Coast lures champion auctioneer Sandra Masters back home to Batemans Bay

Born and raised in Surf Beach, high-profile Canberra real estate agent and champion auctioneer Sandra Masters has returned to her roots and is looking forward to raising her young family on the Eurobodalla Coast.

Having just settled into her new role with Blackshaw Coastal at Batemans Bay, Sandra is packing her bags and heading across the ditch to take part in the Australasian Auctioneering Championship which runs from 17 – 19 September.

The only woman to make it to the top level of the prestigious competition, Sandra will represent the ACT in Auckland where she’ll take on the best auctioneers from across Australia and New Zealand.

It’s been a whirlwind couple of months packing up her family and moving to the coast, building a new home, as well as starting a new job, but Sandra said she was excited for the competition.

“I definitely have not practised as much as previous years. I’m going into it relaxed, which can actually work out better because you’re not overthinking it,” she said.

Sandra has competed and judged the competition previously, and is one of two ACT property auctioneers taking on the top two from every other state and territory.

She said the competition, conducted jointly by the Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA) and the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ), was the most prestigious event on the Australasian auctioneering calendar.

“You definitely have to be able to think on your feet, be enthusiastic and be good at ad-libbing. You need to have that entertainment factor as well,” Sandra said.

The competition involves a mock auction scenario which is identical for all 14 competitors every time – the same property and the same reserve – as they try to impress the judges with their style, charisma, energy and technique.

Sandra plans to bring her auctioneering and sale experience to the Eurobodalla property market and said she would be encouraging more coasties to consider selling their homes under the hammer.

“I would love to bring a bit of the auction culture to the coast. People are so scared of it as a process, but it’s not about smoke and mirrors, it’s not about deception, it’s the most transparent way that you can sell,” she said.

A former Real Estate Institute ACT board member, Sandra said her experience operating a well known real estate franchise in Canberra for a decade, exposed her to a very different market and different aspects of the industry which would benefit her new clients.

Commencing her real estate career in Batemans Bay at just 19, Sandra is excited to be returning to her roots and settling into her new home at Tomakin.

“It’s just time to come home, spend more time with the family and my parents and to give my kids the childhood that I grew up with and loved,” she said.

“We love spending time at the beach, going four-wheel driving in the bush and exploring nature – that’s a big one for my son.

“My daughter is a water baby and she’ll happily sit on anyone’s board. I learnt to surf at Broulee and that’s always stuck with me, so it’s nice to see that come full circle.

“I always loved snorkelling and exploring between Denhams and Surf Beach, windsurfing at Shark Bay and going out to Flat Rock with my dad – that was really special.

“We love the community down here and have really fallen in love with Tomakin because of the variety of beaches, with big waves for surfing, protected bays for the littlies and the dog beach. You also have the choice of the river for boating and fishing. It’s really unique.”

Having headed up the Eurobodalla Relay For Life committee for three years, Sandra said she was keen to get involved with school, sporting and community groups including grassroots soccer.

“I’d love to get back involved with some big projects again,” she said.

“I really loved the relay because a lot of the funds stayed local and went directly to people we knew and we could see how it helped them.

“If anyone is organising an event, shout out – I’d love to help out.”

Sandra enjoys conducting charity auctions to raise funds for community groups, and she most recently played a pivotal role in the sale of the Strathnairn Charity House in Canberra, which raised almost $1.6 million.

Since she’s been back in the Bay, Sandra has reconnected with many friends and former clients who have become her friends.

“So many people have reached out to me now that I’m back, which reminds me this is so much more than a job,” she said.

“You become so entrenched in people’s lives and get to know their families. You just don’t have that connection in Canberra and it’s a lovely thing to come home to.”

Sandra said she was thrilled to join the “community-focussed” Blackshaw Coastal team and work with principal Pat Jameson.

“Pat is a really lovely operator and a top performer that I could slot in with. I felt the whole team was the perfect fit for me,” she added.

Contact Sandra at Blackshaw Coastal for property enquiries and auction advice.