Feature article
First home buyer stories: what Rachel & Conor wish they knew
What Rachel & Conor wish they knew
Last updated: 16 September 2026
AI summary
First-home buyers Rachel and Conor share insights from their two-year property search. Their key criteria was a 3-4 bedroom "doer-upper" with renovation potential and, most importantly, plenty of sun.
They successfully purchased at auction by setting a firm maximum price and having a family member bid for them to manage emotions. A key surprise was the amount of post-purchase admin. They advise other buyers to focus their open home viewings on properties that truly meet their criteria.
When did you and your partner decide to buy a home?
What were your must-haves and nice-to-haves in your home search?
How long was your home buying journey?
How many times did you think ‘this is the one’?
What were the major painpoints or surprises?
What was the sale method on the home you bought and how did you approach it?
Were there any terms that you found particularly confusing?
Anything you wish you’d done differently?
What are you most excited to renovate?
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