Trying to Find a Home from 3,000 Kilometres Away

Once I accepted Perry Lakes, excitement very quickly collided with logistics.

I needed somewhere to live, and I needed to find it from Melbourne.

Looking back through my emails, I had begun searching almost immediately.

East Perth. Leederville. Glendalough. Rivervale. Perth. Scarborough.

At least ten identifiable accommodation options passed through my inbox and Sent folder before I arrived in Western Australia.

Some had no inspection times available. Some required an inspection before an application could even be considered. Some required an inspection code.

I asked for video walkthroughs. I asked agents whether they would accept an application remotely. I explained the same circumstances over and over again: I had accepted a CEO position in Floreat, I was relocating from Victoria and I would arrive in Perth on 6 June.

Kane became my eyes on the ground. Where possible I tried to arrange for him to inspect properties for me. On one occasion he was supposed to attend an inspection but could not get away from work, so I immediately contacted the agent trying to find another solution.

One agent went out of her way to send me a video inspection of a Rivervale apartment. I remember thanking her and telling her how difficult it was trying to navigate the process from the other side of the country.

At the same time I was contacting interstate removalists about moving belongings from Chirnside Park to Western Australia.

I was not simply looking for a rental. I was building the practical foundations of a completely new life while still living more than 3,000 kilometres away from it.

Eventually I found The Tide at Scarborough.

Before Kane had even attended the inspection, I asked for the application form so I could have everything ready. I supplied my Perry Lakes employment contract, rental history, tenant ledger, mortgage information and Catherine’s income information.

Kane inspected it. I followed up. On 2 June, four days before I was due to arrive in Perth, the email finally came.

Room 202 was mine.

I paid $2,500 to secure it.

Four days later I would arrive in Western Australia. Two days after that I would start as Chief Executive Officer of Perry Lakes Hawks.

I had done everything you are supposed to do when committing to a major new role.

I was not testing Perth. I was moving there.