From Paws to Places: Jo’s Path to Her Perfect Place

Tommy’s navigates difficult restrictions to help Jo and her German Shepherd find their dream home

Jo Stokes dreamed of having an apartment to live in with her German Shepherd, but was finding that the red tape involved with buying an apartment with a pet was proving more complicated than she had imagined. After initially finding the apartment building a bit ‘creepy’, Jo was blown away by how perfect the apartment was for her once Tommy’s showed her the inside. Falling in love with the apartment, Jo still faced a challenging approval process to move in with her dog. Tommy’s persisted in navigating the complexities of the body coporate’s regulations, and successfully got approval to allow Jo and her beloved German Shepherd to move into their dream home. Now living in Raumati South, Jo looks fondly back on her time in her first apartment.

Can you describe the moment you knew you had found the right home with Tommy’s?

I had seen the building and found it a bit creepy, so I wasn’t even going to check the apartment out based on that; it didn’t strike me as somewhere I would want to live. But my agent from Tommy’s Alexia was persuasive; she knew exactly what I was after, and thought the apartment would suit me well. I agreed to view it, and as soon as I went inside, I was blown away. The nice foyer doors, great wooden floors, double windows, and an entrance that was massive. It was a sunny day and the sun was just streaming in – I knew I had to have it, so I put in an offer right away!

What was the most memorable part of your home-buying journey?

The joy of actually successfully buying the apartment and being able to have my dog there. It was very complicated to get the approvals and navigate the paperwork – my lawyer said I gave her her first grey hair signing the apartment! The carpark for example was a separate title to the apartment, and she had to go through three years of body corporate notes. Tommy’s did a lot of the heavy lifting as well – the to and fro with the lawyer, and the approval for the dog – which really made the sale, I couldn’t have signed without that. My agent Alexia worked really hard and very quickly to make the approval go through. I loved working with Alexia – she was fantastic to deal with.

How has your life changed since moving into your new home?

It was way easier to get into town from the new place – I had a short walk to get to work, and all the city’s restaurants, cafes and events were right on my doorstep.  I was now able to do cool things easily, such as jewellery courses and going to the Cuba St. Carnival, for example. ll the entertainment downtown was a breeze to get to without the bother of finding a carpark. Friends would come over and we had my place as a base to get to events, such as WOW and festivals downtown, which was really fun. Plus it was a great place to own a dog, we had all our local spots that he loved – we were a stone’s throw from Polhill Reserve and the town belt which has great walks. He was also a regular down at Raglan Roast, where they spoiled him.

Can you share a special memory that took place in your new home?

After my niece and nephew were born it was really special to have them come over to the house as they were growing up. I had a hanging seat from the top story down and they would happily play on it when they came over. The apartment building actually used to be a children’s dental school so they had handrails for children everywhere. The kids loved it and would never use the lift, always going up the stairs to play on the handrails. They got along really well with the dog and loved to play with him in the apartment – he was like a big cuddly teddy bear to them.

What advice would you give to someone looking to buy a home with Tommy’s?

The most important thing is getting a good agent, when they get to know you more personally and what you do and don’t want from a house, it’s so much more useful and efficient. I was so busy when I was house hunting, I didn’t have time to faff around and see loads of houses that weren’t going to suit me. Tommy’s got to know my ideal price range, my requirements with the dog, and the type of apartment I was after. I never would have looked at this apartment had it not been for Alexia’s persuasion – sometimes they know you better than you know yourself!

How did Tommy’s team support you throughout the buying process?

Alexia continued to check on me throughout the process and has maintained the relationship with me over the years. She still invites me to the Christmas party for buyers and sellers every year, which is good fun and she goes all out for it! When I was buying the apartment I felt like I could talk to her on a personal level, chatting to her felt like chatting to a friend rather than an agent. That aspect was great considering we were in touch a lot throughout the process – she did so much back and forth with the lawyer and I to smooth everything out with the approvals.

Can you describe the feeling of stepping into your home for the first time?

I just felt so happy to be there – I put everything in the living room, got the bed made, and then cracked open a bottle of wine to celebrate.  It was the first time I’d owned my dream home – a nice apartment with my dog, in a great area.