Home buyer checklist
A step-by-step guide to buying your home in Australia, whether by private sale or auction. Your progress is saved automatically.
Private sale vs. auction: what's the difference?
Private sale (private treaty)
The property is listed with an asking price. You submit an offer, which can be made conditional — "subject to finance" or "subject to a satisfactory building and pest inspection." Once you sign, a cooling-off period usually applies (it varies by state), letting you withdraw for a small penalty.
Auction
The property sells to the highest bidder over the reserve, on a set date. The sale is unconditional the moment the hammer falls — you can't bid subject to finance or an inspection, and there is no cooling-off period anywhere in Australia.
Because an auction purchase is unconditional, all your due diligence — finance approval, building and pest inspection, and solicitor contract review — needs to happen before auction day, not after.
Find a home
Before you start inspecting properties, get clear on these basics.
Check whether you're allowed to buy
Where do you want to live?
How do you want to live?
Consider your budget
Check your credit score
Search for listings
Inspect a home
Investigate a home
Once you've found a property you're serious about, do this due diligence before you commit — whether you're bidding at auction or making a private offer.
Research recent comparable sales nearby
Search for nearby development applications
Get your own building and pest inspection report
Private sale (private treaty)
Most Australian properties are sold this way: listed with an asking price, you make an offer, and — unlike an auction — you can make that offer conditional.
Get your finance pre-approval sorted
Get your solicitor to check the contract before you sign
Make your offer conditional where it matters
Know your state's cooling-off period
Auction
Auctions are unconditional: once the hammer falls (or you sign shortly after a passed-in auction), you're legally bound with no cooling-off period anywhere in Australia, and you can't make your bid subject to finance or an inspection. That means everything below — especially the contract review — needs to happen before auction day, ideally 1–2 weeks out.
Get your solicitor to check the contract and change it if needed
Get your finance pre-approval sorted
Discuss your absolute maximum number
Write the number down on paper or in your phone
Prepare to pay the deposit on auction day
Decide who makes the bids on auction day
Take your ID with you (e.g. driver's licence)
Sorting out your finances first?
Compare everyday and savings accounts to get your deposit working harder.