Off-Market Properties for Sale: A Practical Search Plan

Finding off-market properties for sale is less about searching and more about being findable. These homes are matched to buyers, so the job is to become a buyer agents want to match. ## 1. Narrow your brief Pick no more than three or four suburbs, a realistic price range and a short list of non-negotiables. Vague briefs get ignored. ## 2. Get finance in order Speak to a broker or lender and get pre-approval. Agents ask about it on the first call. ## 3. Meet the active agents Go to open inspections in your target suburbs and talk to the selling agents. Tell them what you want and ask to be told about anything coming up before it is advertised. Follow up every few weeks. ## 4. Register a brief on matching platforms A written brief works while you are busy. On BuyerHQ your brief is matched against new listings and you are notified when a home scores well. ## 5. Be ready to act Have your conveyancer lined up and know your walk-away price. Use the [tracker](/tracker) to score each home you see, and the Section 32 checklist before any offer. ## 6. Consider a buyer's agent If time is short, a buyer's agent can do the relationship work. See [buyer's agent fees in Victoria](/blog/buyers-agent-fees-victoria) for what that costs. Start with [how to buy off-market property](/blog/how-to-buy-off-market-property) and browse [off-market property in Victoria](/off-market-property-victoria).