How To Sell a $10 Mil property – The Barefoot Way

This interesting story published in the SMH Domain section comes with an even better back story. 34 Childe Street Belongil Beach has been for sale privately and off-market for some time. The asking price has always been over $10 mil. The owners were Peter and Jodie James, founders of the Mortgage Ezy finance Group. The property included two houses on two titles. The front one with absolute Beach frontage was renovated by architect Jodie with special inclusions to make it a “healthy home” and completely EMF free.

The attached story includes a claim by Parkinson’s REA principal Frank Mlikota that he sold the property site-unseen, half undressed and half intoxicated to a Melbourne buyer. That is not so unusual as quite a few properties have sold recently without a physical inspection. Such is the state of the market. It’s also in keeping with Mr Mlikota’s “Barefoot” branding. The main surprise is Mr Mlikota claim that he had also had never set foot on the property as well.

It seems that the listing agent, who is no longer with the agency, has some questions about that. There may also be a small problem with the disputed payment of a chunky commission. Frank Mlikota claims to be the seller of the “Matt Damon” house in Broken Head as well. This is confusing as I believe he means he sold the house that Matt Damon holidayed in with his family – not a house he sold to Matt Damon.

Frank is being a bit disingenuous with this one. The idea that he sold a $12.5 mil property he had never inspected, was half drunk and half-dressed when he did it is a marker of his skills as an agent is a bit of a stretch.