Meeting the founders of our buyer's agency | You&Me Personalised Property Services

Meet the Founders of YouandMe Personalised Property Services Buyer's Agency

Author

With over 28 years of experience in Perth's real estate market, Simon Deering brings his expertise to his role as Co-Founder of You&Me Personalised Property Services. A dedicated family man and passionate property investor, Simon has worked with leading real estate companies and experts throughout Australia. He's committed to providing personalised service and achieving the best outcomes for his clients.

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About the Authors

Simon Deering and Heath Bassett are the co-founders of You&Me Personalised Property Services, one of Western Australia’s most successful buyer’s advocacy firms. With over 45 years of combined experience in real estate, they’ve helped countless clients buy and sell property across Australia. Simon brings international real estate experience from Sydney, Melbourne, New York, and Canada, while Heath has built an impressive property portfolio starting from age 20.

Our Journey in Property Investment

At You&Me Personalised Property Services, we believe in transparency and building trust with our clients. That’s why we’re sharing our personal journeys in real estate: from our early days as investors and agents to founding one of Western Australia’s leading buyer’s advocacy firms. Our combined experience has taught us invaluable lessons about the property market, investment strategies, and most importantly, what clients truly need from their property advocates.

Simon’s Path: From Local Agent to International Property Expert

My journey in real estate began at 18, and now at 46, I’ve spent more than half my life in the industry. Starting with LJ Hooker in Morley, I quickly learned that success in real estate isn’t just about sales, it’s about doing right by your clients and building lasting relationships based on trust and results.

Under the mentorship of RJ Kevin at LJ Hooker Scarborough, I developed a deep understanding of ethical real estate practices. This foundation proved invaluable as I became a top performer in Western Australia. The desire to broaden my expertise led me to expand internationally, selling properties in:

Sydney’s competitive market
Brisbane
Melbourne
New York’s fast-paced real estate scene
Canada’s emerging markets

This international experience gave me unique insights into property markets and investment strategies that I now bring to our clients at You&Me. Each market taught me different approaches to property investment, negotiation tactics, and market analysis. These are skills that prove invaluable in helping our clients make informed decisions.

Heath’s Story: From Young Investor to Property Portfolio Builder

My property journey began with a challenge from my father when I was just 20 years old. Despite initial skepticism, I purchased my first property in Tasmania, followed quickly by additional investments. By 23, I owned three properties and haven’t looked back since. This early start gave me a unique perspective on long-term property investment and the importance of starting your investment journey with the right strategy.

Today, at 37, I continue to actively invest in property, managing a diverse portfolio that includes:

Cash purchases of investment properties across multiple states
Strategic renovation projects for maximum return on investment
Carefully planned portfolio expansion with a focus on long-term growth
Property development opportunities in emerging markets
Residential and commercial property investments
Value-add strategies through subdivision and development

My hands-on experience in property investment has taught me invaluable lessons about market timing, renovation management, and strategic property selection, insights I now share with our clients. Each property purchase and renovation project has added to my practical knowledge of what works in the real world, not just in theory.

Why We Started You&Me Personalised Property Services

Our experience with various real estate companies, including Purple Bricks, revealed a significant gap in the market. While many firms focused solely on transactions, we saw the need for a more personalised, client-centric approach. Six years ago, we founded You&Me with a clear vision: to revolutionise the buyer’s agent experience in Western Australia and Australia-wide.

Our time in traditional real estate and at Purple Bricks taught us valuable lessons about what clients truly need. We learned that successful property investment isn’t just about the purchase – it’s about understanding client goals, providing expert guidance, and building long-term relationships based on trust and results.

Our Core Values

Unapologetic Authenticity: We believe in being ourselves and providing honest, straightforward advice, even when it means telling clients what they need to hear rather than what they want to hear.
Client-First Approach: Our success is measured by our clients’ success. We focus on long-term outcomes rather than quick transactions.
Long-term Relationships: We build lasting connections based on trust and results, supporting our clients throughout their entire property investment journey.
Transparent Communication: We believe in direct, honest conversations about property investment, ensuring our clients fully understand both opportunities and risks.
Educational Empowerment: We share our knowledge and experience to help clients become more informed and confident property investors.

Expert Property Guidance and Services

Drawing on decades of combined experience, we offer comprehensive property services including:

Strategic property investment planning tailored to individual goals
International market insights and analysis
Expert portfolio development and management
Property renovation and value-add strategies
Specialised buyer advocacy services
Investment property selection and due diligence
Market trend analysis and timing advice
Property negotiation and acquisition
Pre-purchase property assessment
Post-purchase support and guidance

Whether you’re a first-time investor or an experienced property buyer, our expertise becomes your competitive advantage in the market. We combine local market knowledge with international experience to help you make informed investment decisions.

Our approach is always tailored to your specific needs and goals. We understand that every investor’s journey is unique, and we pride ourselves on providing personalised strategies that align with your investment objectives and risk tolerance.

Connect With Us

Share your property investment goals with us. We’d love to hear your story and discuss how our experience can help you achieve your property objectives.

Contact us to learn more about our personalised property services and how we can help you make informed property decisions. Our team is ready to support your property investment journey with expert guidance and personalised strategies.

Video Transcript

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00:00:22:05 - 00:00:38:15
Simon Deering:
G'day everyone, it's Simon Deering and Heath Bassett, the co-founders of You&Me Personalised Property Services. Thanks for tuning in, as always. This video is really about our individual journeys, where we've come from and how we've got to this position as co-founders of one of the most successful buyers' agency businesses in Western Australia and Australia.
00:00:50:08 - 00:01:03:21
Simon Deering:
I'm 46 now. I got into real estate when I was 18. I've been doing this for more than half of my life.
00:01:03:21 - 00:01:25:17
Simon Deering:
It's always scary every time I say that. But real estate has been a massive part of my life, of my world. It's my fabric. I first got into real estate with LJ Hooker. My first ever office was in Morley. I chose Morley over a very successful office in Wembley because the principal sort of reminded me of James Bond - he was really suave, really switched on.
00:01:25:17 - 00:01:43:07
Simon Deering:
And I thought, "Oh, this guy is money, and he's going to help me make so much money." But in fact, he liked playing lots of golf and didn't really do much. He had a large rent roll and was never there to help me, so I only lasted six months in that office, then moved to LJ Hooker in Scarborough with my principal, RJ Kevin.
00:01:43:09 - 00:01:59:10
Simon Deering:
I'm still in contact with him now. I held a lot of respect for that man who taught me a lot about real estate and about doing the right things in real estate - doing things for the right reasons, not just chasing commissions. I was really successful with the LJ Hooker community.
00:01:59:12 - 00:02:24:05
Simon Deering:
And then I transitioned to Real Estate Champions, where I was able to take that next step in real estate and start writing some really good numbers, becoming a top performer in Western Australia. I then moved over east. I've sold in Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne. I've spent some time in New York doing real estate as well, and in Canada.
00:02:24:07 - 00:02:44:21
Simon Deering:
I did that to really get an overview of what real estate was like internationally, and just acquiring a particular set of skills and different knowledge, learning from different people in the industry. It then led me back to Perth, where I was in charge of a company called Purple Bricks.
00:02:44:23 - 00:03:06:05
Simon Deering:
We really wanted to bring fairness to the industry. But what that taught me was that there's a reason why real estate agents charge what they charge. There's a hell of a lot of work involved in it. And then it led me to this buyer's agency business, which we created six years ago.
00:03:06:07 - 00:03:28:01
Simon Deering:
With the co-founder, Heath Bassett. It's been a hell of a ride. So fortunate to, you know, as much as we have confrontation on a daily or bi-daily sort of basis, it's super lucky and privileged to have connected with you back in 2015. Couldn't have done it without you. Couldn't imagine running a business without you.
00:03:28:03 - 00:03:47:06
Simon Deering:
Because we constantly challenge each other, we're constantly trying to be better, and we're always doing it for the right reasons, which is you, the buyer. So that's my journey in a nutshell. Heath, what about yours?
00:03:47:06 - 00:04:07:17
Heath Bassett:
Yeah, so I've been buying, selling, and investing for the last 17 years now. I always get stuck on 16, and it was 15 before that. I bought my first property at 20 years old. It was off the back of a challenge from my dad - a backhanded challenge. I kept telling Dad that I was going to buy real estate when I was 19. When you tell your dad or your mum and dad every single week that you can buy property, eventually they stop believing you.
00:04:07:19 - 00:04:23:08
Heath Bassett:
They either stop believing you or they turn it around and make it a challenge for you. So my dad turned around and, unknowingly to me, made it a challenge. He turned around and said, "Mate, you're never going to buy real estate. Stop talking rubbish and don't talk about it again." I was like, you know what?
00:04:23:10 - 00:04:39:00
Heath Bassett:
Wow, that hurt. My dad, who I looked up to since I was a child, had just told me I couldn't do something and to go away. Stop talking rubbish. So, you know, some people bury their head in the sand, but I rose above that and said, "You know what? Screw you," for lack of a better word.
00:04:39:01 - 00:04:56:14
Heath Bassett:
"Screw you, Dad." Yep. Six months later, I went to him and said, "I've got a deposit for a house. I'm buying a house. I told you I could do it," and he laughed at me. He laughed at me and I was so confused. I said, "Why are you laughing at me?" He said, "Mate, because I know that if I keep believing you and everything you say, you just go and do it."
00:04:56:18 - 00:05:19:21
Heath Bassett:
"So what I did instead was challenge you, knowing that you're going to do something - that's just who you are. It's your makeup. The second someone tells you you can't do something, you die trying." Yeah, so I bought a house at 20 in Tasmania. I bought a second house at 21, I bought a third house at 23, and then multiple ones after that and sold multiple houses.
00:05:19:21 - 00:05:39:12
Heath Bassett:
Now, I'm still in that space. I'm 37 - I always forget how old I am - I'm 37. I've still got a lot of accumulation to go. You know, I'm fortunate enough to now buy houses in cash and do a lot of things in cash. But it's not a story to tell you how good I am.
00:05:39:12 - 00:05:57:10
Heath Bassett:
It's just my story. You know, I'm still in the next six months buying and accumulating four properties. If you want to know where and why and how, come and chat to us. But I won't tell you now. But, you know, in the next six months, I'm going to buy another four properties, and who knows where that leads?
00:05:57:10 - 00:06:19:03
Heath Bassett:
It's sort of more like "what can I do with what I've got now?" And, you know, we'll worry about the strategy after that accumulation phase and see where we need to be. You know, I've got one that I bought in January that I'm looking to renovate and flip, to make a nice, tidy profit. And what I get from that may determine what I do after the four.
00:06:19:07 - 00:06:42:02
Heath Bassett:
Yeah, so that's my story in what I've accumulated in regards to being in property. I met Simon in 2015. You know, it was off the back of me travelling. I met Simon before I travelled in 2016, and I was sitting in Darwin, actually taking a year off work.
00:06:42:04 - 00:07:00:11
Heath Bassett:
I was sitting in Darwin after travelling through Europe and sitting at a backpackers. And Simon goes, "Mate, what are you doing?" "Just living the high life. Just doing whatever I want to do." He says, "I've got a job for you." I said, "Oh, what is it?" He says, "I can't tell you till you come back." So I looked and looked at it.
00:07:00:11 - 00:07:22:09
Heath Bassett:
Come back to Perth and no word of a lie, he hadn't told me what the job was. I'm in the car, I'm listening to the radio and an ad pops up - and he'd talked about it before - it's Purple Bricks. I'd never heard of this company in my life. I get there and he goes, blah, blah, blah. However the conversation went, it's with Purple Bricks and I was like, "Mate, this can't be any crazier."
00:07:22:13 - 00:07:44:23
Heath Bassett:
You would never believe it. I just heard an ad for Purple Bricks and I'd never heard of this company before. Purple Bricks was both a mistake and something like a flower from the ground, a bamboo from the ground. What Purple Bricks taught me is how to manage a ridiculous amount of property - working 15-hour days with no time off and for little money.
00:07:45:02 - 00:08:10:00
Heath Bassett:
Yeah, but that also taught me self-worth and where it should be. You know, I sort of don't mention this too often, but I then made another mistake in real estate. I followed Simon, and now that sounds bad, but the reality is I followed him to another company that didn't work out. And that's not because of Simon - it just didn't work out for multiple reasons.
00:08:10:00 - 00:08:34:16
Heath Bassett:
You know, an eastern-based company trying to get their way into Perth. But you know, I had many opportunities. I had 15 interviews with different companies wanting my services. And I almost went with LJ Hooker as well - insane opportunity. But the reality is, I wanted to run my own show. And truth be told, I wanted to follow Simon, you know, where he went as well.
00:08:34:18 - 00:08:53:02
Heath Bassett:
It didn't work out for a multitude of reasons, but it doesn't matter. It's how we started the business. And if we were both successful then, like, instead of making that mistake, I don't think we'd be here now. No. So it was a mistake turned into a sunflower.
00:08:53:02 - 00:09:14:10
Simon Deering:
I think when you look at all those things, you know, it's this incredible journey. And there are many paths that you can go on to get to the destination. The destination isn't actually the important thing. It's the journey that you go on and you can determine that, and then you can go back and you can create different paths. And, you know, we've learned so many life experiences. And the one thing that led us to creating this business was the fact that we realised we could not march to the beat of anyone else's drum. Whatever we wanted to create.
00:09:14:11 - 00:09:35:08
Simon Deering:
We had to create on our own terms, to do it our own way, where we can be unapologetically us. We weren't going to work for big corporates, where the message is how much we care, when we know behind closed doors it wasn't how much we care - it was how much money you make. So when we created this, the journey that we've got to, it was about the people that we work for and creating a positive impact and just delivering on a promise.
00:09:35:10 - 00:09:50:24
Simon Deering:
And it was never about money, you know - not that money doesn't come to feed your family. But it was delivering on that promise, doing the right thing. And you know, the thing that I absolutely love about Heath - like there's so many things that annoy the hell out of me - but the thing that I love about Heath is his honesty and his loyalty.
00:09:51:01 - 00:10:01:14
Simon Deering:
He is just black and white. And sometimes you just cut through so much nonsense to give you this hard truth that nobody likes hearing. But you respect it. And that's our journey.
00:10:01:14 - 00:10:06:01
Simon Deering:
That's where we've got to. And, you know, it's so much more, I look forward to so much more to come.
00:10:06:01 - 00:10:19:08
Simon Deering:
Yeah, absolutely. So, guys, that's our story. Our personal story turned into where the business came from. Reach out to us. Tell us your story. We'd love to hear it. Absolutely. So, guys, until next time. As always, happy investing. Happy investing.