1. Understanding What's on Title
One of the biggest mistakes buyers make is assuming that everything shown in the advertising or floor plan belongs to the property. In reality, there's a crucial distinction between what's legally on title, what's common property, and what's only available through "exclusive use."
Veronica shares stories of buyers who assumed outdoor spaces, storage cages, or car parks were included—only to discover later that these areas weren't legally theirs. A strata plan (not the glossy agent floor plan) tells you exactly what you own. Without checking it carefully, you risk paying for something you don't truly control.

2. Car Parks and Storage Cages: More Complicated Than You Think
Car spaces and storage areas are common selling points, but they're also common traps. Some car parks are so tight, oddly shaped, or obstructed that they're practically unusable. Others are listed as "exclusive use" rather than being on title, meaning they could possibly be revoked in future.
Veronica and Meighan explain why you must always physically inspect parking and storage spaces and check them against the strata plan. They even share examples of owners who parked in the wrong space for years without realising—and others who couldn't fit a regular car into their allocated garage.

3. Bylaws and How They Affect Everyday Life
Bylaws may sound boring, but they directly affect how you live in your apartment. From whether you can own a pet, to where you can hang your washing, to whether you're allowed a balcony barbecue—bylaws govern day-to-day life in a strata complex.
The hosts highlight real cases where buyers were shocked to find out that their lifestyle choices, like their choice of pet or installing air-conditioning, were restricted or outright banned. Understanding bylaws before you buy is essential for avoiding clashes with neighbours and costly compliance issues.

4. Renovations and Approvals
Another common trap is assuming that past renovations were done with proper approvals. In reality, every significant change—whether installing timber flooring or converting a laundry into a bathroom—should be documented through a bylaw or body corporate record.

Veronica recalls a case where a renovated apartment had no bylaws to support the works. While the changes looked great, the lack of formal approval left buyers exposed to potential liability if problems emerged later. Without proper documentation, you could inherit someone else's mistakes.

5. Strata Levies and Special Levies
Many first home buyers try to avoid apartments because they don't want to pay strata levies. But as the hosts explain, levies aren't "extra bills"—they're simply the shared costs of maintaining the building.

There are two types of levies:
● Administration funds for everyday expenses like insurance, lighting, and gardening.

● Sinking funds (capital works funds) for major future repairs like roofs, lifts, or fire safety upgrades.

The danger lies in poorly managed buildings where levies are kept artificially low. This often leads to unexpected "special levies"—large, one-off payments when something breaks and the sinking fund can't cover it. Knowing how to read strata reports and forecast contributions helps you avoid these nasty surprises.

6. The Importance of Strata Reports and Meeting Minutes
A building's strata report and meeting minutes can reveal red flags—upcoming repairs, disputes among owners, or even multimillion-dollar fire safety upgrades. Without reading these documents carefully, buyers can walk into massive hidden costs.
Veronica shares an example where a building faced potential council fire orders. Based on lot entitlements, one apartment owner could have been slugged with a $33,000 bill—a devastating hit for a first home buyer who had just stretched to purchase.

7. Community Living and Lifestyle Trade-offs
Buying into an apartment complex isn't just about owning property—it's about joining a community. The "fourth level of government," as some call it, means rules, shared spaces, and compromises.
Visitor car parking, for example, is often tightly controlled. Some buyers wrongly assume they can use visitor spots for their second car, only to face fines or angry neighbours. Similarly, complexes dominated by investors may look less cared for than those with a high proportion of owner-occupiers. These details impact both your enjoyment of the property and its long-term value.

8. Why Asking the Right Questions Matters
Throughout the episode, Veronica and Meighan stress one key message: you can't rely solely on agents, solicitors, or even some conveyancers to tell you everything you need to know.
As a buyer, it's up to you to ask the right questions and push for the right information. From checking entitlements to understanding levies, you need to actively engage in the due diligence process. It may feel overwhelming, but it's far easier than the stress and expense of buying into a poorly run strata building.

Final Thoughts
Buying an apartment in Australia can be a fantastic first step onto the property ladder, but only if you go in with your eyes open. Episode 26 of the Your First Home Buyer Guide Podcast equips you with the knowledge to avoid the three most common mistakes: misunderstanding what's on title, overlooking the impact of bylaws, and underestimating strata levies.

With their decades of buyer's agent experience, Veronica and Meighan show you exactly what to look for when buying an apartment—so you can avoid costly mistakes, live comfortably, and invest with confidence.