We are committed to protecting the privacy and security of our clients, customers, and users of our website. This Privacy Policy sets out the types of personal information we collect, how we use that information, and the steps we take to ensure its protection. By using our website and our services, you agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy.
- Collection of Personal Information
We may collect and process the following types of personal information:
a) Contact information, such as name, address, email address, and telephone number.
b) Demographic information, such as age, gender, and occupation.
c) Financial information, such as income, assets, and credit history.
d) Property-related information, such as property address, property type, and property value.
e) Information related to your preferences, interests, and requirements in relation to real estate.
f) Technical data, such as IP address, browser type, and operating system.
We collect this information directly from you when you provide it to us, such as through our website, email, telephone, or in person, or indirectly from third parties, such as credit reporting agencies or publicly available sources.
- Use of Personal Information
We may use your personal information for the following purposes:
a) To provide and improve our services, such as property sales, property management, and property appraisals.
b) To communicate with you, such as responding to your inquiries, sending you updates on properties, and informing you about our services and promotions.
c) To personalize your experience on our website, such as displaying relevant content and advertisements.
d) To conduct market research, analysis, and reporting.
e) To comply with legal and regulatory requirements.
- Disclosure of Personal Information
We may share your personal information with:
a) Our employees, agents, and contractors, who are bound by confidentiality obligations.
b) Third-party service providers, such as property inspectors, conveyancers, and financial institutions, who assist us in providing our services.
c) Government agencies, regulators, and law enforcement authorities, when required by law or to protect our rights and property.
We will not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to any third party without your consent.
- Security of Personal Information
We take appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. These measures may include secure data storage, access controls, encryption, and regular security assessments.
- Retention of Personal Information
We will retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, comply with legal and regulatory requirements, or resolve disputes. Once your information is no longer required, we will securely destroy or anonymize it.
- Access, Correction, and Deletion of Personal Information
You have the right to request access to, correction of, or deletion of your personal information held by us. To exercise these rights, please contact us using the contact details provided below.
- Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or applicable laws. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the updated policy on our website.
- Contact Us
If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our handling of your personal information, please contact us using the details below.
We are committed to resolving any privacy issues promptly and fairly.
Due diligence checklist
What you need to know before buying a residential property
Before you buy a home, you should be aware of a range of issues that may affect that property and impose restrictions or obligations on you if you buy it. This checklist aims to help you identify whether any of these issues will affect you. The questions are a starting point only, and you may need to seek professional advice to answer some of them. You can find links to organisations and web pages that can help you learn more by visiting the Due diligence checklist page on the Consumer Affairs Victoria website (consumer.vic.gov.au/duediligencechecklist).
Urban living – Moving to the inner city?
High density areas are attractive for their entertainment and service areas, but these activities create increased traffic as well as noise and odours from businesses and people. Familiarising yourself with the character of the area will give you a balanced understanding of what to expect.
Is the property subject to an owners corporation?
If the property is part of a subdivision with common property such as driveways or grounds, it may be subject to an owners corporation. You may be required to pay fees and follow rules that restrict what you can do on your property, such as a ban on pet ownership.
Growth areas – Are you moving to a growth area?
You should investigate whether you will be required to pay a growth area’s infrastructure contribution.
Flood and fire risk – Does this property experience flooding or bushfire?
Properties are sometimes subject to the risk of fire and flooding due to their location. You should properly investigate these risks and consider their implications for land management, buildings and insurance premiums.
Rural properties
Moving to the country?
If you are looking at property in a rural zone, consider:
- Is the surrounding land use compatible with your lifestyle expectations? Farming can create noise or odour that may
- be at odds with your expectations of a rural lifestyle.
- Are you considering removing native vegetation? There are regulations that affect your ability to remove native
- vegetation on private property.
- Do you understand your obligations to manage weeds and pest animals?
Can you build new dwellings?
Does the property adjoin crown land, have a waterfrontage, contain a disused government road, or are there any crown licences associated with the land?
Is there any earth resource activity, such as mining, in the area?
You may wish to find out more about exploration, mining, and quarrying activity on or near the property and consider petroleum, geothermal, and greenhouse gas sequestration permits, leases and licences, extractive industry authorisations, and mineral licences.
Soil and groundwater contamination
Has previous land use affected the soil or groundwater?
You should consider whether past activities, including the use of adjacent land, may have caused contamination at the site and whether this may prevent you from doing certain things to or on the land in the future.
Land boundaries – Do you know the exact boundary of the property?
You should compare the measurements shown on the title document with the actual fences and buildings on the property to make sure the boundaries match. If you have concerns about this, you can speak to your lawyer or conveyancer or commission a site survey to establish property boundaries.
Planning controls – Can you change how the property is used or the buildings on it?
All land is subject to a planning scheme run by the local council. How the property is zoned and any overlays that may apply will determine how the land can be used. This may restrict such things as whether you can build on vacant land or how you can alter or develop the land and its buildings over time.
The local council can give you advice about the planning scheme, as well as details of any other restrictions that may apply, such as design guidelines or bushfire safety design. There may also be restrictions – known as encumbrances – on the property’s title, which prevent you from developing the property. You can find out about encumbrances by looking at the section 32 statement.
Are there any proposed or granted planning permits?
The local council can advise you if there are any proposed or issued planning permits for any properties close by. Significant developments in your area may change the local ‘character’ (predominant style of the area) and may increase noise or traffic near the property.
Safety – Is the building safe to live in?
Building laws are in place to ensure building safety. Professional building inspections can help you assess the property for electrical safety, possible illegal building work, adequate pool or spa fencing and the presence of asbestos, termites, or other potential hazards.
Building permits
Have any buildings or retaining walls on the property been altered, or do you plan to alter them?
There are laws and regulations about how buildings and retaining walls are constructed, which you may wish to investigate to ensure any completed or proposed building work is approved. The local council may be able to give you information about any building permits issued for recent building works done to the property and what you must do to plan new work. You can also commission a private building surveyor’s assessment.
Are any recent building or renovation works covered by insurance?
Ask the vendor if there is any owner-builder insurance or builder’s warranty to cover defects in the work done to the property.
Utilities and essential services
Does the property have working connections for water, sewerage, electricity, gas, telephone and
internet? Unconnected services may not be available or may incur a fee to connect. You may also need to choose from a range of suppliers for these services. This may be particularly important in rural areas where some services are not available.
Buyers’ rights – Do you know your rights when buying a property?
The contract of sale and section 32 statement contain important information about the property, so you should request to see these and read them thoroughly. Many people engage a lawyer or conveyancer to help them understand the contracts and ensure the sale goes through correctly. If you intend to hire a professional, you should consider speaking to them before you commit to the sale. There are also important rules about the way private sales and auctions are conducted. These may include a cooling-off period and specific rights associated with ‘off the plan’ sales. The important thing to remember is that, as the buyer, you have rights.