My search for a terrace in Paddington began in March 2016 where I first Simon at one of the many open homes I was viewing. For the next nine months I was, like much of Sydney, consumed with where the market was going, when will prices stop rising, how little you got for so much and where is there value in market. During that time and countless of open homes later, Simon developed a solid understanding of my needs and what I was looking for. That insight coupled with his deep knowledge of the market led to his calling me about a potential off market opportunity that I 'had to see'. The property was perfect - it addressed all my 'must haves' and even a few nice to haves. During the negotiation phase Simon was professional, transparent, communicative and responsive to my queries and within a week we exchanged on that property. I have found Simon to be an exceptional agent and consummate professional and I have no hesitation in recommending him to act for you on either buy side or sell side.

I have known Simon for many years, having initially met Simon as the selling agent of a property I was purchasing. I was so impressed with his professionalism and conduct, we became friends and I have subsequently used him as my selling agent. I can therefore appraise Simon's talents as considerable on both sides of the property transaction. As a seasoned property investor I consider him a valued confidant and part of my inner sanctum. As Simon's integrity is beyond reproach and his local market knowledge is second to none I will periodically use him as a trusted sounding board on any property related matter. I also very much appreciate his demeanour which is genuine and warm and his energy and enthusiasm is indefatigable. I am without reservation in endorsing Simon.

Very responsive to emails.

Simon sold our previous home, 10 years ago. He did a great job then so naturally we went back to him to sell this time. His professional yet relaxed manner, makes him very easy to deal with. We would highly recommend him!

Simon and Kristy from 1stCity were selected to mange the sale of my mother apartment in Paddington. From our pre-contract meeting, through their proposal, onto marketing and sale of the property, we were very impressed with the level of support we received. Their understanding at a difficult time for us was very much appreciated. Their communication with us throughout was faultless. We always felt in control while being appropriately guided. The 1stCity back office support was great, thanks to Rebecca and the team's diligence. We have no hesitation in recommending Simon, Kristy and the whole 1stCity team for any real estate sales.

If you are looking for an agent who will provide you with a high level of professional service then contact Simon Doak and his partner Rebecca Houlton they are an amazing team. They have strong business ethics, are honest, extremely hard working and communicate well with the owner and potential buyers. Simon was our point of contact, his knowledge of the market, communication skills and sales expertise are second to none. Selling your home, which in most cases is your single biggest asset is a nerve racking experience and a big event in your life. Therefore choosing an agent is one of the most important decisions you will ever make and I would strongly suggest that you talk to Simon and Rebecca before you do so.

Simon has now sold for me on two occasions and on both occasions the entire experience was a complete success. The sale of my first property only came about due to Simon's focus on staying in touch with potential buyers and matched my property off-market for a great outcome. With our recent sale Simon took control and drove the process from start to finish, handling all aspects from the presentation of the property through to negotiating the sale. Simon's strength is his communication, keeping us extremely well-informed and very much involved at every step. Simon is relaxed and easy to deal with, but also extremely professional, up to date with local market knowledge. Simon and his team are focused on providing terrific service. We would not hesitate in recommending him to others.

It was a pleasure to work with Simon to successfully purchase this property. He was upfront , honest and very pleasant to deal with throughout the process and nothing was too much trouble. A very enjoyable experience! Thank you Simon and Rebecca.

In the highly competitive and complex real estate market it is difficult to find an agent whose guiding principles are aligned with your own. For us personally we looked for someone who values honesty, frankness and transparency. Simon Doak has sold 2 properties for us and on both occasions he has increased the bar and exceeded best practice standards in both ethics and business acumen in all of our dealings. Simon has the respect and understanding of both the owner and potential buyer. As an equity partner in 1st City Real Estate, it really works to a seller’s advantage, he shows leadership in his dealings and partnered with Rebecca Houlton, they are just an amazing team. They bought creative thinking to our marketing campaign, business acumen in our negotiations, the right level of sales prowess and a well-balanced logic. The 20 plus years of experience becomes obvious when you really need it. We are regular buyers and sellers in the housing market and this recommendation does not come without a solid understanding of all the processes involved. They are kind, good people who have both the energy and patience to work with clients – especially in the challenging moments. Simon and Rebecca thank you for another smooth journey and we look forwards to working together again.

Simon was a pleasure to deal with through what is a high stress process (for any new buyer). He was extremely fair with all buyers involved in the process, and showed integrity and empathy. Highly recommended agent.

Hi Simon, I would like to sincerely thank you and the team for the incredible result you achieved for us with the recent sale of our home. You have managed to facilitate the sale of the house within a week of going on the market, within two weeks of engaging your team. Initially, I had reservations regarding the extent of your database given the company is so new, however, most of the potential purchasers who viewed the property were from your database. In fact, I believe the final purchaser was also from your database. Your focus on the end result, communication and dedication were beyond question and very impressive. I have no hesitation in recommending yourself and your dedicated team to others who value professionalism, honesty and integrity. Thank you! Lauren Haynes

I contacted Simon to act on sale of my Paddington property after seeing some other sales in my immediate area. Simon had sold a property I owned previously in Paddington. His style is open and honest in terms of providing views and information on the market, sales strategy options, and realistic expectations on price. We agreed a strategy for selling the property which Simon followed throughout the process, and executed very efficiently. I was kept informed regularly throughout this period, and had a great outcome with the property selling before auction. I have no hesitation in recommending Simon to others looking to sell their property.