Hoping for a quick sale

Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England), Jan 18, 2006

While some homeowners looking for a quick sale offer to leave the carpets or curtains, Mike Odysseas is going one step further by giving away his Ferrari.

To get one step ahead in the competitive housing market, Mike, 38, is offering the buyer of his three-storey, four-bedroom house at Kirkwood Drive, Neville's Cross, Durham, a free, top-of-the-range, red Ferrari with full service history and 14,000 miles on the clock.

Car enthusiast Mike will be sad to see his beloved 335 F1 go but having moved to a new larger property in Darlington he is keen to secure a speedy sale.

And rather than go through an estate agent Mike has set up his own website, appropriately called www.houseandferrari.co.uk

Mike said: "It is creating some interest. This is a great opportunity for someone to acquire two excellent investments a new build house in a desirable area and a high-performance car for free.

"The valuation of the house is in excess of pounds 367,000 and I will not accept a penny less. Barratt are actually selling similar houses on the same estate up to pounds 383,000.

"Everyone says I am crazy but I am determined to move to my new house and if giving my beloved Ferrari away is what it takes then that's fine."

"I feel I'm satisfying both parties. For her there is a lovely house and for him there is a Ferrari."

Mike, the managing director of Odyssey Telecoms, has had the car, valued at pounds 50,000, for five years, but has agreed to let it go so girlfriend Susan Williamson can have her dream home.

Despite owning the sports car, Mike makes most journeys in his more down-to-earth VW Golf and doesn't take the Ferrari out in winter because of the damage salt on the roads can cause.

And although he will be sad to see the ultimate boy-toy go Mike said he was just happy to have had the opportunity to enjoy it.

He said: "It is something most guys would love to drive. I have done it, I have had my fun and I'm happy. For someone else it will be a fantastic five years." And for anyone still not moved into buying the house Mike points out he is also leaving the carpets and curtains.

The house also comes with a garage, which could prove useful for storing the dream machine during a harsh North East winter. The idea to set up the website offering the deal came after Mike made a similar offer on eBay and had 1,000 visitors within 12 hours.