One of the most common questions for owners of blocks of units: “Do I need to list it on realestate.com.au or Domain, or is there a better way?” Simon Abbott’s answer is shaped by decades of database-driven deals in Victoria.

Advertising on Portals—Upside

• Maximum visibility: You reach accidental buyers and a wide market.
• Retail pricing chance: Owner-occupier or out-of-area buyers sometimes pay a premium if your block is unique or blue-chip.

Downsides

• High cost: REA/Domain listings often mean $10k–$25k+ in spend—no guarantee of result.
• No buyer fit: Most buyer interest is from retail or speculative buyers, not serious block investors.
• Privacy risk: Tenants, neighbours and reps see your sale; discretion lost.

What Simon’s Database Yields

For 90% of blocks brokered by Simon, buyer was sourced from a curated investor pool or buyer’s agent database—never made it to mainstream portals. These include repeat buyers, private syndicates, and SMSFs that prefer off-market terms.

Scenario: Block Sold Off-Market Above Vendor’s Ask

Vendor spent $17k on portal advertising with another agency. Zero result. Simon took the block to his database—sold within three weeks, “no open for inspections,” and at a price 3% above the previous asking level.

Confused about whether you need REA or Domain for your block?
Get a target-market match assessment from Simon: collings.com.au/portal