
Articles
Honest takes for sellers.
Field reports, market data, anti-commission essays. Plain English, no agent spin.
Featured
This week’s read.
Australia · 10 min read
The best way to sell your home without an agent in Australia (2026 guide)
Every way to sell your house privately, without an agent, in Australia: what each costs, the legal steps in your state, and how to choose.
Ben Williams · Updated October 2026
The archive
Every article.

Anja PannekCEO, MFAAExpert contributor · 11 min
Ask the head of mortgage broking: what home owners should know before they buy, sell or refinance
Thirteen questions to the MFAA's CEO on why brokers now write 81.6% of Australian home loans, whether you pay for one, and when to get finance ready in a sale.
Ben Williams · 7 October 2026

Melissa HaywardLicensed ConveyancerExpert contributor · 6 min
A caveat landed 13 minutes before settlement. The money had already moved.
A caveat lodged 13 minutes before a $945,000 settlement froze the title after funds had moved. A South Australian conveyancer explains what a caveat does and what a prepared seller checks.
Ben Williams · 5 October 2026

Unreserved data · 7 min
Do private sellers sell for less? What our valuation and sales data shows
70% of owners expect more than the AI estimate. We tracked 46 private sale campaigns to see what that costs: the ones that launched at the estimate sold, and most that launched above it cut their price.
Ben Williams · 2 October 2026

Luke GouldPrincipal SolicitorExpert contributor · 7 min
Who prepares the contract when you sell your Queensland home yourself?
A solicitor prepares the contract, not the agent, whether you sell privately or through an agency. A Queensland property lawyer on what really differs.
Ben Williams · 30 September 2026

Luke GouldPrincipal SolicitorExpert contributor · 8 min
The Queensland compliance items that are not on your disclosure statement
Smoke alarms, pool safety certificates and body corporate warranties all sit outside the Form 2. Each one lands on the seller at settlement if it's found late.
Ben Williams · 30 September 2026

Luke GouldPrincipal SolicitorExpert contributor · 14 min
Ask a property lawyer: the Queensland disclosure mistakes that hand a buyer the exit
Fifteen questions to a Queensland property lawyer on the Form 2 disclosure statement, what happens when it's wrong, and the gaps that surprise sellers.
Ben Williams · 30 September 2026

Selling guide · 5 min
RBA lifts the cash rate to 4.60 per cent, a 15-year high
In this guideWhat the board saidFour rises in one yearWhat it costs a borrowerBorrowing power takes the bigger hitA housing market already going backwardsWhat happens next The Reserve Bank of Australia lifted the cash
Ben Williams · 29 September 2026

Craig SmithDirector, Australian ValuersExpert contributor · 8 min
We price homes with AI. Here is the moment we tell you to go and pay a human.
AI valuations handle the common case well and the unusual one badly. Why the confidence rating matters more than the number, and when a registered valuer is worth it.
Ben Williams · 24 September 2026

Craig SmithDirector, Australian ValuersExpert contributor · 11 min
Ask a valuer: is a pre-sale valuation actually worth it?
Fourteen questions to a registered valuer on what a pre-sale valuation costs, what it protects you from when the bank valuation lands, and when to skip it.
Ben Williams · 24 September 2026

Melissa HaywardLicensed ConveyancerExpert contributor · 9 min
Ask a conveyancer: what South Australians get wrong when they sell privately
GST, deposits, Form 1 timing, contract turnaround and unapproved decks. A South Australian licensed conveyancer answers the questions private sellers ask most.
Ben Williams · 20 September 2026

Selling Tips · 12 min
How Different Home Renovations Can Affect Your Property Value
Quick factsRead time11 to 12 minutesBest forHomeowners who have renovated, or are weighing up a renovation before sellingDifficultyBeginner, no valuation background assumedReviewed byBen Williams, licensed agent in five states, 2,000+ auctionsApplies toAll Australian states
Ben Williams · 20 September 2026

Selling guide · 13 min
How to Price Your Property: A Guide to Setting the Right Asking Price
Pricing is a strategy, not just a valuation. How comparable sales, buyer demand and the right asking price create competition and a stronger final result.
Ben Williams · 10 September 2026

Selling Tips · 18 min
Should You Buy or Sell a House First?
Selling first fixes your budget. Buying first buys you time. Which one you can afford comes down to three numbers, and most homeowners have not worked out any of them before they start looking.
Ben Williams · 26 August 2026

Melissa HaywardLicensed ConveyancerExpert contributor · 6 min
Selling in 2026? Expect to prove who you are. Possibly three times.
New anti-money-laundering rules mean sellers now get identity checked by their conveyancer, their bank and their agent. A licensed conveyancer explains what you will be asked for and when.
Ben Williams · 25 August 2026

Selling Tips · 31 min
Home Selling Negotiation Strategies: How Sellers Can Negotiate a Better Property Sale
Negotiation does not start when an offer arrives. It starts with your asking price, your listing and the first question a buyer asks. A stage-by-stage framework, with the exact words to use at each point.
Ben Williams · 22 August 2026
Our author and expert contributors
The people behind our articles.
Ben WilliamsUnreservedCEO & Co-FounderNational
Melissa HaywardYour Choice ConveyancingLicensed ConveyancerSA
Luke GouldBush to Beach LegalPrincipal SolicitorQLD & NSW
Anja PannekMortgage and Finance Association of AustraliaCEONational
Craig SmithAustralian ValuersDirectorQLD & NSW
Kristy GallAlpha ConveyancingDirector & LicenseeWA
Cate BakosProperty Investment Professionals of AustraliaChairNationalReady when you are
Stop reading. Start selling.
Get a free AI valuation in 60 seconds. The articles are still here when you need them.