Start with your core drivers
When writing your brief, go beyond the number of bedrooms or an iconic view. Focus on why you are buying:
- Is this a legacy home for your family?
- An investment for growth and yield?
- A lifestyle decision driven by wellness, location, or convenience?
- A place for now, or the foundation of your forever?
Understanding your reason for buying makes every other choice clearer.
What to be firm on
Some aspects should remain non-negotiable because they anchor your long-term satisfaction:
- Location fundamentals such as neighbourhood, proximity to schools and access to lifestyle hubs
- Proximity to current or planned infrastructure upgrades
- Structural integrity, build quality, architectural merit, or development potential
- Budget boundaries to keep emotions in check
- Deal-breakers such as layouts or exposures that will never work for you
Setting these in stone protects your future investment and avoids regret-driven compromises.
Where to stay flexible
Flexibility creates opportunity. Some of the best acquisitions come from being open minded about:
- Aesthetic details, as finishes and styling can be updated
- Floor plan adjustments as minor renovations can transform a space
- Timing, as the right property may appear sooner or later than expected
- Emerging areas because prestige neighbourhoods evolve and value often lies just beyond the obvious
This openness gives your search more scope without diluting your standards.
How to write your brief
Your brief should focus first on what will not be negotiated. These are the elements that define long-term value and liveability, and they should anchor your decision-making. Features like location, land size, and natural light will shape your experience of the home for decades. By contrast, many of the factors that influence first impressions, such as paint colours, flooring and even floor plans can be updated over time. Understanding this distinction allows you to approach the buying process with more confidence and flexibility, helping you see beyond surface details to the true potential of a property.
Define your must-haves:
- Location
- Property type
- Size
- Budget
Clarify your motivation for buying
Rank your preferences into:
- Essential
- Preferred
- Nice to have
Identify deal-breakers to save time and focus your search
Reveal hidden requirements by adding lifestyle context:
- Daily routine
- Family needs
- Future plan
The Alsaker approach
At Alsaker Property, we do more than match briefs to properties. We interpret and refine them. Many of our clients find that writing their brief with us brings new clarity and often reveals opportunities they would not have considered.
Our role is to balance firm requirements with a strategic eye for properties that deliver long-term value and meet your lifestyle objectives. Throughout the buying process, we keep a close eye on your brief and the properties we are sourcing, ensuring we stay adaptable and focused on achieving the most suitable outcome for you.
Easy to change
- Paint colours and wall finishes
- Floor coverings including timber, carpet, concrete
- Light fixtures and hardware
- Kitchen and bathroom finishes such as benchtops, tapware and cabinetry
- Window treatments including blinds, curtains, or shutters
- Landscaping and garden design
- Storage solutions and built-ins
- Styling, furniture, and décor
- Exterior paint and façade updates
- Minor layout changes and small-scale renovations
Hard or impossible to change
- Location and neighbourhood
- Land size and property boundaries
- Orientation and natural light
- Views and outlook
- Topography of the land
- Street position and privacy
- Zoning and development restrictions
- Architectural pedigree or heritage status
- Proximity to neighbours and area density
- Noise levels from roads, airports, or surrounding venues
