The Client

A young family juggling a newborn baby and house hunting at the same time—it was a lot to manage. On top of that, they had to balance selling their current home, purchasing a new one, and ensuring they wouldn’t be left without a place to live in between. The price they could sell for would also directly impact their budget for a new home.

There were many moving parts for this lovely couple, and they needed a strategic approach to secure the right home within their budget.

What Was Most Important to the Client

Getting out of strata and owning a freestanding house
A location with close proximity to train lines to accommodate different work commutes
Parking or the potential to add parking
A solid house they wouldn’t outgrow in the medium term

The Search

Their budget for an Inner West house was tight, so we focused on properties requiring minimal structural changes but with potential for cosmetic improvements. This approach allowed us to maximize their budget.

We found an off-market three-bedroom home in Waterloo near the new metro station. However, the asking price was too ambitious. Vendors of off-market properties often wait for an overpaying buyer, which we weren’t willing to be.

We also considered a house in Leichhardt that had been on the market for some time and had a price reduction. However, it wasn’t the ideal location for my clients.

Several other options were ruled out due to a mismatch between the required work and budget. Others had small block sizes that, while sufficient now, would be outgrown in a few years.

The Property

Then, we came across a deceased estate in Marrickville listed by an out-of-area agent. The house had been lived in recently but had seen little maintenance over the past 20 years. To say it needed TLC was an understatement.

However, it had great fundamentals:

A solid brick freestanding foundation
Three large bedrooms with space for built-in robes
A spacious living area
A bonus study room
A generous backyard with rear lane access—providing the option to add parking in the future

The outcome

Initially, the agent listed the property at a price above my valuation, given the work required. After a week on the market, the agent recognized this and advised the owner to lower the price to attract buyers.

Once the price dropped, I acted fast. I got my clients through for an inspection, and we returned 48 hours later with a family member who had a building background. This helped us understand the scope of necessary work and associated costs.

At this point (Monday evening), the property was officially listed for sale at $1,400,000. I knew it wouldn’t last long at this price, so by Wednesday, we had:

Completed our due diligence
Assessed costings and scope of work to make an informed decision
Conducted comparable sales research
Secured a 66W to submit an unconditional offer
Submitted our offer unconditionally

Why Our Offer Was Accepted Over Three Others

In a competitive market, buyers often focus solely on their own interests. We took a more strategic approach:

We knew there were other serious buyers and didn’t submit an offer exactly at the listing price—everyone else would do that. Instead, we offered $1,408,000, just enough to stand out without overpaying.
We made an unconditional offer and agreed to as many of the vendor’s terms as possible.
I built a strong rapport with the agent, kept them informed at every stage, and made the process seamless for them.

By the end of the week, we had secured a three-bedroom freestanding house in Marrickville for $1,408,000 on a 190sqm block!

A Final Hurdle: Attempted Fraud

The deal wasn’t without last-minute drama. The sales agent’s email was hacked, and fraudsters attempted to redirect the deposit payment. The email appeared within the same thread and looked like a legitimate continuation of the conversation. However, as an experienced real estate expert, I never pass on bank details without verbal confirmation via a direct call to the agency office.

Key Learning

When paying a deposit, always verify bank details through a second method, even if the email or SMS comes from a trusted source. Alternatively, send a small test amount first, confirm receipt, and then proceed with the full payment.

This success story highlights the importance of strategy, market knowledge, and acting swiftly in a competitive real estate environment. Another happy client, and another great home secured!

A Freestanding 3-Bedroom Home in Marrickville for $1.4M—How We Made It Happen