Explore Property Guides
Exploring Australia-Wide Investment in Off-Market Properties
Explore investment opportunities in off-market properties across Australia. Discover strategies and advantages with Collings Real Estate insights.
Identify Key Melbourne Suburban Growth Signals for Investors
Discover key Melbourne suburb growth signals for investors seeking high-yield opportunities. Analyze property market trends with strategic insights.
Top High Yield Suburbs in Melbourne’s Inner North
Discover Melbourne’s high yield suburbs in the inner north for top investment opportunities based on 2026 insights.
Checklist: What Investors Should Ask Before Buying an Apartment or Unit
For investors, buying an apartment is a foundational decision in navigating today’s dynamic real estate market. With the right strategies, investors can transform market challenges
How to Switch Apartment Campaign Strategy When the Market Changes
The dynamic nature of the real estate industry necessitates mastering an adaptable campaign strategy to thrive. This expert guide introduces pivotal tactics for achieving better
Why Not All Investment Apartments Are Equal: Beyond Yield and Price
When evaluating investment apartments, it is essential to go beyond traditional yield metrics. Investors can discover hidden factors that greatly influence property value and potential
Case Study: Six Months Online and No Offers, Then Sold Off-Market in Three Days
Exploring an off-market sale can revolutionize your property marketing strategy. Many properties linger on the market with no offers, but switching to an off-market sale
How to Qualify Apartment Buyers in a Numbers-Focused Market
In today’s competitive real estate market, wisely qualifying apartment buyers is crucial for ensuring efficient and successful transactions. Emphasizing quality over pure volume of inquiries
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Landlords in Northcote, Preston, Bundoora, Ascot Vale, Collingwood, and the surrounding 40+ northern and northeast Melbourne suburbs want fast, clear, accountable updates—especially in a rising rental market. Caleb Pikoulas’ playbook outlines the non-negotiable standards every investor should expect.
What Great Communication Looks Like (Per Suburb and Asset Type)
- Northcote, Collingwood, Fitzroy – High-turnover apartment blocks: owners want real-time rent/maintenance alerting by email or text, no “phone tag.”
- Bundoora, Preston – Larger family homes, engineers and professionals: detailed monthly reporting, scheduled calls, fast repair quotes.
- Ascot Vale, Moonee Ponds: Boutique complexes, more hands-on landlords: mid-lease check-ins, tailored advice, longer lease negotiation briefing.
- Bundoora/Mill Park/Doncaster: Large complex/absentee landlords: online landlord portal, batch update summaries, annual video walks for out-of-area investors.
The Collings Standard in 50+ Suburbs
No matter where your asset is—Heidelberg West, Bellfield, Pascoe Vale, Doncaster, Glenroy—expect:
- 48-hour response time or faster
- Quarterly asset performance reviews (yield, tenant care, compliance)
- Dedicated BDM (Caleb) as account manager for all communication escalation
- Monthly asset statements and custom suburb insight emails (April to August, focus on tax time and rent revision windows)
Scaling Communication for Every Owner
Whether you own in Northcote or Bundoora, Fitzroy or Epping, thorough, scheduled, and clear communication is part of property management that works—and one of the biggest drivers of landlord satisfaction in Collings’ 4.9-star Google-reviewed PM division.
Frustrated with slow, patchy updates? Contact Caleb Pikoulas for a rapid-response management review.
Manage your own rental, the smart way
Collings self-managed property management gives landlords the tools, automation and compliance support to manage their own rentals with confidence. Explore self-managed property management.
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Process and Technology: The Real Force-Multiplier for Landlords
As rental regulation shifts and landlord compliance expectations grow, efficient management of your investment property is no longer a bonus—it’s a necessity. In Northcote, Thornbury, Brunswick West and surrounding suburbs, smarter systems and process have become the defining difference between average and outstanding agencies in 2026.
What “Efficient” Actually Means
- Same-day response for urgent maintenance and asset health issues
- Automated payment and compliance reminders
- Digital lease and documentation workflows—no lost files, no missed dates
- Real-time market/rent dashboards for true asset tracking
- Tenant communication logs to flag issues before they snowball
- Proactive renewal and marketing triggers
Case Example
One Thornbury apartment block suffered regular maintenance blowouts before switching to Collings. Improved ticketing systems, planned “seasonal checks”, and digital pre-approval meant repairs were handled within 48 hours, tenant satisfaction rose and rental income stabilised.
Landlords who harness Collings’ technology benefit from transparency, real-time reporting, and confidence their asset is being actively protected and grown—not just “set and forget”.
Want your property management process reviewed or improved?
Contact Collings for an efficiency and service audit of your rental property—no jargon, just practical feedback and next steps.
Manage your own rental, the smart way
Collings self-managed property management gives landlords the tools, automation and compliance support to manage their own rentals with confidence. Explore self-managed property management.
- Uncategorized
What does the future hold for rental returns, vacancy, and management standards in Northcote, Thornbury, Brunswick West, Heidelberg Heights, Heidelberg West, Bellfield, Fitzroy, Preston, Reservoir, Ivanhoe, Alfredton, Macleod, Rosanna, Kew, Viewbank, Bundoora, Epping, Thomastown, Moonee Ponds, Essendon, Doncaster, Bulleen, Strathmore, Glenroy, Hadfield, Richmond, Collingwood, and every Inner North corridor in 2026? Collings BDM Caleb Pikoulas presents a truly suburb-by-suburb, data-driven outlook.
Topics covered include:
– Where rents are projected to rise fastest (e.g. Brunswick West, Bellfield, Preston corridor)
– How townhouse saturation is shaping tenant choices in places like Ivanhoe, Mill Park, and Templestowe
– Which apartment complexes and owner upgrades deliver the highest rent premiums in Carlton, Fairfield, Abbotsford, Fitzroy North, and more
– Emerging market risks for landlords (regulatory, supply, tenant advocacy)
– Realistic strategy for maximising rental asset performance across twenty plus Collings focus suburbs
For suburb-specific insights for your property, [contact Collings](https://www.collings.com.au/contact).
Find your next property with Collings
Track suburbs, get matched to on-market and off-market listings, and manage your whole property search in one place. Access the Collings property portal.
- Uncategorized
What does the future hold for rental returns, vacancy, and management standards in Northcote, Thornbury, Brunswick West, Heidelberg Heights, Heidelberg West, Bellfield, Fitzroy, Preston, Reservoir, Ivanhoe, Alfredton, Macleod, Rosanna, Kew, Viewbank, Bundoora, Epping, Thomastown, Moonee Ponds, Essendon, Doncaster, Bulleen, Strathmore, Glenroy, Hadfield, Richmond, Collingwood, and every Inner North corridor in 2026? Collings BDM Caleb Pikoulas presents a truly suburb-by-suburb, data-driven outlook.
Topics covered include:
– Where rents are projected to rise fastest (e.g. Brunswick West, Bellfield, Preston corridor)
– How townhouse saturation is shaping tenant choices in places like Ivanhoe, Mill Park, and Templestowe
– Which apartment complexes and owner upgrades deliver the highest rent premiums in Carlton, Fairfield, Abbotsford, Fitzroy North, and more
– Emerging market risks for landlords (regulatory, supply, tenant advocacy)
– Realistic strategy for maximising rental asset performance across twenty plus Collings focus suburbs
For suburb-specific insights for your property, [contact Collings](https://www.collings.com.au/contact).
Find your next property with Collings
Track suburbs, get matched to on-market and off-market listings, and manage your whole property search in one place. Access the Collings property portal.
- Blogs

How would you sell a property with the same amenities as the others listed in the market – in the same building?
It takes an experienced real estate agent to approach this situation through a creative manner. “The chosen method of sale was the private sale method. The reasoning behind this was due to the fact that there were two other 1-bedroom apartments currently on the market from the same building.” says Caleb Pikoulas, real estate agent of Collings Real Estate. Private sale method is the best approach for 203/8 Breavington Way, Northcote as its price is a clear reflection of its current market value.

“The property itself was styled by Collings for the duration of the sale campaign. The reason behind this was to give the buyers an accurate representation of the size of the apartment.” Caleb’s approach is brilliant not only because they were able to showcase the size of the apartment, through property styling, potential buyers were also able to differentiate the property against the other similar properties listed in the same building.
The styled property was filmed and shot to arrange a 3D virtual tour. This strategy turned out well and garnered a total of 112,000 views through Collings’ social media platforms.

Even though the sales campaign is quite challenging, the property was only listed in the market for 3 weeks or 21 days. There were a total of 19 groups that attended the 5 inspections all throughout the sale campaign. “There was nothing out of the ordinary about the deal. All of the buyers were pleasant to deal with and offered 30 days of settlement.” says Pikoulas. It helped that units in Acacia Apartments are greatly desired for its location. Situated in a well-positioned area overlooking All Nations Park and with cafes in short distance, units in Acacia Apartments are truly worthy of one’s considerations.
“In this instance there was just one buyer who made an offer which we negotiated with. They were actually from interstate and it was really a smooth process.”
Other Northcote-related blogs:
- Blogs

Tessa has been frequenting thrift shops for as long as she can remember. She’d pick going to a second-hand store over going to the local mall. The finds Tessa comes across become instant conversation pieces once she gets them home. Tessa is among the many Aussies who have grown to love the culture of thrift shops because of the novelty and affordability these offers. But another type of second-hand shop has been getting Tessa’s attention of late, and this is the op-shop.
Just a short way of saying Opportunity Shop, an op-shop is a store that sells second-hand items with the proceeds channeled towards charity. Easily put, it’s a noble way to shop: you get to find items that might tickle your fancy or are entirely useful at reasonable prices while helping people in need.
If you live in Brunswick or happen to be in the vicinity, you might want to check out these three op-shops within the suburb.
Brotherhood Of St Laurence Community Stores, 109 Brunswick Rd
Shopping at the Brotherhood Of St Laurence Community Stores allows you to help raise funds for charity work. The store offers a wide range of goods like furniture, collectibles, and clothing items.
St Laurence Community Stores stands by its name as a community where people can find support through its steady generation of jobs, opportunity to do volunteer work, and friendly connection established through day-to-day conversation with staff.
Savers Brunswick, 330 Sydney Rd
The ultimate branch of the popular Savers chain, Savers Brunswick has a generous offering of second-hand furniture, books, electronic appliances, and the like. But what gets people’s attention is Savers Brunswick’s clothing selection.
The store offers competitive pricing. By becoming a member, you can avail of 50% discounts on select days. On top of that, you can sell stuff you no longer want to keep at good prices for a cause.
Save The Children, 478 Sydney Rd
Quality vintage is what drives the sales at Save The Children. Clothes, shoes, accessories, jewelry, name it, the store has it. The funds that will be raised from the sale of these are directed to development programs and emergency aid for children not only in Australia but across the entire world.
But what sets it apart from the rest of the op-shops in the suburb is its active online bookstore that offers more than 5,000 second-hand books. If you can purchase books for up to $30, delivery will be free. All the proceeds for these books will go to child healthcare, education, and protection.
These three op-shops are among the many notable thrift shops in Brunswick that are worth the visit. So go ahead, see one of them to score something you might like and get the chance to help someone in need.
The strong community spirit in Brunswick is quite evident in these specialty shops. A community can only be as happy and fulfilled as its people.
Are you looking into selling or buying a property in Brunswick? Let Collings Real Estate help you with your needs. Reach us through our contact form or give us a call at +61 3 9486 2000.
Browse other community highlights in Victoria:
- Blogs

Replete with Victorian and Edwardian homes, Clifton Hill is a picturesque suburb with all the comfort and advantages of modern living.
From shopping strips to efficient transportation, Clifton Hill performs well as a convenient place of residence.
But apart from its commercial areas and living spaces of historic character, Clifton Hill is inviting to families in their generous offerings of childcare centers. The suburb understands the challenges parents encounter day-to-day as they try to earn a living and chart a life of comfort for their kids.
If you’re a parent thinking of ways to keep working while your children are being cared for, here are three childcare centers you may want to check out.
Goodstart Clifton Hill – Childcare Centre
Smartly-situated in one of Clifton Hill’s thickly populated areas, Goodstart Clifton Hill – Childcare Centre is close to the main roads where transportation are frequent and the schools and local shops are thriving. The center boasts of a beautiful old Victorian building that plays host to quality childcare.
The Preschool rooms care for kids six weeks to five years old. The rooms are staged in such a way that they reflect the facility’s Early Years Learning Framework curriculum. Through what it calls Storypark, Goodstart is able to establish ties with parents to assure them of children’s needs.
Petit Early Learning Journey
Located in Hoddle St, Petit Early Learning Journey’s philosophy is reflected in its six core beliefs:
- Learning is an active process, a keystone to play-based pedagogy
- Partnering with families fosters strong reciprocal relationships
- Teaching teams should engage with contemporary pedagogies
- The Learning environment is a place of potential and possibility
- Connection with community supports health and wellbeing
- Every child is capable, resourceful, and a constructor of their own knowledge
These are representative of Petit ELJ’s identity and trajectory, one that puts their client’s children first. Parents are thus assured that their children’s welfare is in the right hands.
Walker Street Community Kindergarten
At the core of Walker Street Community Kindergarten’s services is its aim at inculcating a sense of wonder and drive to learn in the children they educate.
In accordance to this goal, the learning environment at Walker Street Community Kindergarten is vibrant, creative, and motivating. The staff allows kids to exercise curiosity and self-expression. Independence and confidence are virtues that the facility’s programs work on conscientiously to uphold.
Strategically situated on a residential street in the suburb, Walker Street Community Kindergarten work closely with parents to ease a child’s transition from home to kindergarten. This the facility does by honing a diverse and dynamic range of experiences that allow the kids to be themselves with utmost courage.
With these three childcare centers, Clifton Hill parents are assured that their children are getting the education they need and the guidance they deserve.
Other Clifton Hill-related blogs:
- Blogs

You are never too far from anywhere.
In less than ten minutes, you can get to amazing places in the suburb simply by walking. If you have a bike, it would take less time-3 minutes or so. Fairfield is a pretty straightforward suburb where everything’s a stone’s throw away. If you prefer to walk than drive, then this suburb is perfect for you.
The local community is thriving.
Residents in the suburb enjoy the good meat selection and fresh produce from the local shops. There is no large chain supermarket in the area which only means that you do not only get handpicked selections, you also get personalised service.
It is a melting pot of different cultures.
With a significant population of different races, the Fairfield community is culturally diverse. You could bump into Greek, Italian, Chinese, Dutch, German and Indian young professionals, families, and empty nesters.
Fairfield is one of the most desirable suburbs in Melbourne. More and more buyers are finding this suburb as an investment because of its amenities. If you are thinking of selling your property in Fairfield, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. Let us assist you in your real estate journey. Alternatively, if you are looking into buying a Fairfield home, let us discuss your requirements and let Collings Real Estate help you find your dream home. Email as us at info@collings.com.au or fill out our contact form.
Other Fairfield-related blogs:
- Blogs

Appealing to residents of all ages, Ivanhoe is a suburb where people flock to raise families. Set against the backdrop of thriving greenery, this gem of a suburb is replete with venues that give visitors and locals alike plenty to enjoy.
But what may not be known by many is that Ivanhoe hosts several places of exceptional services. They are described as such because these offer things that are conventionally in demand in an era ruled by screens and social media. These places give the mind a break–something that does not just give it an easy dopamine hit. These places feed the intellect and develop a healthy appreciation of literature and nature.
Here are the 3 places in Ivanhoe that serve to sustain the mind.
Andrew’s Bookshop
Small but generous in its offering of various literature, Andrew’s Bookshop is a bookshop located at Upper Heidelberg RD in Ivanhoe. It is quaint, spanning more than 40 years. It all began in 1977 when a young man named Andrew started selling 2 boxes of his parents’ old books at the Wantirna Market. In 1983, Andrew’s Bookshop was opened.
Andrew’s Bookshop thrives in its dedication to providing a wide range of books that deal with general fiction, interior design, travel, and art history, among others. It even offers adult coloring books and postcards, something that is seen as almost passe in the ever-expanding digital terrain. Nonetheless, Andrew’s Bookshop keeps itself afloat with something that the internet simply cannot offer.
The Ivanhoe Library and Cultural Hub
The Ivanhoe Library and Cultural Hub is a place that celebrates intellect and cultural expression. It has become known as a place of inclusivity where visitors are free to think, study, delve into art, and get involved with other creative activities through cultural programs. Each of these will integrate and support each other. For instance, art workshops will be run by resident artists and joined by other artists or other library visitors. The aim is to be dynamic, adaptable, and of course, inclusive.
Not wanting to leave anyone behind, it operates under the principle: Something for everyone, all under one roof, all year round.
Chelsworth Park
Apart from the cafes and specialty shops, are you wondering where else you can read your newly purchased book from Andrew’s Bookshop? Maybe you can stroll by the river first and settle on one of the wooden park benches underneath the massive old trees of Chelsworth Park.
Surround yourself in Chelsworth Park’s teeming greenery and rich bird life as you find an escape from the daily drudgery of contemporary living. Visitors agree that the park is one of Ivanhoe’s finest with its well-maintained oval and walking tracks where you can walk your dog, beautiful riverside view, and the quietude it offers.
So there you go, if you happen to be in the Ivanhoe searching for a timid and repose from your monotonous day-to-day life, be sure to check out these places. Surely, your mind will find the peaceful break that it so deserves.