The Secret Ingredient to a Standout Sale? (Psst… It’s Cake! 🍰)

I know what you're thinking...he's lost it. What on earth has cake got to do with selling real estate in Mosman? But bear with me, I promise I have a point.

I recently sat down with a long-time client and Mosman local, Ella James, to get a deeper insight into what made her so satisfied with the outcome of her successful sale with us earlier this year and why she had stayed loyal to us for so long. 

I was hoping to pick her brain about what we do right here at OGP Mosman, and what we can improve on, and what I realised in the process surprised even me.

After more than 2 decades working in the real estate industry on the lower North Shore and despite what many people think, the key to a successful sales campaign is not always about market timing or glossy brochures. Sometimes, the secret ingredient is a little sweeter—and, in Ella’s case, it was cake.

When Ella decided to sell her much-loved Lloyd Avenue home, she didn’t just bring her property to market—she brought homemade cakes to every open home.

It all happened by accident.

The first week of Ella's open home campaign she had (coincidentally) made a beautiful carrot cake for a friend's birthday and had it on display in the kitchen. 

“James saw my cake and said, ‘That looks great. Make one of those every week!’ So I did. 

For the rest of the campaign I baked carrot cakes, double layer chocolate cakes, even New York cheesecake.

The house was overflowing with potential buyers (and lots of "interested parties" with a sweet tooth 😝)

 – Ella

But in all seriousness, Ella’s journey was obviously about more than sweet treats. Yes, the cakes were a hit, but I guess what I'm getting at here is that it was all the "little things we did" (in Ella's words) and the attention to detail that made all the difference.

As a long-time Mosman local and seasoned property-watcher, Ella had seen her share of “flashy real estate agents with spray tans and slicked-back hair.” What stood out about OGP was authenticity and expertise “I have a no BS rule, and so do they…it made for a great partnership. I knew I could trust them from day one and felt I was in great hands.”  – Ella

Ella valued straight talk and honest advice. “I don’t cut my own hair, I don’t fix my own car—I want experts involved in big decisions.” She appreciated that there was no sugar-coating, no last-minute surprises—just clear communication and genuine care.

The relationship quickly became more than transactional. From gently ribbing the team about our "local footy team's weekend loss" (bet you can't guess which NRL team we support 😉!) to sharing dog stories and birthday bubbles, Ella confided, “OGP felt like family by the end.” She loved that we brought heart as well as marketing smarts: “They’ve got their marketing in place, but they’ve got heart.”

So with all that in mind, I thought I'd ask Ella to share her advice (based on her experience) for anyone thinking of selling?

And these are her top 3 Tips:

“It’s a relationship. You don’t need a best friend, but you want someone you can really talk to and who will give you honest feedback.”

“Choose the right person and then leave them to do their job.”

“Trust the process—and maybe bring cake!”

And when it came time for her next move, the OGP team was there again—helping Ella negotiate for her new home, not as buyers’ agents, but as friends who wanted to see her happy.

Ella’s story is a sweet reminder that real estate is about more than contracts and commissions. It’s about people, relationships, and, sometimes, a slice of cake shared around the kitchen table. In a world where flash often trumps substance, we’re proud to be the team that brings a little heart—and a little sweetness—to every campaign.

If you’re thinking of selling, buying, or just want to swap cake recipes, you know where to find us.

Until next time & P.S. Got a story (or a recipe) to share? We’d love to hear from you.