Agents and their spaces: Chelsey Gibson

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Mornington Peninsula Director Chelsey Gibson had always dreamt of owning ‘a classic white weatherboard’ and last year the dream finally became a reality for the leading local sales agent and budding auctioneer – after a few twists and turns and a (baby) bump along the way!

18 September 2022

Chelsey’s journey to home ownership began a few years ago at age 25, when she and husband Adam, a physiotherapist, purchased a semi-renovated, brick-veneer house in Mornington. Chelsey, who ‘lives and breathes real estate’, has an exceptionally good ‘eye’ for spotting potential.  

“When this property came on the market, I knew straight away that it had good development potential as it was beachside and on a sub-dividable block. It was also perfectly liveable for the immediate future, and I felt the timing was right for us to purchase.” 

Adam fortunately agreed. 

“He trusts my real estate judgement,” she laughs. ‘He knows me very well – we’ve been together since we were 16. We were high school sweethearts!”  

Chelsey began working in real estate when she was just 21 years old, selling acreages at Somerville, then shifting to the Bayside area for a year, before returning to the Peninsula. 

“I love it down here. I’m Peninsula born and bred, and I really believe you should live in the community you sell in.” 

So, the busy young couple purchased the property, and began planning to redevelop the site – building two townhouses, selling one off-the-plan to finance the project, and living in the other. Meanwhile Adam was establishing his business, Sports Sense Physio in Mornington, and Chelsey was running full steam ahead as one of the Peninsula’s most hardworking and successful sales agents. She was also pregnant with their first child. 

“The bulldozers were actually booked on my due date,” Chelsey said. 

“I was heavily pregnant, and we had to pack up and move everything out, and the plan was to live with my parents while the new townhouses were being built.” So, Chelsey, Adam, and before long newborn son, Mason, and not forgetting cocker spaniel ‘Gus’ spent the next 10 months at Chelsey’s parents’ house in nearby Frankston South.  

“Actually, it was really lovely! Perfect timing for me! It meant I had the help at hand if I wanted to get back to work, which I did, taking on a listing when Mase was just two-weeks-old!” 

So, the busy young couple purchased the property, and began planning to redevelop the site – building two townhouses, selling one off-the-plan to finance the project, and living in the other. Meanwhile Adam was establishing his business, Sports Sense Physio in Mornington, and Chelsey was running full steam ahead as one of the Peninsula’s most hardworking and successful sales agents. She was also pregnant with their first child.  

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“The bulldozers were actually booked on my due date,” Chelsey said. 

“I was heavily pregnant, and we had to pack up and move everything out, and the plan was to live with my parents while the new townhouses were being built.” So, Chelsey, Adam, and before long newborn son, Mason, and not forgetting cocker spaniel ‘Gus’ spent the next 10 months at Chelsey’s parents’ house in nearby Frankston South. 

“Actually, it was really lovely! Perfect timing for me! It meant I had the help at hand if I wanted to get back to work, which I did, taking on a listing when Mase was just two-weeks-old!” 

A recently installed new fence and electronic gates have completed the works, for now, and the family are looking forward to spending the summer entertaining at home and enjoying beach walks and bike rides in the beautiful local area. 

Chelsey, in the meantime, is also looking forward to polishing her newly acquired auctioneering skills.  

“I’ve been doing my auctioneer’s course and had just called my first auction before the last lockdown. It was really fun – although quite nerve wracking, but we had three keen bidders and it sold, so that was a good start.”  

She said that it had been a little difficult to get practice in the local market as auctions have been few and far between, not only due to lockdowns, but because private sales have traditionally been the preferred method of sale on the Peninsula.  

“Auctions are definitely becoming more popular down here. I believe any property can be auctioned, but you have to run the right campaign and you have to make sure the vendor’s expectations are reasonable.” 

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Chelsey, who is already a highly recognised local real estate identity having worked in the industry for almost 15 years now, hopes to make an even bigger name for herself as an auctioneer. 

“It’s a point of difference – there aren’t many auctioneers down here, and certainly not many women auctioneers, so I’m really proud to have been able to step up and do the course.”  

Chelsey, who admits she is ‘highly competitive’ and enjoys boxing for fitness says she is looking forward to competing in the novice auctioneer’s competition, which got cancelled due to COVID. 

“I’m definitely anticipating that, she said. Bring it on”.