Got a House!

The house-hunting search has been in full swing for the last week. It's a competitive market in Melbourne... housing is NOT cheap, so the inexpensive/reasonably priced places have the most people inspecting and applying.
In Australia, you usually can't organize a private inspection of a property with a real estate agent. Open Houses or OPEN FOR INSPECTIONS, (affectionately nicknamed OFI's) are your only chance to view a property. They pop up at tricky times of the day (like 5:00 pm - when most people are just finishing work), and they live only for a brief, intense 15 minutes.
People flock to these OFI's like Ibis to rubbish.
There's a congo line of people weaving through doors, down hallways and into rooms. Everyone smiles and is friendly... but you're the competition ... so that's just for show!
You must make eye contact with the agent.  And despite the rising damp, the stains on the carpet or the cracks in the plaster, you must respond positively to his/her questions: "Is this what you're looking for?" "It's really bright and open, isn't it?"
Above all, you must hope that you look good on paper! It helps if you pick up lease applications from the agent's office or download them off the internet, filling them out BEFORE you go to the OFI. Efficiency and neatness count! Many people recommend  putting together a cover sheet, (complete with happy candid photos),  describing your work situation and listing the qualities that make you the best tenant in the world!
My friend Rose and I just got offered the first place we handed in an application for! We move in on April 8th. Take a look at the new place!