Upsizers secure their ideal Heathmont home on their first attempt in a competitive market
Buyers Advocate helped repeat clients Alistair Hunt and his family secure a light-filled family home in Heathmont as they looked to upsize for their growing family. With a young daughter and plans for the future, their previous home had become too small, and they wanted a larger property in a better location for transport, amenities and work.
Although the clients expected their search to take more than six months, Buyers Advocate Leigh McConnon developed a tailored purchasing and negotiation strategy that helped them successfully secure the very first property they seriously pursued.
Upsizing in a market where auctions and private sales drew multiple buyers
The clients were looking to upsize into a larger family home after their previous property had become too small for their growing needs.
With a young daughter and plans to continue growing their family, they wanted more space as well as a better location relative to transport, local amenities and work.
They had already been looking for several months before engaging Buyers Advocate and expected the process could take more than six months, based largely on the experiences of friends and other buyers they knew.
The Heathmont market was also proving competitive. Auctions were attracting multiple bidders, while private-sale properties were drawing interest from several competing buyers.
Rather than navigating that competition alone, the clients wanted to put themselves in the strongest possible position to secure the right home while minimising the stress involved in the process.
Having previously worked with Leigh McConnon, who had helped them purchase their former home through Buyers Advocate’s full-service offering, the clients returned to the team for assistance with their next move.
By engaging Buyers Advocate again, they had an experienced professional who could assess opportunities independently, help protect them from avoidable risks and develop the right purchasing strategy when a suitable property became available.
Independent assessment, comparable sales analysis and due diligence addressed both risks before an offer was made.
More space for a growing family, in a better-connected location
- Additional space for their next stage of family life
- Three bedrooms
- Multiple family living spaces
- Outdoor entertaining space
- Generous backyard
- Convenient access to local amenities
- Public transport accessibility
- Strong long-term owner-occupier appeal
The search remained focused on finding a property that would meet both the family’s immediate needs and provide a suitable home as their circumstances evolved.
Covered outdoor entertaining patio, connected to the central living space.
Private backyard with a generous lawn and established vegetable garden on approximately 654m².
A property-specific strategy, informed by market intelligence
Working with Buyers Advocate Leigh McConnon, the clients approached their property search with a clear strategy designed to put them in the strongest possible position when the right home became available.
Having worked with the clients previously, Leigh already understood the value they placed on professional guidance and independent representation. For this purchase, the search focused on securing a larger family home in Heathmont while avoiding the risks of overpaying or purchasing a property with unexpected issues.
The clients had been looking for several months before engaging Leigh, but the first property they seriously pursued with Buyers Advocate ultimately became the property they purchased.
The home was offered for private sale and attracted multiple offers from competing buyers. Through his relationship with the selling agent and understanding of the process, Leigh was able to obtain valuable information about the level of competition and position the clients appropriately.
Rather than approaching the negotiation without a clear understanding of the competitive landscape, Leigh used the available market intelligence to develop a tailored strategy designed specifically for the property.
This allowed the clients to remain removed from much of the uncertainty and pressure of the negotiation while an experienced professional represented their interests.
As the clients later explained, they had seen friends experience enormous stress when buying independently. By comparison, they were able to step back from the negotiation process and rely on Leigh to manage it on their behalf.
- Property assessment
- Comparable sales and market value analysis
- Local market guidance
- Development of a property-specific purchasing strategy
- Independent representation throughout the purchasing process
- Independent advice on property suitability
- Due diligence
- Communication with the selling agent
- Professional negotiation
Assess the property
Review comparable sales
Gather market intelligence
Negotiate on their behalf
A light-filled, north-facing family home in Heathmont
The successful purchase was a family home in Heathmont, secured on 24 February 2026.
Set on approximately 654m², the north-facing property offered a combination of indoor and outdoor space well suited to the clients’ needs as upsizers.
The home’s layout provided the family with more room than their previous property, while the connection between the central living space, covered patio and backyard created a practical environment for everyday family life and entertaining.
The larger home and improved location directly addressed two of the key reasons behind the clients’ decision to upsize.
- Three bedrooms
- Two bathrooms
- Two car spaces
- Approximately 654m² of land
- North-facing orientation
- Light-filled interiors
- Multiple family living spaces
- Modern kitchen with stone benchtops
- Stainless steel appliances
- Island breakfast bench
- Sunken lounge
- Covered outdoor entertaining patio
- Private backyard with generous lawn
- Established vegetable garden
- Ducted heating
- Split-system air conditioning
- Substantial shed/workshop
- Double carport
Kitchen with island bench
How the floorplan supports family living
Three bedrooms with a main ensuite, separate living, family and dining zones, a rear terrace and pergola, a studio/workshop and a double carport.
Why Heathmont?
Heathmont offered the clients the opportunity to secure a larger family home in an established and well-connected suburb in Melbourne’s east.
The location also provided the improved access to transport, amenities and work that formed an important part of their decision to move.
The combination of a generous residential block, family-friendly accommodation and convenient access to everyday amenities made the property well suited to the family’s evolving needs.
Secured on the first attempt, through a multiple-offer private sale
The clients initially expected their search for a new home to take more than six months, based on the experiences of friends and other buyers they knew. Instead, Leigh successfully helped them secure the very first property they seriously pursued after engaging Buyers Advocate.
The property was purchased through a competitive private-sale process, with multiple offers submitted by interested buyers. By obtaining valuable information from the selling agent and carefully navigating the multiple-offer process, Leigh was able to develop a property-specific negotiation strategy that put the clients in a strong position to secure the home.
The clients purchased in Heathmont on 24 February 2026 for $1,080,000, comfortably within their budget of $1 million to $1.2 million. The result delivered a three-bedroom, two-bathroom family home on approximately 654m², providing the clients with additional space for their growing family, a generous backyard and improved access to transport, amenities and work.
A key part of the successful outcome was the purchasing strategy developed specifically for the property. According to the clients, they would not have known how to develop the right strategy themselves, while Leigh’s market knowledge and negotiation experience allowed them to remain removed from much of the pressure associated with competing for a home.
Settlement was completed on 25 May 2026.
Property snapshot
Rather than enduring the lengthy and stressful search they had anticipated, the clients were able to secure the first property they seriously pursued and move forward with the next stage of their family life.
Looking to upsize in Melbourne?
Upsizing into your next home can be exciting, but competing for the right property can also bring significant uncertainty and stress.
For growing families, the challenge often goes beyond finding a larger property. Buyers also need to consider location, transport, amenities, long-term suitability and whether the property represents appropriate value.
At Buyers Advocate, we help buyers navigate the entire purchasing process with an independent professional representing their interests. From assessing properties and conducting due diligence to developing a tailored purchasing strategy and negotiating with selling agents, our team helps clients approach competitive property markets with greater confidence.
For these clients, what they expected could be a search lasting more than six months resulted in successfully securing the first property they seriously pursued.
If you’re looking to upsize in Heathmont or elsewhere across Melbourne, speak with our experienced team about how we can help you find and secure the right property.
Planning your next property move? Book a consultation with Buyers Advocate and discover how professional buyer representation can help take the stress out of securing your next home.