Hi again.  Lets try to answer the old question of “should I buy, sight unseen?”  The answer is yes, provided you are satisfied that the research indicates that total growth of the property is worthy of your investment equity.

This might sound a little simplistic, but it is correct. Objective decision making is the key.  Easy isn’t it? Well, there are some “emotive and subjective” hurdles to jump over before it becomes “easy”.

The first hurdle professional investors jump is - sometimes you will not see your investment before you buy it.  With the invention of Google Maps and the like, virtual tours are possible, from the comfort of your lounge-room, for you to “look at your investment”. From an ownership entitlement perspective, under the protection of Australian Laws, when a property investment is overseen by qualified, experienced legal representatives (solicitor or conveyancer), it is highly likely that you will buy and own the property that you set out to buy and own. And so, without seeing the property personally, you can virtually see your investment and rest safely in the knowledge that the property actually exists and you definitely own it.

The second hurdle professional investors jump is – you will not see your investment property every day, week or even month.  Please rest assured - your investment performance is not relative to the number of times you physically look at it.  Adopt the adage “a watched pot never boils”.  I assure you, growth rates happen while you are not looking at your investment too.

However, if you can’t resist inspecting the property, then please do so with your ‘professional investors’ hat on. If you are an experienced professional in the development, construction and Real Estate industry, then you will probably know what you are looking at and understand the nuisances of what you see. If you are not experienced in such professions, then by all means conduct your inspection, take notes and ask the professionals to explain anything that you don’t understand. Please don’t assume that what you are seeing is bad, if you don’t understand it first. It is a lot like looking at jewellery, a child can do it; but only a trained, experienced person can safely tell you if it is valuable or not.

In short, we understand the temptation to “inspect your investment” but unless you are experienced in property development, construction and real estate marketing, your observations might lead you to the wrong conclusions.

Professional investors buy, based on facts and figures provided by professionals.  If it makes sense to buy across town or interstate then do what the professionals do – just do it.  Be confident in your advisory team, treat your investments like a business, act on information, not emotions.

It is sometimes hard to resist the emotions involved in investing, we see it daily. Brave investors have portfolios “that they have never seen” perform “while they are not looking”. Be brave!