My experience

I recently purchased my first apartment through LJ Hooker, and the experience was extremely disappointing. After paying my deposit and sending proof, I received no acknowledgment. The next contact was the agency asking for the same receipt again. This set the tone for the entire process: poor communication and a lack of attention to detail. I consistently had to follow up just to get basic responses. As a first home buyer, I relied on the agent for guidance throughout the process. Instead, I felt that my inexperience and lack of familiarity with the process were taken advantage of, with minimal communication, support, or transparency provided at any stage. When I requested access to the property before settlement, I was ignored for a week. At my pre-settlement inspection, I was made to feel rushed and like an inconvenience even when they chose the time, and the agent made inappropriate comments about the sellers, which was highly unprofessional. Settlement day was particularly frustrating. Despite confirmation from my lawyers, I had to chase the agent to arrange key collection. Messages were ignored, instructions were unclear, and I was ultimately told to meet at one of his open homes. The handover itself was done out of the boot of his car while he prioritised other clients. It was rushed, impersonal, and completely lacking professionalism; no walkthrough and no explanation. As a first home buyer, this should have been an exciting milestone. Instead, it was stressful and upsetting. To make matters worse, the one item I had requested to be fixed prior to settlement was done incorrectly. When I raised this, there was no apology, just an offer for me to fix it myself and be reimbursed. Overall, the lack of communication, professionalism, and basic client care was unacceptable. I would strongly not recommend this agency based on my experience.