Real Talk for Property Investors by EXCLUSIVELY MANAGED; the podcast that pulls back the curtain on the real world of managing investment properties in Brisbane.
I’m Samantha Eason; Principal and Licensee of Exclusively Managed, Property Management agency located in Brisbane. Each episode, I share the untold stories, hard lessons, and everyday realities that come with property management, from difficult tenants and dodgy maintenance to untrained managers and costly mistakes that could’ve been avoided.
This isn’t a sugar coated industry podcast. It’s honest, practical, and straight to the point, with a few laughs along the way. Whether you’re a property investor, landlord, or simply curious about what really goes on behind the scenes, Talking Property Management gives you the insight you didn’t know you needed.
I’ll be sharing real life experiences, expert advice, and proven strategies to help you avoid pitfalls, protect your assets, and get the most out of your investment.
And who knows… I might just be talking about your property manager in the next episode.
You're Being Robbed: The Truth About House and Land Packages Nobody Tells You
•Samantha Eason•Season 2•Episode 14
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Ready for a property bombshell that could save you $150,000?
Drawing from years of industry experience, we meticulously dismantle the glossy marketing facade to reveal how developers, builders, and agents systematically extract massive profits from unwitting buyers.
Using real figures and concrete examples, we demonstrate how a home that should cost around $680,000 (land at $400,000 plus construction at $280,000) mysteriously transforms into an $830,000+ "package deal" with that extra $150,000 benefiting everyone except you.
But knowledge is power, and this episode arms you with actionable alternatives. By purchasing land separately and working directly with builders, you can potentially save enough to fund a second investment property or significantly upgrade your home's finishes.
Don't fall for the marketing hype that makes someone else wealthy at your expense. Take control of your property journey by understanding how the game really works and choosing to play by your own rules instead.
If you have any questions or scenarios you would like us to discuss on an upcoming episode, please email samantha.eason@exclusivelymanaged.com.au or visit https://www.exclusivelymanaged.com.au/
There's a couple of things that I want out of doing the whole podcast thing , and one of those is that real estate agents get exposed for being well how do I say it nicely for doing their job badly and landlords stop believing the marketing campaigns and the pretty brochures and whatever . And yeah , there is also a portion of that where clients realize how good we are as an agency and we're very particular about who we manage and how we manage because it works . You know , like that would be ideal . And I say that because I was asked today what I wanted out of the podcast and there's really nothing that I want . I don't promote the business as such , I just point out flaws and others , I guess . But with that , I think it is a good opportunity to tell you something that you don't know and once you hear it , you won't be able to unhear it .
Speaker 1
This episode is going to be about house and land packages . It's completely off point . It's not property management , I get it , but the absolute truth . They're bullshit and they are stealing your money . And it's not just like $10,000 or $20,000 . I'm talking upwards of 100 and you know 100 to $150,000 and sometimes even more . And I'll strip let's strip away the glossy brochures , the pretty renders and the over smiling sales reps , because behind that marketing machine is a dirty little secret . Because behind that marketing machine is a dirty little secret and house and land packages are built for one purpose only To make developers and agents rich . Not you , not your family , them . And here's how it works A developer carves up a piece of land
they might have like 10 blocks in that section and they want to sell it . So instead of just offering you the , the dirt , you know the bit of land , they bundle it with a builder's contract . Suddenly it's not a block anymore , it's a house and land package . Sounds neat , sounds tidy . You know full turnkey . Wrong , because when they bundle it they pad the price , and it's not just them , the builder does as well . And they add their commissions , they add marketing costs , they add the fact , and you as the buyer are the one left holding the bill , the fact , and you as the buyer are the one left holding the bill .
Speaker 1
You'll probably go on real estatecom after and you'll see a house and land package advertiser 830 , maybe 900 , maybe 1.5 . And you'll think , wow , that's really reasonable for a four bedroom home , five bedroom home , oh , it's acreage , you know in that area . But if you actually scratched the surface you'd realise that exact same build might cost you $280 , maybe $300 , $350 , $400 direct from a builder . I'll give you an example of where we built our property from . So we chose Homes by CMA . They have really beautiful homes . You can obviously go custom built or you can choose one of their plans , alter their plans . Perfect experience .
Speaker 1
I couldn't say anything bad and I'm in my house right now . So four bedrooms , two bathrooms . I believe from memory and don't quote me on this they have a house package that starts from , I think it's like $260,000 , maybe $280,000 . So if the land costs $400,000 , do the math here as my listeners , while you're driving , while you're drinking coffee , tea , starting price from $280,000 . Four bedroom , two bathroom , two garage , stone benchtops , quality house
, good inclusions . The land costs $400,000 . That's $680,000 . And that's not taken into consideration site costs . That could be more really depends on the land and the soil , testing and you know , whatever they have to do with the contour surveys . But let's just say , okay , that's $680,000 . But through a package you're paying $830,000 plus . That's $150,000 . All difference , that's a whole extra deposit for a property just gone , just so the developer and the builder and the agent can skim it off the top . And here's the kicker . Like , this is what I don't get . They sell it to you like they're doing you a favor . They'll say things like it's full turnkey , stress-free , ready to move in high inclusions . They play on your fear of complexity . They make you believe you need them , but I'll tell you you don't . You're smarter than that and the minute you know how this game works , works , you'll see house and land packages for what they really are it's a cash grab .
Speaker 1
I was looking for , you know , a new block of land , or I wasn't , actually I was looking for the price of block of lands the other day and I found some near Diagua , delaney's Creek and then they were like oh , one point I don know it was one point something and I was like okay , it's a big enough block , like that's decent . The house was crap , like the mock-up , and I know that they have other variations , but it was like 20 mil stone and it's like well , that's cheap , that's $3,000 worth of stone and you're trying to tell me that that's worth a million dollars , like the land and the house in itself . Turf not included , landscaping not included , based off soil testing , so you're going to whack on an extra . How much ? $100,000 ? How much is that land actually worth ? So and we'll talk about why they do it Like , developers want to shift to land fast .
Speaker 1
They know if they pair it with a house they can jack the total price up and create the illusion of value . And that's exactly what this particular house and land did . And the agents they love it because they double dip . You know they're paid to sell the land and they're paid to stitch you into a builder's contract . They're not working for you , they're working for their bank balance and you're the product . Like you're paying double commission .
Speaker 1
Think about the consequences there . It's $150,000 you overpay and it's a lot of money . The more interest on your mortgage that could have added years to your loan term . It's extra stress every single month when your repayments hit your bank account . And it's for what ? The middleman you didn't even need , the middleman you didn't ask for . It's , it's bullshit .
like . I said don't get me started on the inclusions . That's like they dazzle you with talk of stone , benchtops and landscaping packages all of it's upsold , like when you go through a builder and you're changing things or you're adding things . They've added a margin onto that . So the margin with the house and land package is even more . And what you think is included often isn't . Oh , you need extra downloads , you need extra PowerPoints . That's not included . Air conditioning we've only allowed for this size system . That won't suit the whole property . By the time you add it all up , you're even deeper in the hole and you've already signed the contract so you can't get out of them . You know , like that's it .
Speaker 1
People still buy them because they don't know any better . They trust the smiling sales rep . They trust the billboard on the side of the road . They trust the agent who swears blind they're getting a great deal . But the truth is these people are professional manipulators . They know how to sell the dream and they know how to hide the ripoff . So that's the truth bomb .
Speaker 1
Stop buying house and land packages . Stop giving developers and agents a license to print money off your back . Go direct to the builder . Sit down with someone . I love Home Spice UMA . Like I love my house . I love my family house . I could not have picked a better builder and I worked incredibly hard to get this house . And it's not even a you beaut spanking house . But design a home that actually fits your budget .
Speaker 1
Buy the land separately . If we have to do another podcast on how land costs so much money , we'll do that . But then I'm going into a complete conspiracy theory and I'm going to have to get some Alfa pin hats put on , because that's just absolutely crazy . But buy the land separately . Do the numbers yourself , because when you do , you'll see the difference . It's massive $150,000 . That's what you save and you could do what with that money . Put it towards a second investment property . You can upgrade finishes without breaking the bank . You set yourself up with equity from day one instead of being in a negative gearing position before you even pick up the keys .
Speaker 1
Developers and agents don't want you to know this , for a reason , of course they don't . Their entire business model relies on you staying in the dark . They want you dazzled by renders of happy families on manicured lawns . You're seduced by the phrase turnkey . But you know now . You know the truth
and once you know , you can't go back . I'll be as blunt as I possibly can and have across this whole episode .
Speaker 1
House and land packages are bullshit . They are designed to rip you off . They are the property industry's best kept scam and you fall for it . You're handing over a fortune you don't need to spend . So next time you see one of those tiny , shiny brochures , remember this episode . Remember that the agent smiling across the desk is smiling because of your money . Remember you've got a better choice to you know . Buy the land , go direct to the builder . Keep your money in your own pocket where it belongs . House and land packages don't make you wealthy , they make someone else wealthy . And land packages don't make you wealthy . They make someone else wealthy . Stop playing their game and start playing yours .
Speaker 1
It's part of our industries that I just don't like and it's how there is that perceived notation that sales agents , real estate agents , professionals in the industry just scam artists . And it's very similar to being a lawyer . I remember , you know , years ago I was like I'd love to be a lawyer , probably be a very good one too , and then someone said to me like you'd have to represent the guilty person . It's like , oh well , I wouldn't want to . You know , like all my clients are innocent and they're like , no , like , at the end of the day , you have to represent someone that's guilty . You have to make the public , the jury , perceive them as innocent , and there's an aspect of that that's very similar with real estate , you have to work for the guilty and I just don't want to be that person . You know , like a lot of our clients that we work with , they're not like that .
Speaker 1
It's fantastic , we have fantastic clients , but yeah , it needs a big kick up the ass . If I'm going to be blunt . Just property managers telling owners flat out lies ,
not advertising properties to their best potential , not being honest , it's ridiculous . So the more people who know , the better it is . Let's be as honest as possible and if we need to , if we get the interest , we can go into Brisbane's worst builders because I manage quite a few homes built by various different builders and , without getting in trouble on a legality aspect , I'm sure we can research ways to fill you in . So let me know what you think . Don't buy a house and land package .
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