Earlier today, I had a long conversation with a previous client of mine, someone I helped divest from a Melbourne apartment pre-COVID. Over the years, we’ve kept in touch. He likes to stay across the market, and we often chat about how things are shifting across different Melbourne pockets.
But today was different.
This time, the call was about his daughter. She’s just moved to Melbourne and is considering buying her first home.
What struck me wasn’t just the property discussion, but the emotional and geographic gap that exists between them. He’s still based overseas, and she’s only just getting to know Melbourne. Everything is new: the system, the process, the locations, the agents, and even how auctions work. And naturally, as a dad, his first concern was safety.
But the longer we spoke, the more it became clear. What she really needs is someone on the ground who can help her navigate this foreign landscape, ask the right questions, and protect her from all the invisible risks that come with buying property.
This is exactly what The Shortlist was designed for.
We’re a buyer’s agency built specifically for expats and remote buyers.
It’s all we do, and we know these dynamics inside out!
When everything is new, it’s easy to miss what matters!
First home buyers have it tough enough.
But when you’re new to the city and your closest support is a timezone away, the challenges multiply:
- You don’t know what areas to consider (or avoid).
- You don’t know what “value” really means in this market.
- You don’t know how to read between the lines of a property listing.
- You don’t yet understand how sharp the selling side can be.
And to be clear, Melbourne is one of the most emotionally driven, fast-moving property markets in the world.
Without a grounded process or someone in your corner, it’s incredibly easy to fall into one of the many traps that come with inexperience, emotion, or distance.
“The Agent said it had already been under offer…”
We spoke about some of those risks. Like the story we’ve all heard before, the one where the selling agent claims the property had already been under offer, but the contract fell through due to finance. It’s a classic line. In fact, it’s the same line I heard recently on a property I personally considered purchasing.
It might be true.
But it might also be strategic.
And if you’re a first-home buyer who’s new to the area, new to the process, and relying on Google Maps and the agent’s charm, you’re exactly the kind of buyer they’re trained to nudge.
When emotion goes up, logic tends to disappear
We spoke for nearly an hour. And as I explained to him, when a buyer falls emotionally in love with a property, especially someone who’s just moved and wants to settle fast, their ability to stay objective plummets.
They talk themselves into all the wrong things:
- “It’s not ideal… but I’ll fix it later.”
- “It’s a stretch… but everyone’s stretching right now.”
- “It’s moving fast… if I don’t act, I’ll miss out.”
It’s totally human.
But it’s also why our service exists.
Bridging the gap between overseas families and on-the-ground support
The real problem here wasn’t just the buying process.
It was the distance between father and daughter.
He cares deeply about her safety, physical, financial, and emotional, but he’s not here. She is.
At The Shortlist, we live and breathe this scenario. In fact, it's what we’re built for.
We’re not just a buyer’s agent, we’re a specialist service for expats and remote buyers, designed to plug the gap between trust and distance.
We know what happens when you’re not physically here.
We understand the layers of worry that parents carry.
And we’re experts at filtering properties through the lens of someone who sees the whole picture, not just a polished listing photo or a well-spoken agent.
Even I fell into the trap
This whole conversation brought me back to something I shared in The Shortlist, Episode 002: “The Day I Became My Own Client.”
I was considering a property in St Kilda. I’d done this a hundred times for clients, but this time, it was personal. I started compromising on things I always warn others about.
Why?
Because emotion is powerful, even for professionals.
But because I have a process, and because I trust my team, we stepped back.
We dug deeper.
And that’s when the red flags emerged: structural issues, risky contract terms, and subtle indicators that the property just wasn’t right.
We passed.
But it was a potent reminder: no one is immune to emotion when buying. Not even me.
Final thought: Safety means more than just the suburb
If you’re an expat, or if your children are in Melbourne while you’re overseas, don’t rely on luck to keep them safe.
Yes, choose the right suburb.
But also make sure they’re protected from:
- Overpaying
- Signing risky terms
- Missing key defects
- Getting swept up in emotion
- Going through this alone
The Shortlist exists for this exact reason.
We’re not just your eyes and ears, we’re your buffer, your strategy, and your reality check. We bridge the gap that distance creates, so your family doesn’t have to navigate this process in the dark.
And if you haven’t already, check out The Shortlist 002 - The day I became my own client. It’s the perfect reminder of what’s at stake and why good guidance isn’t just helpful.
It’s essential.
Here's to keeping your Shortlist - Shortish...