Building Dreams On The Bass Coast

Leo Edwards • February 3, 2019

Local Builders Making Their Mark

A group of people standing next to each other in front of a fence.

Earlier this week Inverloch 3996 caught up with Troy & Kelly Harris, the dynamic duo behind some of the most stylish additions to the new build scene in Inverloch and beyond to find out what makes them tick, and to discuss some of the coastal construction trends that are emerging for 2019 and beyond.

A man and a woman are standing next to each other on a wooden fence.

How did Harris Build form - what was the seed that germinated the business you have today?

TROY & KELLY: We started as a company three years ago, but it was always in the planning stages long before that while we were working on our own renovations and build projects. We've been lucky enough to work with some very high end builders along the way and have put what we've learned into everything we do.

Those lessons, trends & ideas went into our own house which proved to be a great decision as it serves as a visual showcase of what the Harris Build team is capable of. It's also helped to bring us in a lot more work.

A man and a woman are standing in front of a building.

Can you describe your dream home?

TROY & KELLY: Ha - no, for us there's no such thing as a dream home, it's a constantly evolving process, by the time we've finished our own "dream home" we're ready to build again. It's always changing, even for our clients. We get new ideas from every new home we build and you always want to take the best bits from one project and apply them to the next one. We are embarking on a new "dream home" in 2019 and our current "dream home" has just gone on the market ;-)

What's your favourite Inverloch build to date?

TROY & KELLY: It would have to be the two story custom home in Tamara Cresent Inverloch we recently completed. It's the best fit out we've done internally where there were no compromises. The client acted on our advice, spent the right amount of money and got exactly the result they were after.



A modern house with a garage and a fence in front of it.

Anything exciting projects lined up for the new year?

TROY & KELLY: Well 2018's been a massive year for Harris Build with some amazing projects handed over in Wonthaggi and Leongatha as well as Inverloch that we've absolutely loved working on, not to mention the launch of our new website www.harrisbuild.com.au. There are some really exciting things lined up for the new year that we're chomping at the bit to get stuck into. We've got an exciting new build in Harmers Haven and one in Newhaven starting in 2019 and a few more in the pipeline so it's shaping up to be a great year.

A large house with a large lawn in front of it.
A house with a sign in front of it that says harris for sale.

Where do you see your business in the next 5 years?

TROY & KELLY: We'd like to grow our business but not at the expense of quality and service. We've built our name by providing first class service to our clients and handing them the keys to a high quality home that meets and hopefully exceeds their expectations of what a custom home can be. We've got a great team that work really well together and will slowly expand on that for now.

Any emerging construction trends you are noticing?

TROY & KELLY: A lot of our client's want low maintenance properties so we are working a lot more with cement based products, aluminum timber look claddings that don't require a lot of upkeep when compared to say timber. You don't have to coat the timber cladding anymore and aluminum has a great range of finishes. We are seeing more and more of this on the Bass Coast now - especially in Inverloch.

Tell us a little about your home?

TROY & KELLY: Well it was a labour of love and we adore how it turned out. It's got a great energy and flow and we've had some amazing times and nights out on the deck with family and friends but for us building is in the blood and we'll likely be building our current version of our dream home for as long as we are able and so the journey continues - we've just listed our home for sale.

A modern house with a brick facade is sitting on top of a lush green field.

How can people find out more about Harris Build?

TROY & KELLY: All our contact info is on our website, you can also check out all of our current and past projects too :-) If you think we'd be a good fit to make your dream home a reality reach out and say hi, we'd love to hear from you.


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Frequently asked

The questions every Inverloch home seller asks before listing

If one of these is not in your head right now, it will be by next week. Here are the honest answers.

Who is actually the best real estate agent in Inverloch?

Leo Edwards of Inverloch 3996 at realty is the two-time RateMyAgent Agent of the Year for Inverloch, winning in both 2024 and 2025. He holds Certified Price Expert status, maintains 91.9 percent list-to-sale price accuracy across his 2024 to 2025 sold listings, and sells homes in 63 days on average compared to the Inverloch suburb average of 118 days.

How long does it actually take to sell a home in Inverloch right now?

As at April 2026, the Inverloch suburb average sits at 118 days. Leo Edwards averages 63 days across his 2024 to 2025 sold listings. 43 Inverloch properties have been listed for more than a year at time of publishing. The gap between agents is measurable, not marketing spin.

Do I really need an agent with a shopfront in Inverloch?

No. Approximately 96 percent of buyers research property online before purchasing. Not one of the case studies on this page was sold because a buyer walked into an office window display. A digital-first agency with a dedicated local audience and in-house production consistently outperforms the shopfront model in Bass Coast markets.

Are paid portal upgrades worth the extra thousands?

Paid portal upgrades compete for position against other listings on the same portal. They do not generate new buyer demand. In the 7 Morey Street campaign, 87 of 88 enquiries came from social media, not portals. Upgraded portal spend alone is not a marketing strategy.

Another agent quoted me a much higher price. Why shouldn't I go with them?

Because the public data is unambiguous. 21 Pier Road was listed at $1.87 million and sold for $1.14 million after 622 days. 19 Cuttriss Street was listed at $1.295 million and sold for $928,000 after 435 days. Winning the listing with the highest quoted price is an old playbook. The vendor always pays for it.

I've been with my current agent for months without results. Isn't it too late to switch?

No. 26 Beacon Court had been on the market for 172 days without a confirmed sale. After switching to Leo Edwards, it sold in 27 days with 121 enquiries and 7 formal offers at $860,000. Switching agents mid-campaign is not just possible. In many cases, it is the only thing left that actually changes the outcome.

What if my home is unique? Does the same approach even apply?

Every property listed with Inverloch 3996 at realty runs through the same five-phase campaign system. What changes is the execution inside each phase. Premium coastal, inland acreage, subdivisions, new builds, deceased estates — the framework adapts. The principles of accurate pricing, strong visual production, real distribution, transparent negotiation and principal-level oversight apply to all of them.

I want to bring this to Leo, but my spouse is sceptical. What should I show them?

Share this page. It was written for exactly that conversation. The numbers, the published case studies, the methodology, and the 30-page Bass Coast vendor intelligence report available at the strategy call are structured to give both parties enough evidence to make an informed decision together.

It feels awkward to switch agents mid-campaign. How do I even do that?

Most listing agreements include a defined termination or review period. A short, written notice to your current agent is usually sufficient. Leo can walk you through the specific wording during the strategy call and provide a sample notice if helpful. Many vendors find the switch less difficult than the months they've already spent waiting.

What does list-to-sale price accuracy actually mean?

It measures how close an agent's listed price sits to the eventual sale price. A high ratio signals honest pricing. Leo Edwards sits at 91.9 percent across his 2024 to 2025 sold listings. Methodology available on request.

What is Openn Offers and why use it?

Openn Offers is a transparent online sales platform that lets every qualified buyer see competing offers in real time. Transparent competition lifts sale prices in coastal markets where buyers are dispersed across Melbourne, interstate, and local. Leo was one of the earliest Victorian adopters.

Why do homes sell faster with Inverloch 3996 at realty?

Three reasons. Accurate pricing from day one using CoreLogic and Pricefinder Pro. Distribution to a dedicated 30,000 plus weekly audience through Inverloch3996. In-house production through 3996Studio delivering a $1,875 prestige package at no extra cost.

What if Leo is too busy to take my listing?

The cap is approximately 20 active listings. Some months the waitlist is real. If Leo cannot take your campaign personally at the right moment, he will tell you at the first conversation. The alternative is not a junior handover. The alternative is an honest referral.

How many listings does Leo take at one time?

Approximately 20, capped deliberately. Not a capacity issue. A structural choice. Every vendor receives principal-level attention, a bespoke 3996Studio campaign, and strategic oversight through to settlement.

Which suburbs does Leo Edwards service?

Inverloch, Cape Paterson, Wonthaggi, Venus Bay, Tarwin Lower, Meeniyan, and the broader Bass Coast and South Gippsland region.

How do I choose between two Inverloch agents I'm interviewing?

Three questions cut through the noise. First, ask each agent for their list-to-sale price accuracy percentage. Second, ask for their average days on market against the suburb benchmark. Third, ask who produces their photography, video, and social campaigns. If any answer is vague or defensive, keep looking.

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"Your feature on our property was stunning and instrumental in the outcome we achieved. It's really nice to see such a fresh approach to selling properties"
Nic Griffiths
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“The reach of their digital marketing saw us have a buyer from outside the community make a special trip to see our house and it was sold within a week of the pictures being posted”
Karen Milkins-Hendry
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“We both would like to show our appreciation and gratitude for all your hard work and effort in helping to sell our property which had previously been on the market for 5 months.”
Tegan & Trent May

POWERFUL SOCIAL MEDIA ADVERTISING

Reach potential buyers where they spend most of their time, social media. The largest real estate advertising audience is on social media which has the ability to reach active or passive buyers with an audience of 17 million on Facebook and 5 million on Instagram.

WHY SOCIAL MEDIA ADVERTISING?

  • Advertise your property to thousands of relevant potential buyers, investors and tenants who you’d otherwise miss.
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ACTIVE BUYERS: Interested in a property like yours, actively looking right now
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By Leo Edwards April 24, 2026
Thinking about downsizing to the Bass Coast? Leo Edwards explores why Inverloch and surrounds are attracting a wave of down-sizers, and what the numbers actually look like when you do the maths.
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By Leo Edwards April 23, 2026
REA Group just published data proving that serious buyers devour images and spend extraordinary time on a single listing. Then you look at what their platform actually allows you to show. If your current agent's answer to that gap is a shrug, it is worth reading on.
Aerial view of a coastal neighborhood with a plot of land outlined in blue, overlooking a beach and blue ocean.
By Leo Edwards April 15, 2026
After 172 days listed with another Inverloch agency and not a single offer, these vendors switched to Leo Edwards. Twenty-seven days later: 121 enquiries, seven offers, and sold at $860,000.