Audiences sold on Andrew Winter's Selling Houses Australia, with record ratings
Andrew Winter’s Selling Homes Australia achieved record ratings in its 2012 series debut.
The show’s average audience was about 115,000 – who rather than watch the cricket tuned into the program on Foxtel Lifestyle. Viewers peaked at 152,000.
It seems assured to remain the top-rating non-sports program on subscription television.
The 2012 series kicked off with a flood house makeover in the Brisbane suburb of Yeronga.
The previous best average audience score was when it showed a Frankston extreme mess makeover, which had a 114,000 average audience rating when it aired midway through its fourth series last year.
Winter’s profile is steadily more known across Australia following a roadshow late last year sponsored by News Ltd local papers, where he gave seminars sponsored by RP Data.
Last year’s debut program on a North Rocks makeover was watched by an average 91,000 people, which was its highest season debut since its premiere in 2008 at 72,000 average audience with an Austinmer makeover, based on OzTam data.
There were 68,000 average viewers per program after its 2008 launch.
Viewers dipped to 49,000 in season two, then jumped back to 62,000 in season three.
There were typically 108,000 viewers in its fourth series last year when Winter accepted Astra Awards for the Viewers’ Favourite Personality (second year running) and for the third year running, the Viewers’ Favourite Lifestyle Program.
Selling Houses began on Britain's Channel 4 amid the property boom in 2002 when Winter, then a London real estate agent, was plucked from obscurity to present the program.
He rivalled Property Ladder's Sarah Beeny and Location, Location, Location's Phil Spencer until his migration, with his wife Caroline and their three daughters, to the Gold Coast in Australia.
Winter, who is represented by the Harry M. Miller Group, has dispensed advice this year suggesting with another year comes a new property outlook.
He suggests important New Year resolutions for buyers and seller in the market for 2012 should include:
1. I will not place my house on the market unless I seriously want to sell and understand that the price I am finally offered may not be what I hoped for.
2. If I am selling, I will not leave it all to the agent. I resolve to get involved, read the text in advertisements and online, check the pictures, questions all aspects of the marketing campaign and listen to the agent’s advice and give them a chance to explain.
3. I will not underestimate the power of first impressions when selling. I will not leave the toilet seat up, beds will be made, windows will be shining, the whole place will feel clean, and no sign of pets other than pictures of them.
4. As a buyer, I will acknowledge that in reality my requirements will change during my search and I promise to be realistic with my expectations.
5. I promised to do my research and know there’s no such thing as “guaranteed capital growth”.
6. If I see a home I really like I will be prepared to pay market value and not get upset when the sellers, who are normal, sane beings, refuse my mad, crazy and insulting low offer. I will try to secure the home at the right price, but make sure any low offers are based on facts and market conditions or because the seller needs to sell quick. If I do make an offer under those circumstances, I resolve to act quickly.