An apartment buyer learned a valuable lesson after a real estate agent told them that there was a bonus storage room behind a locked door, except they "couldn't find the key."
The Australian apartment sale turned into a disappointment after the buyer was told a locked side space would provide extra storage, only to discover after the auction that the home's aging heating equipment already occupied it.
When a seller or agent blocks access to part of a property and claims that there is an "off-the-books" room or feature, it should raise some questions about shady business practices.
Here's what to know
Writing on Reddit's r/AusProperty, the buyer said they were led to believe the side room was a compact storage space of roughly 5.9 by 6.6 feet (1.8 by 2 meters). During both inspections, though, they couldn't see inside because "the agent told us they couldn't find the key the 2 times we were inspecting the property."
Access to the room did not come until the final inspection before settlement, after the buyer had already won the auction.
"They had miraculously found the key and we discovered it was full of a 1980s type condenser machine for the ducted heating. No room for any storage at all," the original poster wrote.
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After seeing what was inside, the buyer said they felt deceived and considered raising the issue with the agency that handled the sale: "I feel like I want to complain to the real estate company that sold us the property. I'm not the type to take it far or anything but I feel let down and totally like that was an illegal move."
Most commenters framed the situation as a hard lesson in due diligence. "This sucks. However, to be honest this is your mistake. You bought a place without doing a proper inspection," one commenter replied.
More background
In a competitive housing market, buyers can feel pressure to move quickly, trust what they are shown, and accept incomplete access just to stay in contention for a property, especially in an auction framework.
One commenter captured that dynamic by noting, "you make such a massive, expensive decision in such a small amount of time with so much pressure looming over your head."
Another commenter described a similar buying experience: they bought a property where part of the inspection area was not fully accessible, only to find major water damage after settlement.
What can be done?
Commenters said buyers should not assume an inaccessible area is harmless, especially if it is presented as usable space.
If a room or section of a garage cannot be opened, commenters argued that buyers should halt the process until access is provided. "Oh ok, so are you calling a locksmith or am I?" one commenter wrote.
Others said a lack of access should be reason enough to walk away entirely. "the minute they 'couldn't find the key' I'd have walked away," one commenter commented.
As one commenter put it: "Never buy something unless you can access all sections."
Where can I learn more?
These articles look at deceptive tactics and housing surprises that change what residents think they're getting.
• A renter said a landlord answered carbon monoxide fears with a ridiculous furnace swap.
• Homeowners accused contractors of trust-me sales tactics when pushing costly HVAC systems.
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