Threat of Impending Auction Produces Immediate Contract for West Boca Raton Estate
BOCA RATON, Fla., Feb. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — After searching unsuccessfully for a buyer for ten years, a home in western Boca Raton was placed under contract only 48 hours after the launch of a marketing campaign promoting the planned auction sale of the property. The ranch-style estate was scheduled for a December 16, 2017 auction with Miami-based Platinum Luxury Auctions, but it found a buyer only two days after Platinum launched its auction-marketing campaign on November 13th. The property owner retained Platinum to manage the non-distressed auction sale. The firm also served as the exclusive real estate brokerage of record for the transaction.
Platinum specializes in the sale of multimillion-dollar homes on behalf of their wealthy owners, and the company is responsible for creating the luxury auction® model for high-priced real estate auctions (in fact, Platinum owns the trademark rights to the term “luxury auction”).”While we don’t over-promote the likelihood of pre-auction sales – especially with this degree of expedition – they have always been a very real part of our business model,” noted David Ashcroft, Platinum’s director of development and sales. “The threat of competing against a room full of qualified buyers is a very strong motivator to induce an interested buyer to take action in advance of the auction date. In fact, the sale happened so quickly in this case the seller wasn’t sure if he owed us any compensation,” he joked.
According to Mr. Ashcroft, the fast-acting buyer had previously viewed the property prior to the seller engaging Platinum for a luxury auction, but he had elected not to purchase the property. “My understanding is that the buyer was previously very decisive that he was not going to purchase the property, and he headed elsewhere to look at other homes,” he said. “He was challenged by the floor plan and a number of other issues he felt were too much to fuss with.”
Yet once the auction sign was placed in the ground and Platinum’s initial marketing materials were launched, that very buyer immediately returned and made the seller an offer. “The parties settled at a price of $3.1 million, which was compelling enough for the seller to accept in lieu of an auction sale,” Ashcroft noted. The property had previously been listed for $3.9 million, down from its initial asking price of $6.25 million in 2007.
Located in a small enclave of multimillion-dollar, ranch-style estates, the property offers a unique blend of amenities for a home in western Palm Beach County. Features include two entry gates, approximately 6 acres of land (about half of which is comprised of submerged, lake acreage), a 2-stall barn, paddocks, a pool and large deck, and direct lake frontage.
Other property features include a home theater, fitness center, great room with wet bar and river rock fireplace, separate guest quarters, and a cozy family room with a built-in, 75-inch TV. The upper-level master suite is complete with a sitting area, private balcony and walk-in closet.
Seller Thrilled with February Auction Sales Result that “Surpassed Expectations”
CHARLESTON, S.C., Feb. 22, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — A luxurious beach home located within the exclusive Vanderhorst Plantation community on Kiawah Island has been sold as the result of a live auction held on the property site this past Saturday, February 17th. Luxury real estate auction firm Platinum Luxury Auctions reported that while the sales price of the auction will not be revealed until closing, the price handily exceeded the $3 million mark – far in excess of the auction’s reserve price of $1.75 million. Platinum managed the auction sale in cooperation with South Carolina-based brokerage Atlantic Properties of the Lowcountry, represented by listing agent Mary Lou Wertz.
Ms. Renie Harwood, the owner of the property, selected Platinum for the non-distressed sale after a lengthy process of interviewing real estate auction companies. In a thank you letter sent to the Miami-based auction firm, Ms. Harwood stated that the results of the sale “surpassed my expectations” and called Platinum “one of the good guys” in the real estate industry.
“We were pleased to see the very robust response to this luxury auction offering, especially given that the home failed to sell after a listing period of 2 and ½ years,” stated David Enriquez, Platinum’s vice president of operations. He added that during the 5-week promotional program in advance of the sales date, more than 14,900 international website hits were registered to the property’s page on the Platinum site, which resulted in 99 bona fide buyer inquiries and 7 registered bidders on auction day.
The winning auction bidder was described by Mr. Enriquez as a private individual who has owned multiple properties on Kiawah Island. The buyer was actually traveling abroad during the live auction, but participated via telephone with a representative who was stationed on-site to place the phone bids in real time.
The tri-level beach estate sits on a 0.7-acre lot offering 25 feet of direct beach frontage. The parcel’s lengthy, rectangular shape includes a gently winding walkway leading directly to the beach.
The main residence provides 4 bedrooms, 5 full and one-half baths, and more than 5,700 square feet of living space, while a separate guesthouse – which also serves as a cabana – adds another bed, full bath, and 350 square feet of interiors. Prominent features of the home include a large salon with oversized windows offering ocean views, an elevator, gentlemen’s study, and a large master suite occupying the entire third level.
In addition to the guesthouse/cabana, outdoor amenities include multiple terraces and patios with ocean views, a large sundeck surrounding a private pool, and an outdoor shower for rinsing off the surf and sand.
The sale is scheduled to close within 30 days, although Platinum noted that the all-cash sale might close sooner, at the request of the buyer and seller. Additional information on this transaction is available online at KiawahLuxuryAuction.com, or by contacting Platinum’s offices at 800.262.5132.
Amenities Include Indoor Pool, 2-Story Tube Slide, Home Theater & Pikes Peak Views
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Feb. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — An impressive, multimillion-dollar mountain estate in Colorado Springs with a unique collection of features is scheduled for sale via luxury auction® on March 3, 2018. The residence was previously asking $4.25 million, but will now be sold at a live auction to the highest bidder without reserve, and regardless of the amount of the high bid price. Miami-based luxury real estate auction firm Platinum Luxury Auctions was hired by the homeowner to manage the auction process. Platinum is working in cooperation with listing agents Elaine Stucey of LIV Sotheby’s International Realty, and Brent and Todd Hawker of Action Team Realty for the sale.
The property is located in the Cathedral Pines community in Colorado Springs, within just a 45-minute drive from the heart of downtown Denver, CO. The upscale, residential development spans 810 acres in the Black Forest region, and includes 170 home sites featuring large estates situated on parcels of 2.5 acres or more.
Situated on a sprawling, 45-acre lot with a private gate and access road, the property offers tremendous peace and privacy. In addition, the rear of the home offers striking and unobstructed views of Pikes Peak, one of Colorado’s most famous “fourteener” mountains (the nickname given to the state’s mountains that are more than 14,000 feet tall).
With three living levels, more than 13,000 square feet of living space, and a total of 6 bedrooms, 7 full and 3 half baths, the home is ideal for those raising a family or looking for ample space to relax. The upper living level is devoted to spacious bedrooms that include walk-in closets and en-suite baths, in addition to a finished loft stubbed for an additional bath. The common area includes custom-built study nooks, which serve as an ideal venue for children to tackle their homework. There is also an independent mother-in-law suite with a living area and kitchenette, which can be accessed privately from one of the garages.
The main living level offers a grand foyer, executive study/office, gourmet kitchen, grand salon, and a large sunroom featuring floor-to-ceiling glass doors that can be entirely opened to an oversized terrace, creating a seamless, indoor/outdoor living space.
The lower level of the estate is where the owners blended a host of fun amenities with the otherwise elegant interior appointments. Features include a gallery room/lounge, home theater with adjacent wet bar, billiards area, wine storage, fitness center, and a “swim spa” indoor pool with mechanical cover system. Adjacent to the pool is a rock grotto-styled spa tub with waterfall features.
Moving throughout the home’s three levels can be done in one of three ways: 1) on foot, 2) by private elevator, or 3) via tube slide! A custom-built, two-story tube slide provides access from the main to the lower level, and is sure to provide lasting fun for all ages. (Those worried about such “fun house” features can find solace in the fact that access to the slide is neatly tucked away behind a hallway door, preserving the estate’s luxury aesthetic).
Open House previews of the property are being held daily between the hours of 12pm and 5pm (MT), until the auction date. Interested parties must contact Platinum in advance of their planned visit, as the property is not readily identifiable by most navigational devices. Additional information is available at COLuxuryAuction.com, or by contacting a member of the Platinum team at 800.711.7193.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – If you can’t be bothered to walk down stairs, you’ll love this Colorado Springs home that’s going up for auction.
That’s because it has a built-in spiral slide leading to the lower level.
The 13,000-square-foot, six-bedroom home sits on 45 acres in the Cathedral Pines area of northeastern Colorado Springs. The property was previously listed for $4.25 million and is now going up for auction without reserve.
The house has all the high-end features you’d expect from a luxury home of its size, including a lower level that’s built for entertaining. It features a game room, indoor lap pool, hot tub with waterfall, steam shower, home theater, bar, fitness center and art gallery.
And, of course, that slide. But you can also take the stairs (or elevator) down if you’re not in the sliding mood.
The home goes up for auction on Saturday, March 3 at 11 a.m. MT. Only registered bidders will be allowed, so be sure to contact Platinum Luxury Auctions if you’re interested.
For more information on the auction, log on to platinumluxuryauctions.com.
View the original article by Kurt Sevits here.
Previously listed for $5.9M, the Kiawah Island property has views of the Atlantic Ocean
A beachfront estate on Kiawah Island, South Carolina, a popular vacation spot that boasts large pristine beaches and world-class golf courses, is going to hit the auction block next month, Mansion Global has learned.
The estate on Flyway Drive in the double-gated enclave Vanderhorst Plantation, was first offered for $5.9 million in 2015 and was last on the market for $4.395 million last August, per listing records on Zillow.
It will sell to the highest bidder with a reserve price of $1.75 million during an auction at the property on Feb. 17 held by Platinum Luxury Auctions, a Miami-based real estate auction firm.
MORE: A Restored 1780s Pink Home in Charleston, South Carolina
“The property has Atlantic Ocean views from the eastern side and lagoon views from the west. There is a scenic wooden walkway from the home site directly to the ocean,” said Trayor Lesnock, president of Platinum Luxury Auctions.
Built in 2000 and renovated in 2015, the three-level, 5,715-square-foot main residence has four bedrooms, five full bathrooms and one half- bathroom. The two-story living room features a gas fireplace, a wet bar and arching windows overlooking the pool and the Atlantic Ocean, while French doors lead to the veranda, according to the listing.
A detached 352-square-foot pool house doubles as a guest house, which comes with one bedroom, one bathroom, a full kitchen and laundry facilities.
The exterior of the main residence, designed by local architect Zach Carney, is traditional English manor style. The interior decorated by the seller, Irene X. Harwood of Harwood House Interiors, includes barrel vaulted ceilings, custom millwork, mantels and cherry cabinets.
Mrs. Harwood, who wasn’t available for comment, decided to sell the property after her husband, Michael Ray Harwood, a former chairman of the World Containerboard Organization, died in May 2015 at 71, she told The Wall Street Journal in an earlier interview.
Interested bidders, who can preview the property daily from now on, need to register and make a $100,000 refundable deposit prior to the auction date, Mr. Lesnock said.
Remote bidding is accepted on the condition that the buyer has a rep on the site.
The winner can also purchase the current owner’s membership at Kiawah Island Club separately in order to circumvent the year-long waitlist for new homeowners. The membership guarantees access to two of the seven golf courses on the island.
The gated Kiawah Island is about a 45-minute drive from Charleston, the oldest and largest city in the state of South Carolina.
For the original article written by Fang Block, click here.
Owner of Luxurious South Carolina Home Retains Platinum Luxury Auctions for the Sale
CHARLESTON, S.C., Jan. 31, 2018 — On Saturday, February 17 th, a luxurious beach home located on Kiawah Island that was previously asking $6 million will be offered for sale at a live auction, wherein the highest bidder above a $1.75 million reserve price will prevail. The sale, which was commissioned by the home’s owner, is being managed by luxury real estate auction firm Platinum Luxury Auctions. Platinum is conducting the transaction in cooperation with listing agent Mary Lou Wertz of South Carolina-based brokerage Atlantic Properties of the Lowcountry.
“While we’ve had great success in other South Carolina markets, this is our first Kiawah Island offering, and we’re thrilled to assist yet another frustrated homeowner with the date-certain sale of her multimillion-dollar property,” stated Trayor Lesnock, Platinum’s founder and president. “Kiawah has long served as the perfect example of how to develop a luxurious coastal community, and families continue to seek out the area for its beauty, safety and ample amenities.”
The tri-level property is located within the island’s exclusive Vanderhorst Plantation subdivision, which offers its own security gate (meaning the home sits behind two gates), and is home to the island’s two most desirable golf courses, Osprey Point and the world-famous Ocean Course. The community is also close to the Kiawah Island Club’s Beach Club and Marsh House facilities, which collectively offer a host of amenities to the island’s residents.
Nestled amongst mature landscaping, the home sits on a 0.7-acre lot offering direct beach frontage. The parcel’s lengthy, rectangular shape includes a private, gently winding walkway leading to the sands of the beach, and also allows the home to enjoy a degree of protection, being setback from ocean winds and sea spray.
The main residence provides 4 bedrooms, 5 full and one-half baths, and more than 5,700 square feet of living space, while a separate guesthouse – which also serves as a cabana – adds another bed, full bath, and 350 square feet of interiors. Prominent features of the home include a large salon with oversized windows offering ocean views, an elevator, study, gourmet kitchen and a large master suite occupying the entire third level.
Outside, there is a large, covered terrace and sundeck that allows for ample entertainment around the private pool. The guesthouse/cabana, adjacent to the pool, also offers its own kitchenette and a laundry area, making it ideal for overnight guests or domestic staff.
In addition, the new owner of the property will have the option to purchase a Kiawah Island Club membership directly from the current homeowner. This is significant, as it allows the new owner to avoid the often-lengthy waitlist that exists for new club members.
Previews of the property will be held daily, between the hours of 12pm and 4pm (ET), until the auction date. To ensure smooth entry through the guard gates, interested parties are encouraged to contact Platinum in advance of their planned visit. Additional information is available at KiawahLuxuryAuction.com, or by contacting a member of the Platinum team at 800.559.0882.
About Platinum Luxury Auctions
Platinum Luxury Auctions is responsible for developing the luxury auction ® model for high-priced real estate auctions, and owns the rights to the term “luxury auction.” The firm specializes in the non-distressed sale of multimillion-dollar properties within and beyond the United States. Platinum’s team has closed more than $725 million in luxury real estate auction sales to date, while consulting on more than $2.25 billion in additional luxury properties worldwide.
The owner of this Kiawah Island house designed it to have a European feel — Emily Nonko
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- Renie Harwood and her late husband had ‘deep roots’ in Kiawah Island, S.C. having had vacation homes there for 40 years. For this property, they paid $500,000 in 1995 for a parcel of land where they could build a future retirement retreat. ‘I didn’t want the predictable beach house,’ Ms. Harwood says.
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- Ms. Harwood, 70, is a retired interior designer. She spent a year planning the design–for a family-friendly house with a European feel and water views–with architect Zach Carney. The house took 2½ years to build, she says.
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- The main level is high enough to see the ocean. Ms. Harwood filled the Jiving room with antiques from her travels to New York and London. The couple hosted up to 100 guests in the living room for events like cocktail parties and holidays.
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- Ms. Harwood hired a wood craftsman to customize the wood details in the home, including the carved mantel. She collects portraits, one of which hangs above the gas fireplace.
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- A banquette in the kitchen serves as a gathering place for Ms. Harwood’s two daughters and four grandchildren. In keeping with the formal European style, there is a separate dining room.
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- Ms. Harwood allotted less space to the bedrooms to accommodate more spacious living areas. The 5,715-square-foot home has four bedrooms and 5½ bathrooms.
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- ‘We went for something dramatic,’ Ms. Harwood says of the library. The black finish of the wood was inspired by a home she saw in England.
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- The master suite includes a sitting room, two bathrooms, a dressing room and a cedar-lined closet. After listing the home for $5.9 million, Ms. Harwood decided to auction it through Platinum Luxury Auctions. The auction will take place Feb. 17 with a $1.75 million reserve.
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- The pool house has an open living area with a Murphy bed, kitchen and bathroom. ‘The idea was for my children to have an independent home without having to open the big house; Ms. Harwood says.
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- Ms. Harwood decided to sell after her husband’s death in 2015. ‘This is my dream house: she says, ‘but now I want the freedom to rent and walk away.’
For the Full Wall Street Journal “House of the Day” Article by Emily Nonko, click here.