Beating the Clock: Finding the Perfect Home Just in Time
▉ REGION: LOWER NORTH SHORE
▉ CLIENT: YOUNG COUPLE
▉ BUDGET: $4.3M
Miracle Purchase: Securing a Family Home Before Pre-Approval Expired
Background:
Webb & Co. were engaged by a lovely young growing family looking for their dream home in Sydney’s North Shore, specifically in the Willoughby, Artarmon, and Roseville areas. Their key requirements were clear: a large family home with a backyard, close to schools, transport, and local amenities. However, they faced a major obstacle—after searching for 12 months without success, they only had 12 days left before their pre-approval expired. Frustrated and running out of time, they reached out to Webb & Co. for expert guidance.
The husband’s words were clear: “We need a miracle to find the perfect home before our pre-approval runs out.” With the clock ticking, our team immediately got to work.
Challenges:
The North Shore market is highly competitive, with desirable homes often selling well above the guide price. The family had struggled to secure a home for a year, continuously missing out on properties due to intense buyer competition. Now, with only 12 days left on their pre-approval, the pressure was immense to find and secure a property within their budget while ensuring it met all their requirements.
Strategy:
At Webb & Co., we specialise in crafting tailored strategies that give our clients a competitive edge, even in the most challenging circumstances. Our approach in this case focused on speed, leveraging exclusive off-market opportunities, conducting thorough due diligence, and executing strategic negotiation tactics.
Proactive Search and Speed:
Recognising the urgency, we sprang into action immediately. Within just 10 days of signing up, we presented them with 11 properties—most of which were off-market opportunities not available to the public. Our strong relationships with local agents allowed us to gain early access to premium homes before they were publicly listed, maximising our client’s chances of securing the right property in record time.
Thorough Due Diligence and Early Preparation:
One particular property stood out. Originally presented to us off-market, we moved quickly to conduct all necessary due diligence before it was scheduled to hit the market three days after our private inspection. By acting swiftly, we were able to:
Negotiate essential contract changes in our client’s favor.
Arrange for a comprehensive building and pest inspection.
Perform a full valuation of the property to determine its true market value.
Ensure all necessary paperwork was completed ahead of time, putting us in the best possible position to negotiate.
Strategic Offer and Negotiation:
Understanding the seller’s motivations and the competitive nature of the market, we structured a strategic offer. Knowing that competition would intensify once the property hit the market, we leveraged our exclusive early access to secure a deal before other buyers could enter the race. Our key advantages included:
Presenting a well-researched offer backed by market valuation data.
Highlighting our client's strong financial position and ability to move quickly.
Structuring a clean, straightforward offer that was attractive to the vendor.
By executing this strategy, we successfully secured the property for $200K under market value, removing any competition and finalising the deal before the first open home.
Effective Communication with the Agent:
Our ability to communicate effectively with the listing agent played a crucial role in securing this deal. We worked closely with them to ensure our offer was presented professionally and efficiently. By maintaining transparency and demonstrating our client’s commitment, we created a cooperative negotiation environment that resulted in a swift and successful agreement.
Outcome:
Webb & Co. successfully negotiated the purchase of the perfect family home just days before our clients' pre-approval expired. Not only did we secure the home for $200K under market value, but we also eliminated competition and ensured a smooth, stress-free transaction.
This achievement highlights Webb & Co.'s ability to turn urgent, high-pressure situations into successful outcomes. By combining exclusive market access, expert negotiation skills, and a strategic approach, we helped this young family secure their dream home in record time—proving once again that the right expertise makes all the difference in a competitive property market.
