For Lyndell and Kate, the decision to sell wasn't a matter of debate; it was critical for their growing family.

The couple had spent seven years in their three-bedroom home in south-western Sydney, sharing it with two kids, two dogs, and two cats. They loved the place, but they'd simply outgrown it.

Before listing, they explored every possible renovation — building up, building out, reconfiguring — but the quotes kept coming back at somewhere between $300,000 and $400,000. 

It just didn't add up. Selling was the only path forward.

Starting from scratch

Lyndell had never sold a property before, and Kate's one experience had been so long ago it barely counted. For a couple making one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives, that lack of experience weighed on them.

To make things more complicated, they'd spent time interviewing agents the previous year when they'd briefly considered renting out the house. After speaking with five uninspiring agents, the process had left them cold, and they were essentially starting over.

What they needed wasn't just someone who could get them a good price. They needed someone who understood they were selling a home, not just a property, and who could work around a household that was, by Lyndell's own description, a lot to manage.

"Trying to keep the house tidy with two dogs, two cats and two kids was really difficult," Lyndell explained. "We needed someone who'd be a bit more flexible around that."

A different kind of conversation

Lyndell found OpenAgent through a Google search and filled out the form, expecting a shortlist of agents. What she didn't expect was a phone call.

The OpenAgent consultant who rang walked her through the selling process in plain, practical terms, and changed the way Lyndell thought about the whole experience.

Commission rates, marketing fees, the terms of any agreement — all of it, she was told, was negotiable. Agents would make it sound otherwise, but the power was firmly with the seller.

"She explained how we were in the box seat of power and that it was up to us to negotiate with agents. It was really nice to have that sense of power — that actually, no, you're working for me."

Three agents were recommended based on their situation, and the contrast with their previous experience was immediate. The couple had already spoken to a couple of agents independently who had raised red flags — talk of underquoting and tactics that didn't sit right. The OpenAgent referrals felt entirely different.

One of the three stood out straight away. Sam Ruisi, selling principal at Ruisi Real Estate, came in with a clear strategy, 20-plus years of experience behind him, and none of the bravado Lyndell had come to expect. He was, she said simply, someone they felt they could trust.

"He seemed to have the best idea about how to get us the best possible price. He was a really genuine guy, someone we felt we could trust," Lyndell explained.

For Sam, the approach was instinctive rather than calculated.

"My focus was simply just to listen and deliver any necessary objective information with care," he said.

Sold before auction — and a favour they didn't expect

The couple had decided on Sam on a Friday evening, though they hadn't officially signed yet. The following morning, they went to look at properties and immediately fell in love with one. 

Already comfortable with Sam after just one conversation, Lyndell called him. Without hesitation, he rang the selling agent and negotiated the purchase price on their behalf on a Saturday, before he'd even received a signed agreement.

"He was happy on a Saturday to call the agent for this property and negotiate the price for us," Lyndell said, "because we were really nervous about getting this property and really worried about missing out."

With their new home in sight, the focus turned to selling the old one. The campaign was listed for auction. The only downside, as far as Lyndell was concerned, was keeping the house presentable while juggling kids and pets. As it turned out, they didn't have to worry for long.

Their buyer came through on the very first open home. A pest and building inspection followed midweek, and by the following Friday the property had sold above what the couple had hoped for, with a settlement date negotiated to align with their purchase.

For Sam, knowing how much was riding on the result made the moment he rang them with the news all the more memorable.

"I called Lyndell and Kate to present their offer over the phone. They knew why I was calling, but they didn't know the number I had. When I made the offer, the excitement burst through my car speakers as I was driving. I still get goosebumps thinking about it."

A new chapter

Because the settlement dates aligned, there was no bridging loan, no overlap, no extra stress. Lyndell and Kate sold one home and were able to move seamlessly into the next.

Lyndell has since recommended OpenAgent to several people, including the neighbours at their old house who sold shortly after. 

Looking back, Sam sees the result as something that came together from every direction at once.

"What I believe made this sale successful was a series of really good decisions from every part — OpenAgent's referral, the owners preparing the property properly, our marketing campaign and execution. And when those decisions align, outcomes take care of themselves."