1860s Terrace

THE 1860s Crown Street, East Sydney,
terrace owned by print master James
Whittington and independant film
maker John Samanha has been listed
for sale. The four-storey, seven-
bedroom terrace, with city skyline
views, was once part of the property
portfolio of crime queen Tilly Devine.
It has been listed with $1.2 million-
plus expectations through Conrad
Vass from CV Property. The
120-square-metre property last
traded at $130,000 in 1987 with
renovations undertaken in 2003.

Smart Buys

East Sydney
181 CROWN STREET
$545,000
Renovated about 10 years ago, this bald-faced
terrace has a split-level living area with a
combined dining room and kitchen (with
stainless steel applicances).THere are timber
floors throughout with two bedrooms and
a balcony upstairs Inspect By appointment
Agent CV Property Group, 0418 225 089

2007 Small Business Champion Awards 2007

CV Property Group has been selected a finalist for the 2007 New South Wales & ACT Small Business Champion Awards.

KINGSFORD
5/10 HOUSTON ROAD
$340,000

Apartment 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
Built 1930s
Size 50 sq m
Strata levy $700 a quarter
Inspect By appointment
Agent CV Property Group, 0418 225 089

There is a shared garden at the rear of the two-
Storey block of eight flats were this north-facing
Apartment is on the top floor. The interior includes
A small, neat kitchen, with a polished timber floor,
That opens to the combined living-dining room with
Cream carpet and white walls.
High ceilings and plantations shutters feature throughout. NIDA and
the University of NSW and public pool are within
five minutes’ walk.

Anna Anderson

SMART BUYS

KENSINGTON
8/10 HOUSTON ROAD
$335,000
On the first floor of a 1930’s block is this 50sq m two-
Bedder. Strata levy $ 600pq. Inspect Sat , noon-
12:45pm. Agent CV Property Group, 0418 225 089.

SMART MARDI GRAS BUYS

SURRYHILLS
46/360BOURKESTREET
$210,000
On the top (fourth) level in a circa-1920 block, this
28 sq m studio unit has district views, high ornate
ceilings, separate kitchen, full bathroom (with tub)
and access to a shared rooftop terrace and laundry
facilities. Opposite St Margarets (which has a
Woolworths), it’s rented at $195 a week. Strata levy
$356pq. Inspect By appointment. Agent CV Property
Group, 9339 9599

SMART BUYS

DARLINGHURST
8/10CLAPTONPLACE
$205,000
In a circa-1920 block of 32 units, this ground-floor,
one-bedroom 41 sq mapartment has a study,
separate lounge, galley kitchen and an ensuite. It’s
in the quiet section of the street but just a stone’s
throw from the Kings Cross action and Victoria
Street’s cafe scene. It’s rented at $180 a week.
Strata levy $460pq. Inspect By appointment.
Agent CV Property Group, 0418 225 089.

2007 City Of Sydney Business Awards

CV Property Group has been nominated a finalist in the 2007 City Of Sydney Business Awards.

Real Estate Journal (New South Wales)
February 2007

Conrad Vass
CV Property Group, East Sydney

Conrad was studying for a Master of Corporate Real Estate when he decided to open up his own agency.

“I developed a lot of ideas from studying how other businesses work,” Conrad said. “I had been at the same real estate agency for 13 years and I was suggesting these ideas but I was getting frustrated trying to get them implemented. I thought that perhaps I should put my money where my mouth is and do it myself.”

It took about eight months from making that decision to opening the business last October. “I did a lot of research and a lot of preparation,” he said. “It also takes a lot of planning to ensure the business has reasonable structure and a direction for where it is going. I’m also very conscious that we have a lot of catching up to do, because we’re competing not only with the top real estate agencies in Sydney or NSW, but in Australia. I was fortunate that by the time the office was fully open we were able to complete a few transactions early on. That gave us a running start.”

Conrad spent a long time trying to find an appropriate shop-front for the business. “There were certain things that formed a checklist for me for the sort of property that I was after. It took a long time but where we are now does suit our needs very well.”

The office is tucked away behind Sydney’s trendy Oxford Street. “It was a clean shell. We engaged a very lateral-thinking designer to fit out such a small space. It was a bit more expensive than your typical fit-out.”

Conrad also made a deliberate decision not to be part of a franchise. “Being in the area where we are, we wanted to distinguish ourselves. It’s not your typical suburb. In the selection of our name, we were very conscious not to be area-specific. We didn’t want to be sector-focussed either."

CV Property Group aims to integrate all aspects of real estate – residential, commercial, investment and property management.

“In this day and age, investors are smart. Their portfolios are spread across commercial, residential and beyond. By an agent having exposure to all those different segments of the market, and being able to think on all those different levels, the buyers get a better product. The more knowledge the agent has, the more options you can have available to your client.

“Our point of difference is that we can think more laterally than agents in residential-focussed real estate businesses.”

Conrad said his biggest challenge at the moment was on finding staff to expand his team. “I have a very clear vision as to how I think the business will work and the sort of people that I want to work here. Trying to get that right has been more challenging than I thought.”

He urged anyone considering starting up their own business to seek professional advice before making the move. "Engaging like minded advisers & consultants including IT support and telephony has been crucial in order to achieve the desired outcome. It's all about working together".