How one interstate parent uncovered hidden issues, avoided costly risks and secured the right home with guided due diligence all within 36 hours.
We first met Craig, an interstate parent, when he enquired about a property we were selling for a client’s divestment. At that time, he wasn’t ready to make an offer. He wanted to inspect the property in person before making any decisions. But as his Melbourne visit drew closer, the property went under contract with another buyer.
Even so, we kept him updated on the progress of the sale, knowing he was flying in and coordinating 12 inspections over a very tight schedule. What was meant to be a simple enquiry started revealing something deeper.
Very quickly, he faced the same challenge almost every remote buyer experiences: What he saw online didn’t match reality.
Some apartments that looked impressive in photos felt nothing like their online presentation. Others were immediate cross-offs the moment he stepped inside. That contrast made Craig realise how hard it is to make confident decisions when you’re buying from a distance. Those early updates led Craig to meet with us in person, just a light chat at first. But in that meeting, the real purpose of his purchase became clear.
A Purchase with a Purpose
Craig was buying a home for his child, who would be starting study in Melbourne in January. With rental competition at an all-time high, he wanted his child to settle into a stable, safe home without the stress of the current rental market.
He isn’t new to Melbourne property, but he wasn’t familiar with the new risks associated with apartment buildings today:
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Cladding issues
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Building defects
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Special levies
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Poorly managed sinking funds
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Embedded network complications
And as someone no longer based in Melbourne, he didn’t have the luxury of re-inspecting properties, researching buildings on foot, or slowly refining a brief over weeks. Within that first conversation, two major constraints surfaced for Craig:
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Time - his child needed to move in by January
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Distance - he could only be in Melbourne briefly
He also felt overwhelmed by the number of options online, the facilities, the layouts, the “nice-to-haves”, and needed clarity around what actually mattered for this purchase. Together, we refined the brief from “big kitchens and island benches” to what was essential:
1. Well-managed building
2. Good natural light
3. Functional layout
4. Reasonable OC fees
5. Safe, stable and close to transport
Once the brief was crystal clear, the process moved quickly.
Activating Shortlist Due Diligence Sprint
We shortlisted only the properties that matched the brief, removing the noise and saving Craig hours of wasted inspections. Then we coordinated:
✓ Our conveyancer, who completed a contract review within 24 hours
✓ Our building inspector, who produced a full report in under 24 hours
✓ All preliminary due diligence across OC records, recent defects, and building history
And that is where we uncovered a major problem that photos, floor plans and online listings never show. The issue that could have cost a buyer thousands. During the building inspection, we discovered: No hot water in both bathrooms, but hot water worked in the kitchen and laundry.
For anyone buying from interstate, this would be almost impossible to detect without a physical inspection. When we raised this with the selling agent, the response was the typical brush-off: “The Owners Corporation or embedded network will fix it.” Not acceptable, especially for a parent purchasing a home for their child.
We immediately secured a special contract condition:
✓ A second inspection before settlement, specifically to test the bathroom hot water, and
✓ If unresolved, the vendor must engage a licensed plumber to fix the issue before settlement, with no cost passed to Craig.
This removed any risk of Craig inheriting a messy plumbing fault or an OC dispute the moment he took possession.
Fast, protected, and aligned with what mattered. Despite the tight timeframe, all due diligence, including shortlisting, contract review, building inspection, issue escalation and negotiation, was completed within 36 hours. Craig secured a home that was safe, suitable and fully vetted, but not rushed, not compromised, and not chosen under pressure.
Why This Matters for Remote Buyers
Buying from interstate or overseas isn’t just about distance. It’s about:
1. Misleading listing photos
2. Rushed decision-making
3. Hidden building issues
4. Unclear priorities
5. Tight deadlines
This is why buyers today need more than just property advice. They need clarity, on-ground insight, fast due diligence, and someone to filter out the noise so they’re only making decisions on homes that truly fit their needs.