Vicky Whittaker Buyers Advocate

I’ll always tell a client when I think they shouldn’t buy a property.

That might sound strange coming from a buyer’s agent.

But I don’t believe my job is to find an investor a property at any cost.

My job is to help them make a smart buying decision — and sometimes that means walking away.

For investors, I see two challenges come up time and time again:

1. Knowing whether a property actually stacks up

A property can look great online. The suburb can be performing well. The rental appraisal can look attractive.

But none of that, on its own, makes it a good investment.

I look at the bigger picture — comparable sales, rental demand, location, future supply, the property itself and, importantly, whether the price makes sense.

Because paying too much for the wrong property can be far more costly than missing out.

2. Buying confidently when you’re not local

This is particularly important for interstate investors.

You can do plenty of research from behind a screen, but there’s no substitute for physically inspecting a property and understanding what is happening on the ground.

I inspect properties personally, speak directly with selling agents, challenge the information being presented and give my clients an honest assessment — including when I think they should walk away.

One of my recent interstate investor clients summed it up perfectly:

"No sales pitch. No talking up a property that doesn’t stack up.”

That’s exactly how I believe it should be.

You shouldn’t need a buyer’s agent who tells you every property is a great opportunity.

You need someone who is prepared to say:

"This one isn’t right. Let’s keep looking.”

If you’re considering investing in Geelong or the surrounding region and want someone on the ground who will assess the opportunity objectively, I’m always happy to have a conversation.

Before you make an offer, take a step back.

It’s easy to walk into a property, fall in love with it and start thinking about how you can make it work.

But before deciding what you’re prepared to pay, look at these three things:

1. Recent comparable sales
What have similar properties actually sold for — not just what they’re currently listed at?

2. The property’s condition
Look beyond the styling. Consider the age, condition and any potential issues that could cost you after purchase.

3. Your walk-away price
Set your maximum before emotion takes over. It’s much harder to make a rational decision once you’ve become attached to a property.

The asking price is simply a starting point. It doesn’t automatically tell you what the property is worth — or what you should pay.

Do your homework first. Then make your offer with confidence.

Save this for your next inspection, and send it to someone currently looking to buy.

I’ll always tell a client when I think they shouldn’t buy a property.

That might sound strange coming from a buyer’s agent.

But I don’t believe my job is to find an investor a property at any cost.

My job is to help them make a smart buying decision — and sometimes that means walking away.

For investors, I see two challenges come up time and time again:

1. Knowing whether a property actually stacks up

A property can look great online. The suburb can be performing well. The rental appraisal can look attractive.

But none of that, on its own, makes it a good investment.

I look at the bigger picture — comparable sales, rental demand, location, future supply, the property itself and, importantly, whether the price makes sense.

Because paying too much for the wrong property can be far more costly than missing out.

2. Buying confidently when you’re not local

This is particularly important for interstate investors.

You can do plenty of research from behind a screen, but there’s no substitute for physically inspecting a property and understanding what is happening on the ground.

I inspect properties personally, speak directly with selling agents, challenge the information being presented and give my clients an honest assessment — including when I think they should walk away.

One of my recent interstate investor clients summed it up perfectly:

"No sales pitch. No talking up a property that doesn’t stack up.”

That’s exactly how I believe it should be.

You shouldn’t need a buyer’s agent who tells you every property is a great opportunity.

You need someone who is prepared to say:

"This one isn’t right. Let’s keep looking.”

If you’re considering investing in **Geelong or the surrounding region** and want someone on the ground who will assess the opportunity objectively, I’m always happy to have a conversation.

Last week, I shared a lovely review from one of my clients, but I wanted to share a little more about the story behind it.

They were a Melbourne couple looking to make the move to Geelong. They knew what they wanted from their next home, but they didn’t know the local market particularly well and were finding that very little suitable was coming up online.

This is where having strong local relationships can make such a difference.
On a Friday afternoon, I was contacted about an off-market property that I immediately thought could suit them.

I knew their brief, I knew what was important to them, and I knew it was worth moving quickly.

I inspected the property on Saturday morning. They came down to see it that afternoon, we submitted an offer on Sunday and by Monday, they had secured their new home.

I was also able to negotiate the purchase to a price they were really happy with.

They later said:
“Your knowledge and guidance was exceptional.”

For me, this is exactly what a buyer’s advocate should be doing.

Buying a property isn’t simply about scrolling through the major property websites and waiting for the right home to appear.

It’s about knowing the local market, having relationships with agents, hearing about opportunities before they hit the market, understanding value and knowing when it’s worth acting quickly.

If you’re buying your first home or considering a move to Geelong, it can be really helpful to get advice before you find the property you want to buy — rather than when you’re already under pressure to make a decision.

I’ve put together a free guide covering some of the common mistakes first-home buyers make, which you can download below.

https://5-mistakesfirsthomebuyersmake.my.canva.site/

Last week, I shared a lovely review from one of my clients, but I wanted to share a little more about the story behind it.

They were a Melbourne couple looking to make the move to Geelong. They knew what they wanted from their next home, but they didn’t know the local market particularly well and were finding that very little suitable was coming up online.

This is where having strong local relationships can make such a difference.
On a Friday afternoon, I was contacted about an off-market property that I immediately thought could suit them.

I knew their brief, I knew what was important to them, and I knew it was worth moving quickly.

I inspected the property on Saturday morning. They came down to see it that afternoon, we submitted an offer on Sunday and by Monday, they had secured their new home.

I was also able to negotiate the purchase to a price they were really happy with.

They later said:
“Your knowledge and guidance was exceptional.”

For me, this is exactly what a buyer’s advocate should be doing.

Buying a property isn’t simply about scrolling through the major property websites and waiting for the right home to appear.

It’s about knowing the local market, having relationships with agents, hearing about opportunities before they hit the market, understanding value and knowing when it’s worth acting quickly.

If you’re buying your first home or considering a move to Geelong, it can be really helpful to get advice before you find the property you want to buy — rather than when you’re already under pressure to make a decision.

I’ve put together a free guide covering some of the common mistakes first-home buyers make, which you can download below.

“Thanks to you, Victoria, we now have our dream home.”

Buying your first home can feel overwhelming — especially when you’re moving to an area you don’t know well.

This couple made the move from Melbourne to Geelong and, as first-time buyers, weren’t familiar with all the ins and outs of the property-buying process.

What they needed wasn’t just someone to find them a house. They needed someone who understood the local market, could guide them through the process, and confidently negotiate on their behalf.

Their review says it all:

“Your knowledge and guidance was exceptional… You did all the negotiations and achieved a very favourable price.”

And the best part?

They found their dream home. ❤️

Your first home purchase doesn’t have to be something you navigate alone.

Thinking about buying your first home in Geelong or the surrounding areas? Start with the right advice.