Hello, my name is Cathy & I am a realestate.com.au addict....

I trawl through the listings of Launceston and Invermay on realestate.com.au weekly if not sometimes alternate days. Its not that I am in the market to buy a house just yet - it's just that I really want to buy a house. I need a nest!

I know how hard real estate agents have to work to list, present, market and sell a house. I was a mortgage broker in my past life and one of the things I did was attend Open Homes with an Agent. So on Saturday's I would get to see 6 to 8 homes. I was there to sell my service, hopefully convert the sale or alternately ensure the buyer was ready to buy and buy NOW. After awhile you tended to recognise the habitual Open Home Lookers - they were the Saturday Open Home Trawlers. 

They would turn up to the open home, gladly give their contact details (if the agent didn't already have them) and then go through the home inspecting with delight. They were time wasters. We were their Saturday entertainment. Nothing more nothing less.

They spent money on petrol or walked if they lived close by and were able to look for ideas for their own homes - even to the point where they wanted to know the color of the paint etc.

The Agents would treat them with respect and have a never ending hope that one day they would ask them to sell their home.

So knowing how hard it is for the Agents I don't go to open homes - even if I would buy the house if I had the money, have looked at every detail online and decided where to place my furniture. I won't give the Agent or the seller false hope.

The Seller (sometimes still in the house/across the street/in the next backyard) watches for visitor numbers, takes heart when the numbers are good and crashes emotionally when no one turns up.

I know when we were selling our home I wanted to know who came, did they like the house, were they in the market NOW to buy? And I knew from the names whether my neighbours or friends had just popped in for a look or a sticky beak.

So now, knowing my buying position, I trawl the internet. It is safe, harm free and can be enjoyed at anytime of the day or night - and I don't use up petrol!

My kids however see me on realestate.com.au and start to ask the questions..... are we moving? does it have a pool? make sure it has a backyard - I want the biggest bedroom..... etc etc. And then I have to reassure them that no we are not moving, Mum is just dreaming about moving and when we are ready I will let them know and give them fair warning....