As a first home buyer, I was interested in a property advertised by this agent and made an appointment for an inspection.

When my dad and I walked through the house and we noted patches and self fixes here and there. As the listing indicated the house has been re-stumped, I asked how long ago to which the agent replied a few years. I asked exactly how long ago and he appeared not to know. After asking if it has been 5 years? 3 years? He said 3, however I suspected he had no idea.

I asked if the sheets inside the house were asbestos or if there were any asbestos behind the walls, the agent was not sure. I asked if the house would pass an independent building inspection to which the agent suggested I try a building company he recommended which would be 'cheaper' and is 'independent' and provided me with the company and the inspector's name. I informed him i will most likely be utilizing a building inspector of my choice.

At this point the agent seemed frustrated at my questions and said the question you should be asking is if 'Section 32' is available. As a first home buyer I did not know what it meant and he told me it is the 'contract'. My dad asked if he has the contract to which he replied it will be ready next week. Based on his short attitude I said 'It doesn't seem like you want to sell to us'. The agent subsequently told me and my dad to leave.

The questions regarding the re-stumping and asbestos are genuine questions as the house had obvious patched up cracks. This indicates the house has sunk or shifted previously causing the cracks. If asbestos are behind the walls or in the sheeting we do not want the walls or ceiling to crack and release asbestos in the air in the future.

The agent was rude and just wanted to push the buyer to 'seal the deal' and has shown little knowledge of the property and reluctance to provide answers (even if provided at a later date). I considered writing a letter to the principal (owner/chief agent) of the agent office to highlight the account of events however it seems to be a family owned business and the director is the agent's brother.

We will be taking our business elsewhere and I will be recommending friends and family in the area to avoid dealing with this Real Estate altogether.

We bought our current house through the guys at Oak Park Real Estate. We were living interstate at the time and got the impression they preferred to deal with buyers who were local. They weren't all that friendly, acted like they just wanted the papers signed so it was all done with. We won't be using them when we sell.