Most people assume long-term thinking is the key to success in property—but what if it’s actually holding you back? In this episode, we break down whether having a long-term property strategy is always the smartest move—or if it could actually be working against you. We take you through how we each approach property strategy, why some plans are set up to fail from the start, and how to tell if the advice you’re getting is truly in your best interest or just a well-packaged sales pitch.

Chris shares how his strategy sessions with clients unfold, the key questions that reveal what really matters, and why understanding your next move—not just the one in front of you—is so critical. Veronica talks through the biggest mistakes she sees people make, why so many investors end up stuck with properties that don’t serve them, and how to avoid locking yourself into a plan that doesn’t adapt to real life.

We also get into the risks of relying too much on spreadsheets and formulas, why property strategy isn’t just about numbers, and how the best decisions come from asking the right questions. If you’re thinking about your next property move, this episode will give you a fresh perspective on how to approach it.

Episode Highlights:

00:00 - Introduction

01:14 - How Chris initiates and conducts property strategy discussions with clients

04:05 - Do property strategy sessions ever change a buyer’s mind?

08:59 - Does Chris charge for his strategy sessions?

12:18 - Does Chris encounter recurring or common property strategy scenarios?

16:37 - The different types of clients who seek strategy sessions and the key issues they face

22:04 - Are property strategy plans too focused on numbers instead of real-life goals?

27:04 - Explaining the power of compounding in real estate through the lily pad analogy

31:51 - What happens when couples have conflicting property goals?

37:09 - How to realistically assess the right timing for property decisions

39:44 - Taking a holistic approach to property strategy sessions

49:13 - The role of data and/or local knowledge in helping investors pick good properties

Resources:
Visit our website https://www.theelephantintheroom.com.au
If you have any questions or would like to be featured on our show, contact us at: The Elephant in the Room Property Podcast questions@theelephantintheroom.com.au
Looking for a Sydney Buyers Agent? https://www.gooddeeds.com.au
Work with Veronica: https://www.veronicamorgan.com.au
Looking for a Mortgage Broker? https://www.alcove.com.au/
Work with Chris: chrisbates@alcove.com.au

Enjoyed the podcast? Don't miss out on what's yet to come! Hit that subscription button, spread the word and join us for more insightful discussions in real estate. Your journey starts now!
Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theelephantintheroom-podcast
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/the-elephant-in-the-room-property-podcast/id1384822719
Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Ge1626dgnmK0RyKPcXjP0?si=26cde394fa854765

Most people assume long-term thinking is the key to success in property&mdash;but what if it&rsquo;s actually holding you back? In this episode, we break down whether having a long-term property strategy is always the smartest move&mdash;or if it could actually be working against you. We take you through how we each approach property strategy, why some plans are set up to fail from the start, and how to tell if the advice you&rsquo;re getting is truly in your best interest or just a well-packaged sales pitch.
Chris shares how his strategy sessions with clients unfold, the key questions that reveal what really matters, and why understanding your next move&mdash;not just the one in front of you&mdash;is so critical. Veronica talks through the biggest mistakes she sees people make, why so many investors end up stuck with properties that don&rsquo;t serve them, and how to avoid locking yourself into a plan that doesn&rsquo;t adapt to real life.
We also get into the risks of relying too much on spreadsheets and formulas, why property strategy isn&rsquo;t just about numbers, and how the best decisions come from asking the right questions. If you&rsquo;re thinking about your next property move, this episode will give you a fresh perspective on how to approach it.
Episode Highlights:
00:00 - Introduction
01:14 - How Chris initiates and conducts property strategy discussions with clients
04:05 - Do property strategy sessions ever change a buyer&rsquo;s mind?
08:59 - Does Chris charge for his strategy sessions?
12:18 - Does Chris encounter recurring or common property strategy scenarios?
16:37 - The different types of clients who seek strategy sessions and the key issues they face
22:04 - Are property strategy plans too focused on numbers instead of real-life goals?
27:04 - Explaining the power of compounding in real estate through the lily pad analogy
31:51 - What happens when couples have conflicting property goals?
37:09 - How to realistically assess the right timing for property decisions
39:44 - Taking a holistic approach to property strategy sessions
49:13 - The role of data and/or local knowledge in helping investors pick good properties
Resources:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Visit our website <a href="https://www.theelephantintheroom.com.au">https://www.theelephantintheroom.com.au</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">If you have any questions or would like to be featured on our show, contact us at:&nbsp;The Elephant in the Room Property Podcast <a href="mailto:questions@theelephantintheroom.com.au">questions@theelephantintheroom.com.au</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Looking for a Sydney Buyers Agent? <a href="http://www.gooddeeds.com.au/">https://www.gooddeeds.com.au</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Work with Veronica: <a href="http://www.veronicamorgan.com.au">https://www.veronicamorgan.com.au</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Looking for a Mortgage Broker? <a href="https://www.alcove.com.au/">https://www.alcove.com.au/</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Work with Chris: <a href="mailto:chrisbates@alcove.com.au">chrisbates@alcove.com.au</a></li>
</ul>
Enjoyed the podcast? Don't miss out on what's yet to come! Hit that subscription button, spread the word and join us for more insightful discussions in real estate. Your journey starts now!
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Subscribe on YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@theelephantintheroom-podcast">https://www.youtube.com/@theelephantintheroom-podcast</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/the-elephant-in-the-room-property-podcast/id1384822719">https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/the-elephant-in-the-room-property-podcast/id1384822719</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Subscribe on Spotify:&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3Ge1626dgnmK0RyKPcXjP0?si=26cde394fa854765">https://open.spotify.com/show/3Ge1626dgnmK0RyKPcXjP0?si=26cde394fa854765</a></li>
</ul>

Who's really in control when you buy a property?

The Elephant In The Room is where the things that no one wants to talk about, actually get talked about.  

Veronica Morgan, real estate agent, buyers agent and co-host of Foxtel’s Location Location Location Australia & Chris Bates, financial planner, mortgage broker and wealth coach have joined forces to find out what’s really going on in the world of real estate.

Veronica and Chris talk to property owners and buyers every day in their respective lines of business. They’ve observed a wide spectrum of confidence in people’s decision making ability when buying and selling property, often to the detriment of the individuals concerned. They are both fascinated by consumer behaviour and together they’re going to uncover who’s really making the decisions when you buy a property.

In each episode they get into the psyche of buyers, agents, auctioneers and other industry experts to learn the truth about how buyers are influenced and why they do the things they do. In every episode you’ll learn from the mistakes of a “property dumbo” as well as Chris & Veronica’s “elephant rider bootcamp” training session.

The plan? This property podcast has been created to help us all make better property decisions!

We talk about the things no one wants to talk about in the Property Market