A curious neighbour is the centre of marketing campaign for a central Auckland property as he pops up during the tour of a house being filmed for the marketing campaign.
The Bayleys agents Jock Kooger, Pawel Smuga and Leon Schrader, who are marketing the property at 5/59 Shelly Beach Rd, spotted the curious neighbour as they edited the footage of the 3D tour of a house.
"I saw him and I was like 'oh no, we now have to do a whole another tour again'," Kooger laughed.
"But then we talked to him and he doesn't mind it and he was okay with being famous."
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The agents are giving away three bottles of champagne to those who find the well-hidden neighbour on the 3D OneRoof tour of the property, which will be auctioned on July 29.
Kooger is not new to marketing stunts, making the news last year as he took a plunge off the cliff while wearing a formal suit at owner’s request.
"We run competitions and giveaways all the time. I once jumped off the cliff for a property but I've never done something like this before."
The competition has boosted interest in the three-bedroom unit in St Marys Bay and some people are taking tours up to 30 times to win the prize.
The 5/79 Shelly Beach Road property overlooking Westhaven Marina will be auctioned on July 29. Photo/ Supplied.
The feedback from house-hunters and curious punters has been great, Kooger says.
“I think that it was an accident that happened but it is a beautiful property in a good location, with amazing views and then the neighbour popped up - it's just funny."
Many comments in the giveaway say the curious neighbour hid well.
“Incredible house. I didn’t see the neighbour but maybe because I was too busy looking at the house,” someone says. “What neighbour? I watched twice and couldn't see one,” another one states.
Clever marketing plays are helping properties stand out in the heated Auckland market.
Last week a Ray White South Auckland agent, Pat Lapalapa, made an even riskier call by listing a three-bedroom home for $1 reserve.
Lapalapa says the risk payed off, as the modest Manurewa property was sold under the hammer for $600,000 with 39 registered bidders and 200 people attending the auction.
"It was over in a couple of minutes, it got down to four bidders in the end," he says, adding that removing the price expectations barrier meant people were more likely to turn up at auction. The house sold to a new client who bought under a company name.
