Get your finance sorted first
Pre-approval tells you your ceiling and makes your offer credible. Private sellers, like agents, take funded buyers seriously.
Budget for stamp duty (varies by state and by first-home-buyer status), lender fees, conveyancing, building and pest inspections, and moving.
Research the suburb, not just the property
Look at recent sold prices for the same property type, days on market, and what else is listed nearby. Home24's suburb and property price pages show current listings and medians where available.
Inspect properly
Visit at different times of day, check water pressure, look for damp, cracking and drainage issues, and confirm parking and storage. Ask the owner directly about the age of the roof, wiring, plumbing and any works done.
Always order an independent building and pest inspection before you are unconditional.
Do your legal due diligence
Have your conveyancer review the contract and disclosure documents before you sign anything. They check title, easements, zoning, owners corporation or body corporate records, rates and any planning issues.
Make the offer
Put it in writing: price, deposit, settlement period, and any conditions such as finance or building and pest. Explain your position briefly — a clean, funded offer with a settlement date that suits the owner often beats a slightly higher, messier one.
Exchange and settle
Contracts are exchanged, cooling-off rules apply depending on your state, and the deposit is paid to a trust account. Your conveyancer then runs searches and coordinates settlement with your lender.