When you want to invest, but you want to get it right
Property investment can be exciting, but it can also come with a lot of questions.
Where should you buy?
What type of property should you consider?
Will the location deliver long-term growth?
How much should you borrow?
Who can you trust to give you advice?
For Ros Hardy, these questions became particularly important after experiencing an investment property that wasn't achieving the results she wanted.
Ros wanted to continue building her property portfolio, but she didn't want to simply buy another property for the sake of owning another property.
She wanted a strategy.
More importantly, she wanted to feel confident that the next investment decision was the right one for her circumstances.
That journey eventually led Ros to PWF.
But she didn't arrive without questions or concerns.
In fact, she was highly sceptical.
And that is what makes her story particularly relevant for other Australians considering property investment.
Ros Hardy's experience with PWF
Starting with an investment property that wasn't delivering
Ros already had experience as a property investor.
However, her existing investment wasn't achieving what she wanted it to.
That created an important decision point.
Rather than simply continuing to purchase properties without changing her approach, Ros wanted to understand what she could do differently.
Her objective was to grow her portfolio, but she wanted to make sure the next properties were selected with a greater focus on the right locations and long-term growth potential.
In her own words:
“We had one investment property that wasn’t achieving what we wanted it to. We wanted more properties but needed to ensure that this time we did it right and bought in the right areas for growth.”
This is an important distinction.
For many investors, the focus can become simply “I want another investment property.”
But purchasing another property doesn't automatically mean building wealth.
The more important questions are:
Why are you buying?
How does the next property fit into your overall strategy?
What role does the property play in your portfolio?
What are the financial implications?
What is the potential for long-term growth?
How does the investment affect your future borrowing capacity?
What happens if your circumstances change?
For Ros, these were the types of questions she wanted to address before moving forward.
Scepticism is part of the journey
Ros wasn't looking for someone to simply tell her that property investment was a good idea.
She had already experienced enough of the property investment industry to know that she needed to be careful.
She had attended seminars and encountered property "spruikers", leaving her understandably cautious about companies that sell investment properties.
As Ros explains:
“We were very sceptical of companies that sell investment properties and sat through several seminars and spruikers before we came across the PWF team.”
That scepticism is understandable.
Property is a significant financial commitment, and investors should never feel pressured into making decisions they don't understand.
A good investment strategy should be based on the investor's circumstances, financial position, objectives and long-term plans.
For Ros, trust wasn't going to come from a presentation or a sales pitch.
It had to be earned.
Understanding the numbers first
The next step was sitting down with Leonie and going through Ros's figures.
This was important because property investment doesn't happen in isolation.
An investor's income, existing debts, equity, borrowing capacity, expenses and current portfolio can all influence what may be possible.
Ros recalls:
“Whilst still retaining a degree of scepticism we sat down with Leonie and went through our figures. It sounded a straight forward process but we were still sceptical.”
The important part of this experience wasn't simply identifying another property.
It was understanding how the investment could fit within Ros's broader financial position.
That is where strategy becomes important.
Rather than starting with the question:
“What property should I buy?”
a strategic approach starts with:
“Where am I today, where do I want to go, and what needs to happen to get there?”
The property then becomes part of the strategy rather than the strategy being built around the property.
Asking the tough questions
For Ros, one of the most important parts of the process was being able to ask difficult questions.
She didn't simply accept everything at face value.
She wanted to see the opportunities herself, understand the locations and challenge the assumptions being made.
Ros explains:
“Leonie drove us around land and we asked the tough questions.”
This is a powerful part of her testimonial because it demonstrates that trust wasn't created by avoiding difficult conversations.
It was created by having them.
Ros continued:
“She was open, honest and earnt our trust.”
That is the type of relationship PWF aims to build with clients.
Property investment should be a collaborative process.
Clients should understand the strategy, have the opportunity to ask questions and feel comfortable challenging the recommendations being made.
Trust has to be earned
One of the strongest themes throughout Ros's experience is trust.
Trust is particularly important when making significant financial decisions.
Investors want to know that the people advising them understand their circumstances and are focused on helping them achieve their objectives.
But trust can't simply be claimed.
It needs to be earned through communication, transparency, consistency and delivery.
Ros's experience demonstrates this clearly.
She started the process sceptical.
She asked difficult questions.
She challenged the strategy.
She went through the numbers.
And eventually, she became comfortable enough to move forward.
As she explains:
“We signed a contract the same day and everything PWF said would happen did.”
For Ros, the experience of seeing the process unfold as expected helped reinforce the confidence she had developed in the team.
Here is the full testimonial:
“We had one investment property that wasn’t achieving what we wanted it to. We wanted more properties but needed to ensure that this time we did it right and bought in the right areas for growth. We were very sceptical of companies that sell investment properties and sat through several seminars and spruikers before we came across the PWF team. Whilst still retaining a degree of scepticism we sat down with Leonie and went through our figures. It sounded a straight forward process but we were still sceptical. Leonie drove us around land and we asked the tough questions. She was open, honest and earnt our trust. We signed a contract the same day and everything PWF said would happen did.
It was a very smooth process that worked well with all the companies PWF put us in touch with. PWF have a solid team and their drive and enthusiasm is infectious. We are very much looking forward to getting more properties with PWF.”
Property investment is more than finding a property
One of the common misconceptions about property investment is that the biggest decision is simply choosing the property.
But the property is only one part of the equation.
There are many elements that need to work together.
These can include:
Finance
Understanding borrowing capacity, loan structure and how a purchase may affect future investment opportunities.
Location
Considering the characteristics of an area and its potential for long-term growth rather than simply buying because a property appears affordable.
Property selection
Looking at the property itself and whether it aligns with the investment strategy.
Cash flow
Understanding the ongoing costs and financial commitments associated with owning an investment property.
Portfolio strategy
Considering how the next purchase fits alongside existing assets and future investment plans.
Long-term objectives
Understanding what the investor ultimately wants to achieve.
For Ros, the objective wasn't simply to purchase another property.
She wanted to create a pathway towards owning more properties while being more confident in the locations and strategy behind those purchases.
A smooth process matters
Even when the investment strategy is sound, the process itself can become complicated.
There can be lenders, finance professionals, property professionals, solicitors, conveyancers, builders, property managers and other parties involved.
For an investor, managing all of these relationships can be overwhelming.
Ros specifically highlighted how smoothly the process worked with the companies PWF introduced her to.
“It was a very smooth process that worked well with all the companies PWF put us in touch with.”
That experience is important because property investment isn't just about the initial recommendation.
The experience continues through the various stages of the transaction.
Good communication and coordination can help make the process easier for the client and reduce unnecessary stress.
The power of a team
Ros also identified another important part of her experience:
“PWF have a solid team and their drive and enthusiasm is infectious.”
This reflects an important part of the PWF philosophy.
When you work with PWF, you don't simply have one person working towards your investment goals.
You have a team.
Different people can contribute to different parts of the process, helping clients navigate finance, property and their broader investment strategy.
That team approach is particularly valuable as an investor's circumstances become more complex.
The first investment property may be relatively straightforward.
But as an investor builds a portfolio, questions can become more complicated:
How can I continue to grow?
How much equity can I access?
What is my borrowing capacity?
Should I buy another property?
Where should the next property be?
How should my portfolio be structured?
How does today's decision affect my next investment?
When should I review my strategy?
These are not necessarily one-off questions.
They are questions that can evolve as the investor's circumstances change.
Looking beyond the first investment
Perhaps one of the most telling parts of Ros's testimonial is the final sentence.
“We are very much looking forward to getting more properties with PWF.”
That statement demonstrates that Ros wasn't simply looking at one transaction.
She was thinking about the future.
The goal was to continue building her portfolio and use a strategy that could potentially be repeated over time.
This is where long-term thinking becomes important.
Property wealth creation isn't generally about finding one perfect property.
It is about making a series of informed decisions over time.
The first purchase can influence the second.
The second can influence the third.
And each decision can affect borrowing capacity, equity, cash flow and the investor's ability to continue growing.
That is why having a clear strategy before making the next purchase can be so important.
What investors can learn from Ros's experience
Ros's story contains several lessons that other property investors may find valuable.
1. It's okay to be sceptical
You don't have to blindly trust someone because they tell you that an investment opportunity is good.
Ask questions.
Challenge assumptions.
Understand the numbers.
Make sure you understand why a particular strategy has been recommended.
Ros did exactly that.
Her scepticism wasn't an obstacle.
It was part of her decision-making process.
2. Don't simply buy another property
If an existing investment isn't achieving what you want, the answer isn't necessarily to simply buy another property.
Before making another purchase, it can be worth stepping back and reviewing the bigger picture.
Where are you now?
Where do you want to be?
What is stopping you from getting there?
And what needs to change?
3. Location matters
Ros specifically wanted to ensure that future purchases were made in areas with potential for growth.
That doesn't mean every property in a particular location will perform in the same way.
It means investors need to think carefully about why a location has been selected and how it fits within their overall investment strategy.
4. The strategy should come before the property
A property can look attractive on its own.
But the more important question is whether it makes sense as part of your overall portfolio.
A strategic approach considers the investor first and the property second.
5. Trust should be earned
Ros's experience is a good reminder that trust doesn't come from simply saying the right things.
It comes from doing what you say you will do.
As Ros put it:
“She was open, honest and earnt our trust.”
And later:
“Everything PWF said would happen did.”
Those statements are particularly meaningful because they come from the client rather than from PWF.
Real client. Real experience.
At PWF, we believe every investor's journey is different.
There is no single property, location or strategy that is right for everyone.
The starting point is understanding the individual investor — their current financial position, existing portfolio, objectives and long-term goals.
From there, the focus is on developing a strategy that is designed around their circumstances.
Ros's story is one example of how that process can work.
She started with an existing investment that wasn't achieving what she wanted.
She was sceptical of the industry.
She asked tough questions.
She went through her figures.
She explored opportunities with Leonie.
She developed confidence in the process.
And she ultimately decided to move forward.
Most importantly, she is now looking forward to continuing her property investment journey.
Could your next property be part of a bigger strategy?
If you already own property and are considering your next investment, the question isn't simply “What should I buy?”
A better place to start may be:
“What strategy will help me move closer to my long-term wealth goals?”
At PWF, we help investors understand their current position, identify opportunities and develop a strategy designed around their circumstances.
Because property investment isn't about following the crowd or chasing the next opportunity.
It's about having a strategy, understanding the numbers and making informed decisions for the long term.
Start the conversation with PWF
If you're considering growing your property portfolio and want to understand what may be possible based on your circumstances, speak with the PWF team about your next step.
Disclaimer: Client testimonials reflect individual experiences and are not a guarantee of future investment outcomes. Property investment involves risks, and outcomes will vary depending on individual circumstances. Information provided is general in nature and does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs.