How The Shortlist Method guided Gary to the right property at the right moment!
When Gary moved to Melbourne in 2024, he arrived with deep property experience yet a very real challenge. He knew the city, but buying here for the first time felt unfamiliar and loaded with high stakes. He had been renting through our company and now wanted to put down roots. He was clear about one thing. This purchase needed to feel like home.
In May he retained us to guide that journey.
He later shared:
“The service and support provided to me through the next six months was wonderful. Steve and Sabrina maintained highly professional, knowledgeable, efficient, timely, and friendly guidance and support. They certainly made things much easier for me.”
This case study follows his path and shows how The Shortlist Method provided the structure, protection and decision making clarity that ultimately led him to an exceptional two bedroom rooftop terrace along Wattletree Road in Armadale.
Setting the Foundation
Our early conversations focused on defining what mattered most. Location feel. Property identity. Lifestyle fit. Purchase comfort level. The personal factors behind the roofline.
Once Gary’s brief was shaped, SMART took over. We translated his preferences into two or three clear property concepts and ran them through the Shortlist Matrix Sheet. That sheet became the command centre for every direction we took. It allowed us to compare options objectively, surface stronger choices and eliminate mismatches quickly.
Over the months that followed, Sabrina and I inspected many properties for Gary, creating detailed videos for each one. He visited the ones that passed the early filters.
His words:
“They prepared videos of numerous inspections of potential properties and organised for me to do physical inspections of those videoed properties that I felt were right for me. They narrowed down my choices with some aplomb.”
The Turning Points
The value of structure during uncertain moments.
There were two or three properties that came close. Close enough to feel tempting but not quite right. These are the moments that unsettle buyers, especially when they feel the pressure of time or competition.
This is where The Shortlist Method mattered.
Every time we approached a serious property, we ran the full Pre Inspection Intelligence pillar within The Shortlist 360 System. Streetline analysis. Floor plan review. Contract review. Surrounding assets. Micro risks. We applied the same structure with absolute consistency.
In one case we got deep into 360 level analysis only for Gary to feel unsure. That uncertainty was not a setback. It was the process working exactly as designed. We stepped back into the Shortlist Matrix Sheet and revisited the brief. New property types. New pockets of Armadale and neighbouring suburbs. A wider lens. A clearer mind.
Gary described this as one of the most reassuring parts of the journey. The structure made the process feel safe. He could change direction without regret because every decision had a framework under it. No drift. No stress. No fear of missing something.
The Moment of Certainty
Knowing when a property is the one.
Each time we viewed a contender, I asked Gary the same question.
“Is this the one”
For months the answer was a thoughtful pause or a polite maybe.
Then we inspected the rooftop terrace residence on Wattletree Road.
Light filled living. Elevated outdoor space. Two bedrooms. Two bathrooms. Two car parks. A property that combined privacy with convenience in a premium blue chip pocket of Armadale.
This time his answer was instant.
Yes. This is it.
That clarity only comes when a buyer feels supported throughout the journey. The Shortlist structure gave Gary the confidence to back his own instinct when it mattered.
Negotiation
A strategic move before the market ran away.
Armadale is a tightly held market. During this period the local market was heating quickly and auction campaigns were gaining strong momentum. This property was due to go to auction in two weeks. We knew waiting risked escalating competition.
We moved decisively.
We engaged the agent early. We framed a strong and fair offer supported by comparable evidence. We inserted protective clauses for Gary including additional 360 checks and settlement conditions that strengthened his position. There was competition in the background but we controlled the sequence and tempo of negotiation.
The property was secured prior to auction.Smooth on the surface. Strategic beneath it.
Gary noted:
“For those properties I was prepared to buy, Steve and Sabrina provided considerable support in contract review, asking further questions of vendors, negotiating offers and organising detailed inspections. Their guidance made all the difference.”
Settlement and Support
The final steps done properly.
With the property secured, we continued steering the final stages. Sabrina completed the Shortlist Final Inspection Checklist in person and will oversee all final settlement protections.
The Result
A Melbourne home that truly fits.
Gary finished his testimonial with the words we strive for in every client journey.
“I would highly recommend Steven Janes to others who are looking to make that all important property purchase.”
Behind this successful purchase is a simple truth.
The Shortlist Method works.
It creates order where buyers feel uncertainty. It reveals stronger choices while eliminating weaker ones. It provides a protection layer between buyer and sales agent. And it allows clients to arrive at the moment of certainty not by luck but by structure.
This case study shows the method in its purest form.
A clear brief.
Consistent support.
Structured decision making.
Strategic negotiation.
A property that truly feels like home.
👉 If you are reading this and want the same level of guidance, protection and calm clarity for your own Melbourne purchase, I would love to help you. Join The Shortlist and let me walk you through the exact method we used with Gary. It would be a privilege to support your journey.
Kind regards, Steve