Many owners believe they need to spend thousands up front in advertising and listing fees to achieve a great result for their apartment or investment property. The reality in Melbourne today is that you can often avoid these costs entirely by working with a specialist in off-market sales.

Instead of relying on splashy campaigns, my focus is on direct buyer matching—reaching qualified, pre-approved investors and owner-occupiers already searching for apartments just like yours. Rather than hoping for the right enquiry, the process identifies who is likely to value your property (such as cash investors focused on yield, downsizers prioritising lifestyle, or buyers’ agents acting for clients in your building type).

Getting the result without the waste means having the key documentation, presentation and pricing in order. That way, when we speak to targeted buyers, the conversation is about value rather than joining a queue of listings. In over half the apartment sales I’ve managed recently, the property never hit major public portals and vendors paid almost nothing in campaign costs—saving thousands and skipping unnecessary stress.

The vital caveats: off-market only works if your agent has the active buyer network, negotiation experience, and transparent campaign reporting to keep you informed every step. If you want to keep costs down but still create honest competition for your asset, this may be your smartest approach in 2026.

Contact Genneva Smarrelli today to discuss your apartment, unit, or investment property strategy. Visit http://collings.com.au/contact to connect directly.