Cate Bakos - Reviews

We recently relocated from Sydney to Melbourne and were feeling overwhelmed by the challenge of buying our first home in a new city. Working with Cate and her team was the best decision we could have made. From the start, Cate helped us identify the suburb that best suited our lifestyle and needs, something that can be daunting when you're unfamiliar with the area. Thanks to her guidance and expertise, we not only found a property within our budget, but secured a standalone villa unit with a backyard rather than an apartment, something we didn’t think would be possible. In fact, the property we purchased wasn’t even on our radar at first. It was outside our initial budget, and we would have never considered it on our own. But Cate encouraged us to take a closer look, recognising its long-term value and strong potential. Her strategic thinking paid off. She helped us negotiate effectively, and we ended up securing the home at a price we were comfortable with. Even more impressive, we began our search in early January (the quiet period) and by 30 January, we had signed the contract of sale. The whole process was efficient, well-managed, and far less stressful than we ever expected. One of Cate’s greatest strengths is her sharp eye for detail. She spots potential issues in properties that we would have easily missed and often uncovers valuable information that gives you an edge during negotiations. She is also refreshingly honest: she will give you candid feedback, not just what you want to hear, to ensure you make a well-informed decision. That level of integrity was incredibly reassuring throughout the process. It’s also clear that Cate is highly respected by selling agents, which speaks volumes about her professionalism, industry knowledge, and approach. Her reputation helps open doors and build trust throughout the buying process. It’s now been three months since we moved in, and we genuinely feel we’ve found the perfect location for us. Time will tell if it was a good long-term investment, but so far, we couldn’t be happier. The home suits us perfectly, and the whole experience exceeded our expectations. Cate and her team, Pip and Renee, are outstanding. They project-managed every step of our property search, always advocating for our best interests and providing expert advice. Beyond their buyer’s agent service, you also benefit from their trusted network of professionals for conveyancing, building inspections, and more. Everything was coordinated seamlessly, which made a big difference. We’ve already recommended Cate to a friend, who also secured an off-market property through her, and we’ll continue recommending her without hesitation. Thank you, Cate, for helping us start this exciting new chapter of our life. We’re truly grateful for your support, professionalism, and care throughout the journey. Maeva & Mattia

18 July 2025

We could not speak more highly of Cate, her team, and their services. As young working professionals, my partner and I found it difficult to navigate the property market for the first time as first home buyers. We had spent months going to inspection after inspection, missing out at auctions, and getting blown off by real estate agents. We were sick and tired of it all and we wanted someone in our corner who understood what was going on — enter Cate and her team. Cate is a consummate professional with decades of experience in property — and it shows! Straight away, she was able to listen to us and our requirements, and was able to find us a series of properties that fit the bill. She was thorough and dedicated in her searching and was able to note plenty of little details that we had missed before. Cate supported us all the way throughout the process, from helping us decide our pre-auction strategy, to bidding and navigating the auction on our behalf, and to ensuring that no details were overlooked in the lead-up to settlement day. We are eternally grateful for the help of Cate and her team and strongly endorse her buyer advocacy services!

25 February 2026

Cate and her crew helped us to find our dream apartment in Altona with a view of the sea. We were living overseas so it was quite important for us to have someone with local knowledge to avoid making a mistake. Cate was extremely efficient at removing problem properties from our list so we could concentrate on the most promising ones. We quickly learnt to trust her judgement on all aspects of the process. Highly recommended.

10 February 2026