YOUR RESOURCES

Your Guides and Tools

Everything here is yours to download, print, and use alongside your modules. Each resource is built around a specific stage of the buying journey. Work through them as you go rather than all at once and you will get the most out of them.

Guides and Tools

Every resource here is built to be used, not just read. Download, print, and work through each one alongside the module it belongs to.

Module 2 — Know Yourself
SWOT Analysis Planner Map your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats as a buyer before you start searching. The foundation of a smart buying strategy. Download PDF
Module 3 — Money and Preparation
Cheap Eats and Meal Planner Saving for a deposit means cutting back without losing your mind. Practical meal ideas and a weekly planner to help you stay on budget. Download PDF
Module 4 — Research and Suburbs
CMA Step-by-Step Guide How to complete a comparative market analysis on realestate.com.au so you know exactly what a property is worth before you make an offer. Download PDF
Module 6 — Open Homes
Open Home Checklist and Notes What to look for at every open home — from site and structure through to wet areas and vibe check. Includes a notes template for each property you inspect. Download PDF
Module 7 — Due Diligence
10 Most Important Things About Your Inspection What every buyer needs to know about pest and building inspections before they book one. From what is covered to how to read the report. Download PDF
Module 9 — Contract to Settlement
Purchase Timeline Infographic A visual walkthrough of every stage from offer to settlement. Know what is coming, when to expect it, and what you need to have ready at each step. Download PDF

From saving to settlement
your complete buying timeline

Buying a property involves a lot of moving parts. This timeline gives you a plain-English overview of every stage so you always know what's coming next, and what you need to have sorted before you get there.

Work through each stage in order, or jump to wherever you're at in the process. Each stage includes what you need to do, what to watch out for, and a tip from the Dwell team based on real inspection experience.

Hub — Purchase Timeline
STAGE 1 OF 6
Get your finances in order
Before you look at a single property, understand exactly what you can borrow and what you can spend. Most buyers skip this step and waste months falling in love with properties they can't afford.
  • Get a mortgage pre-approval from your lender or broker
  • Calculate your full buying budget including stamp duty and fees
  • Understand how much deposit you actually need
  • Check your credit score and fix any issues early
Dwell says: Pre-approval is not the same as approval. It gives you a budget to work with — not a guarantee the bank will lend you the money on the day.
STAGE 2 OF 6
Search with a clear brief
Knowing what you're actually looking for saves you from months of open homes that go nowhere. Get specific about your non-negotiables before you start.
  • Define your must-haves versus nice-to-haves
  • Research your target suburbs — growth, flood zones, infrastructure
  • Set up property alerts on realestate.com.au and Domain
  • Attend open homes with a checklist, not just a feeling
Dwell says: Your first home doesn't need to be your forever home. Don't let perfect be the enemy of a genuinely good purchase.
STAGE 3 OF 6
Do your research before you offer
This is where most buyers either protect themselves or set themselves up for problems. Due diligence is not optional — it's the difference between a good purchase and an expensive mistake.
  • Order a building and pest inspection before you sign anything
  • Review the contract of sale with your solicitor or conveyancer
  • Check council zoning, easements, and any development overlays
  • Research comparable sales to understand if the price is fair
Dwell says: A building inspection costs $400–$800. A missed structural defect can cost $50,000+. There is no scenario where skipping the inspection makes sense.
STAGE 4 OF 6
Negotiate and make your offer
Whether it's a private sale or auction, knowing how to negotiate correctly can save you thousands and reduce the risk of missing out on a property you want.
  • Understand whether you're buying at auction or by private treaty
  • Make your offer in writing with clear conditions
  • Use your building report as a negotiation tool if issues are found
  • Know your walk-away price before you start
Dwell says: At auction you buy unconditionally — your finance and building inspection must be sorted before auction day, not after.
STAGE 5 OF 6
Exchange contracts
Exchange is the point of no return. Once both parties have signed and exchanged contracts, you're legally committed to the purchase. Your deposit is typically due at exchange.
  • Pay your deposit — usually 10% of the purchase price
  • Contracts are signed by both buyer and seller
  • The cooling off period begins (if applicable — not at auction)
  • Your conveyancer lodges the transfer documents
Dwell says: In Queensland there is a 5-business-day cooling off period after exchange on private treaty sales. In NSW it's also 5 business days. Auctions have no cooling off period.
STAGE 6 OF 6
Settlement and handover
Settlement is the day you officially become the owner. Your lender pays the balance of the purchase price to the seller, and the property transfers into your name.
  • Do a final pre-settlement inspection of the property
  • Your solicitor confirms all funds are ready
  • Settlement typically occurs 30–90 days after exchange
  • Keys are handed over and you take possession
Dwell says: Do your pre-settlement inspection within 2–3 days of settlement. Check that nothing has changed and any agreed repairs have been completed.

Who We Are

Jason started as an apprentice carpenter in 1994. Thirty years later, he's inspected thousands of properties across the Gold Coast, Tweed Coast, and Byron Bay, and he knows exactly where buildings go wrong and why.

Dwell Building Services was built on the belief that buyers deserve access to that kind of knowledge before they commit, not after the contract is signed.

We're independent. We're not selling properties. We're just builders who've spent three decades inside walls, under floors, and on rooftops, and we built the Hub so you could buy with the same confidence we bring to every inspection.

Learn more about Dwell