Selling quietly: what an off-market sale means for you.
Your agent has suggested testing the market off-market before any public campaign. This page explains what that is, what stays private, and what to expect. It is written for you, not for other agents.
What "off-market" means here
Your property is described, at suburb level only, to a closed network of licensed estate agents who pay to belong. Those agents show it to buyers they already represent. Nothing appears on realestate.com.au, Domain, social media, or a signboard.
What stays private
- Your street address. It is never entered into the platform at all.
- Your name and contact details.
- Photographs. Only your agent holds them and shows them privately.
- The fact that you are selling, from neighbours and the open internet.
What buyers' agents do see
- Suburb and postcode.
- Property type, bedrooms, bathrooms, car spaces, land size.
- A price guide agreed with you.
- A short description written by your agent, with no identifying details.
How a buyer reaches you
A verified agent sees the listing
Every member's licence has been checked against the Consumer Affairs Victoria register.
They request an introduction with a buyer brief
Your agent sees the buyer's budget, position and timing before anything is shared.
Your agent decides
Only if the buyer is genuine does your agent share the address and arrange a private inspection, at a time that suits you.
Offers come through your agent
You are never contacted directly by a buyer or another agent.
The exclusivity window
Your agent sets a window of 14 to 30 days. During that time the property is off-market only. At the end you have three options: accept an offer, extend, or go to a public campaign with real price feedback from qualified buyers already in hand.
Why vendors choose it
- Privacy. No open homes, no signboard, no online record of your sale.
- Lower cost. A typical Melbourne portal and print campaign runs into thousands of dollars. Off-market has no advertising spend.
- Speed. On this platform the median off-market sale has taken about ten days.
- Real feedback. Serious buyers tell you what they will pay before you spend on a campaign.
What to weigh up
- Fewer eyes. A public campaign reaches every buyer; off-market reaches represented buyers only.
- Price discovery. With fewer competing buyers there may be less upward pressure. Your agent will advise whether your property suits it.
- You can change course. If the window ends without the right offer, nothing has been lost and nothing has been published.
Questions vendors usually ask
- Is it legal to sell without advertising?
- Yes. There is no requirement to advertise. Your agent still needs a signed sales authority and must follow the same price-guide and disclosure rules as any sale.
- Will other agents know which house it is?
- Not from the platform. The address is only ever shared by your agent, to a specific agent, for a specific buyer, and only once your agent decides to.
- Do I pay the platform?
- Not directly. There are no listing or advertising fees. If your property sells to a buyer introduced through the platform, the platform charges your agent 1% of the sale price on settlement; your agent will explain how that sits within their fee agreement with you.
- Can I still list publicly later?
- Yes. Many vendors use the window as a quiet first step and go public afterwards if they choose.
General information only. Your agent will advise on your property and circumstances. Prepared by Incognito Property, a members-only network for licensed Victorian estate agents.