Privacy Policy

1. Who we are

This policy applies to Steven Dale Real Estate, operated by Steven Dale, Sales at Real Specialists, Ocean Shores NSW 2483 ("we", "us", "our"). We are bound by the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), including the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs), and we also follow our obligations under the Property and Stock Agents Act 2002 (NSW) and the Spam Act 2003 (Cth).

Where practical, you can deal with us anonymously or using a pseudonym, for example when asking a general question. We usually need your name and contact details to arrange inspections, appraisals or a sale.

2. What we collect

Depending on how you deal with us, we may collect:

• your name, phone number, email and postal address
• property details, such as the address, features and your plans to buy or sell
• buying preferences, such as suburbs, budget range and timing
• identification documents, where required for a sale or under anti-money laundering laws
• financial details needed to complete a transaction, such as deposit and settlement information
• records of our conversations, inspections, offers and correspondence
• comments you post on our blog, and messages you send through our website chat
• technical information about your visit to our website, such as browser type and pages viewed

We do not intentionally collect sensitive information (such as health or religious information). If we ever need it, we will ask for your consent first.

3. How we collect it

We collect most information directly from you: when you call or email, attend an open home, request an appraisal, use our website chat, comment on our blog, or sign an agency agreement or contract.

We may also collect information from third parties, such as property portals (for example realestate.com.au), other agents, solicitors and conveyancers, or publicly available sources such as sales records. If we receive information we did not ask for and do not need, we will destroy or de-identify it where lawful to do so.

4. Why we use it

We use your personal information to:

• provide appraisals and real estate services to vendors and buyers
• market and sell property, arrange inspections and negotiate offers
• match buyers with suitable properties
• respond to enquiries, chat messages and blog comments
• meet our legal and regulatory obligations, including record keeping
• send you property updates and market information, where you have agreed or would reasonably expect it
• improve our website and services

We will only use or disclose your information for another purpose if you consent, if you would reasonably expect it and it is related to the original purpose, or if the law requires or allows it.

5. Who we share it with

We may disclose your information to:

• Real Specialists, as the licensed agency we work under
• the other party to a sale, and their solicitor, conveyancer or agent
• service providers who help us operate, such as photographers, sign writers, property portals, IT, email, CRM and website hosting providers
• valuers, financiers and mortgage brokers, where you ask us to
• government agencies and regulators, where required by law

We do not sell your personal information.

6. Overseas disclosure

Some of our service providers, including cloud storage, email and the AI service that powers our website chat, may store or process information outside Australia, including in the United States. Where this happens, we take reasonable steps to ensure those providers handle your information consistently with the APPs.

7. Direct marketing

We may send you property alerts, market updates or newsletters by email, SMS or post. Every electronic message will identify us and include a simple way to unsubscribe. You can also opt out at any time by calling or emailing Steve, and we will act on your request promptly.

8. Website, chat and blog

Cookies and analytics. Our website may use cookies and similar tools to remember your preferences and understand how the site is used. You can disable cookies in your browser, although some features may not work as intended.

Website chat. When you use our chat, we collect the details you enter (such as your name, contact details and property information) and pass them to Steve so he can respond. Answers to general questions may be generated by an automated AI service. These answers are general information only and are not a valuation, legal, tax or financial advice.

Blog comments. Your name and comment on The Real Estate Reality Check are publicly visible. Please do not include personal details you do not want published. We may remove comments that are offensive, misleading or include another person's personal information.

Links and social media. Our website links to third-party sites such as realestate.com.au, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn. Their own privacy policies apply when you use them.

9. Security and retention

We take reasonable steps to protect your information from misuse, interference, loss and unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. This includes password-protected systems, restricted access and secure storage of paper records.

We keep records for as long as needed for the purpose they were collected and as required by law (agency records in NSW generally must be kept for at least three years). After that, we securely destroy or de-identify them.

10. Access and correction

You can ask to access the personal information we hold about you, or ask us to correct it if it is inaccurate, out of date or incomplete. Contact us using the details below. We will respond within 30 days. We will not charge you for making a request, although we may charge a reasonable fee for providing access. If we refuse a request, we will tell you why in writing and how to complain.

11. Data breaches

If a data breach is likely to result in serious harm to you, we will notify you and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) as required under the Notifiable Data Breaches scheme.

12. Complaints

If you believe we have breached the APPs, please contact us first in writing. We will acknowledge your complaint promptly and aim to resolve it within 30 days.

If you are not satisfied with our response, you can complain to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner: oaic.gov.au or 1300 363 992.

13. Contact us

For privacy questions, access or correction requests, or complaints:

We may update this policy from time to time. The latest version will always be on this page.