about beating the competition before it hits the open market and so social media gives prospective buyers a head start. It is also very cost effective for vendors as there are no advertising fees.

Virtual walk throughs are another technology-based sales strategy that has no doubt been used a lot during COVID. How effective are virtual walk throughs and what type of buyer is accessing this service?

Virtual walk throughs are an extremely effective technology-based strategy. In fact, I would say that they are just as effective as if a prospective buyer was walking through the house themselves. Virtual walk throughs are essentially a guided tour of the property during which I walk through each room of the house pointing out its features, and enabling prospective buyers to ask questions about each room specifically. Most buyers accessing this service are interstate or overseas buyers. Virtual walk throughs open the property market up to more prospective purchasers, giving more buyers a chance to view the home in a shorter amount of time.

Video streaming is another technology that seems to have gained popularity during the pandemic.

Yes, video streaming, like virtual walk throughs, also enables me to contact a wider range of buyers. Video streaming allows people to be part of a live auction without physically being there. This is also 
a useful tool for people who may have to isolate suddenly.

“97 percent of all home buyers used the internet in their home search.” 

NAR 2020 Home Buyers and Sellers Generational Trends Report

Effie Vlachoulis
Property Consultant
0412 677 189
effiev@harrisre.com.au
@effievlachoulisrealestate