Buying a luxury home at your fingertips

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MYERS PARK – Going, going, and now multiple bids.

The seller of a beautiful 3,000-square foot Federal-style brick home in Myers Park recently listed it for four days on an online auction site and now is negotiating the sale with

several buyers. In fact, Scott Kirk, president of the auction site Interluxe.com, said prospective buyers for the desirable property should continue to contact him.

What’s unconventional about the sale is the seller’s decision to list the elegant 1949 property at 2319 Providence Road using the services of Charlotte’s Interluxe, an online auction service of luxury properties that provides a user experience of “everything a traditional listing isn’t.”

Bidding for the property started at $550,000 with a bid deposit of $10,000. The four-bedroom, 2.5-bath home features a chef’s gourmet kitchen with built-in stainless steel appliances, custom cabinetry with an island covered in blue pearl granite and countertops of rare Italian statuary white marble.

The downstairs living space has excellent flow and also includes a dining room with chair rail and thick crown moldings; a formal living room with French doors; a family room with built-in cabinets and shelves, all with gleaming wood floors; and an airy sunroom with slate floors overlooking the lush landscape.

The property sits on two-thirds of an acre that provides for a garden oasis with stately oak and Japanese maple trees, 30 camellia bushes, enormous azaleas and a rose garden, all creating a blaze of color throughout the seasons near the center of the city.

The tax value of the property based on its 2011 valuation is $499,200, with a yearly tax payment of $5,587.  Kirk would not disclose the current high bid as negotiations are ongoing.

Launched in May, Interluxe provides “the ultimate complement to traditional listings,” according to Kirk. The level of marketing furnished by the auction service includes detailed listing information, e-blast and national advertising to an established customer base, a “Last Call” feature, public relations and social media exceeding what normally comes standard with a traditional listing.

Kirk said the process appeals to buyers and sellers because it differentiates their property. “It creates transparency for bidders, and sellers can set a time line (on a listing).”All the due diligence and home inspections are done in advance by the seller so “there are no surprises.”

Contracts are noncontingent  and sellers can set minimum bids and know their property will be sold by a specific date. Every seller gets access to the site’s database of more than 100,000 luxury homebuyers and 1 million agents. Buyers can tour homes at their convenience during scheduled open houses or by setting an appointment.

There are no surprises either for listing agents who use the service. The listing agreement does not change and there’s no reduced commission.

Kirk said the company is selective in the properties it represents, hosting homes expected to sell for $750,000 or more.  Fees charged to sellers include a $150 administrative fee per bidder and a charge for the marketing package. Buyers pay a $150 bidder fee, $75 for due diligence and a 5 percent buyer’s premium for the high bid.

Since the site’s launch, Kirk estimates he’s sold a dozen properties, and the company continues to grow quickly as awareness grows about the auction site. He plans to add 20 positions at his Charlotte office soon.

For luxury homebuyers, this means the next dream home may be one click away. Kirk said “our goal is to be a one-stop shop.”