Things Agents Say That Mean Nothing
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There are phrases you will hear over and over again when buying property.
They sound reassuring.
They sound informative.
They sound like inside knowledge.
Most of them mean absolutely nothing.
Not because they are always untrue, but because they are unverifiable, unenforceable, and disappear the moment the contract is signed.
Here are the greatest hits.
“We’ve had a lot of interest.”
This tells you nothing.
Interest is not offers.
Interest is not finance approval.
Interest is not a signed contract.
Ten people through an open inspection is interest.
One person asking for a copy of the contract is interest.
Unless there is a signed offer in writing, this statement has no weight.
“There’s another buyer close.”
Close to what.
Close to thinking about it.
Close to talking to a broker.
Close to going home and doing nothing.
If there is another buyer, it will show up very quickly once you put something on paper.
If it does not, there probably wasn’t one.
“They’re motivated.”
Motivated sellers change contracts.
They shorten settlements.
They accept conditions.
They negotiate on price.
If none of that is happening, motivation is just a word.
“They’ll take less for a clean offer.”
Clean means different things depending on who is saying it.
Clean to an agent often means no questions and no conditions.
Clean to a buyer usually means fair terms and clarity.
If the price only drops when protections are removed, that is not flexibility.
That is risk being transferred to you.
“It’s a solid house.”
This is not a building report.
Agents are not builders.
They are not engineers.
They are not certifiers.
If you want to know whether a house is solid, you pay someone whose opinion carries responsibility.
“This is a great area.”
Every area is great when you are selling in it.
This tells you nothing about traffic, flooding, future development, zoning changes, or resale risk.
Great is not measurable.
Great is not contractual.
“It’ll be fine.”
This sentence should always stop you in your tracks.
If it was genuinely fine, there would be no need to say it.
Fine does not fix defects.
Fine does not override special conditions.
Fine does not help you at settlement.
“Everyone does it this way.”
This is usually said when something is not ideal but inconvenient to explain properly.
Everyone does not buy the same property.
Everyone does not have the same risk tolerance.
Everyone does not get stuck with the same problem later.
“Just put something on paper.”
This is often framed as harmless.
It isn’t.
Once something is on paper, it can turn into a binding contract very quickly, especially in Victoria.
You do not put something on paper until you understand what happens if the answer is yes.
What all of these phrases have in common is this.
None of them appear in the contract.
And if it is not in the contract, it does not exist in a way that protects you.
Agents sell property with words.
You buy property with documents.
Listen to what is said, but make decisions based on what is written.
That is the difference between a good purchase and an expensive lesson.
If you want someone on your side to read what actually matters before you sign, you can request a contract review here:
https://www.victorianpropertysettlements.com.au/contract-review-request
Victorian Property Settlements
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www.victorianpropertysettlements.com.au