Going, going, gone..... Kiwi auctioneer wins Australasian championships

New Zealand’s top real estate auctioneer has beaten the Aussies on their home turf – taking out the Australasian Auctioneer Championships held in Adelaide this week.

Twenty-two year old, Daniel Coulson from Auckland, called ‘the perfect auction’ to win the two-day event – utilising a high-energy blend of humour, body language, an intricate knowledge of real estate legalise, and stage dramatics, to wow the judges with a flawless performance in a tight time-frame.

He is the youngest auctioneer ever to win the title.

Coulson, who works for Bayleys Real Estate, took the top gavel accolade ahead of four other finalists including peers from across Australia’s states. Each finalist had to call a mock property auction in front of a packed auditorium. ‘Planted’ bidders in the auction room were trained to throw in a range of curly bids and questions at the auctioneers throughout the process.

However, Coulson’s calm demeanour and in-depth real estate expertise saw him professionally clear every hurdle, while at the same time creating rumblings of mirth throughout the crowd with his numerous quips and retorts.

“It was an honour just to stand alongside the best in the industry from Australia and New Zealand. To then win the title is simply unbelievable,” said Coulson, who has been calling real estate auctions for four years.

“There were some nerves in the final when I walked out on stage to face the auditorium and judges, but once I focussed on the property I went into a virtual automatic-reflex mode and the lines simply flowed. Having the occasional leftfield bid or distraction thrown in certainly kept me alert, but when you’re calling residential auctions every day of the week for a living, you get used to those quirks coming up,” he added.

“It’s great to be bringing home the silverware.”

The Australasian victory caps off a stellar year in Coulson’s career. In June he took out the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand National Auction Championships, and in September he was one of the four Bayleys auctioneers watched by more than one million TV viewers in the season finale of the hit DIY home-renovation series The Block NZ.

Coulson was supported at the event by an entourage of vocal Bayleys colleagues – including the company’s managing director, Mike Bayley - who had travelled to Adelaide with high hopes for their star auctioneer.

“We’re all incredibly proud of Daniel’s achievement in winning this title. The championship victory is a true reflection of the dedication and professionalism Daniel brings to the job every day of the week, and is part of what makes him so valued by both Bayleys and the vendors for whom he works for,” said Mr Bayley.