How Much More Could Your Apartment Be Worth in a Collective Sale?

Across Sydney, apartment owners are sitting on a hidden opportunity — a collective sale.

While selling your apartment on the open market might net you market value, selling it as part of a full building can unlock a premium of up to 30%, or even more in areas like the Eastern Suburbs, Inner West, and Northern Beaches.

Developers are willing to pay above market value to acquire entire apartment blocks, especially in areas zoned for higher-density redevelopment. For example, in suburbs like Maroubra and Strathfield, developers can consolidate sites to build new residential towers or townhouses — increasing their profitability and allowing owners to tap into that uplift.

A study by the Urban Taskforce and reports from major agencies like Knight Frank suggest that premiums from collective sales in high-growth areas of Sydney average between 20–35% above individual market value. In some cases, we've seen uplifts of up to 45% when a building has unique redevelopment appeal, such as a corner site or water views.

Why the Premium?

When developers buy an entire building, they avoid fragmentation — the delays and legal complexity of negotiating with dozens of individual owners.

Instead, they get a clean site, often zoned for higher-density development, which maximises their return.

That premium they're willing to pay? It's a win-win. They still come out ahead — and you, as an owner, walk away with significantly more than you would selling on your own.

In areas with strong zoning incentives (like R3 or R4 zoning), councils often allow developers to build higher or denser structures, especially if the land parcel is larger.

A single apartment in a 10-unit block might be worth $950,000 individually. But when the entire building is sold collectively, each unit might be valued at $1.25 million — a serious uplift.

What Does It Mean for You?

It means you could be leaving money on the table by not exploring your options. The key is working collaboratively with fellow owners to understand your building's potential.

Early on, Konsensus helps owners:

Run a site assessment (no agent required) to understand your development potential
Check zoning and planning opportunities using the NSW Planning Portal
Build consensus with neighbours in a transparent, owner-first way

When it's time to engage with the market, Konsensus may recommend partnering with trusted real estate agents — but always under our guidance, and always keeping owner interests front and centre.

Case Study: Inner West Uplift

In a recent case in Dulwich Hill, a block of 12 units sold collectively for $15.8 million. Individually, the units were worth around $1 million each — totalling $12 million. The owners who participated in the collective sale earned an average of $1.32 million each — a 32% uplift.

Why the difference? The site allowed mid-rise redevelopment under R4 zoning, and developers were ready to pay a premium for the potential.

What If 75% Say Yes?

Under NSW's Strata Schemes Development Act 2015, once 75% of owners (by unit entitlement) agree to sell, a formal and legally protected process kicks off. Konsensus helps manage this — working with legal advisors, valuers, and where appropriate, trusted agents to support a smooth, fair process for all owners.

Even if 100% of owners don't agree, the Land and Environment Court reviews the proposal to ensure it's fair and reasonable before anything proceeds.

Next Steps

If you're curious about how much more your apartment could be worth in a collective sale, don't wait for someone else to knock on your door. Be proactive:

Start the conversation with your committee
Book a free, no-obligation site review with Konsensus
Use our checklists and guides to explore the opportunity at your pace

It's your home — but it could also be your most powerful financial asset. At Konsensus, we're here to make sure owners — not agents, not developers — stay in control and get the value they deserve.