Step-by-step selling guide

We've got all the tips to help you sell your home and make it more attractive to buyers.

You can also check out settled.govt.nz provided by the Real Estate Authority (REA) where you'll find tools and tips on what to do and what to think about during the selling process. This site provides comprehensive checklists, tools and videos to help you through the selling process.

1. Be prepared - decide to sell

The first step you need to take is to decide when or if you want to sell. Look at property prices, interest rates, capital gain, rental prices, yield and any recent or likely changes to government policy.

2. How to choose a salesperson

Your salesperson will expose your property to the marketplace and negotiate with buyers on your behalf, so finding the right person is an important part of the process. Here’s some things to think about to help you choose the one who's right for you.

Do they have knowledge of your area
Can give advice on the best method on how to sell your property
Find out the point of difference the Agent and their company can offer
Ask for personal recommendations from Friends and Family
Choose an Agent that you can trust and feel comfortable and cofident with
Understand the reputation and resources they can offer

3. How to get your home ready to sell

Before you put your house on the market, it’s important to know your competition, the market and make sure your house is looking its best. Heres some tips!

Clean as a whistle
The last thing a potential buyer wants to see is a messy home. Even if you think it’s tidy enough, you can never be too clean!
As well as obviously fixing any damp, rot or stains, go over every surface just before the big day (dust can hide in the most unexpected places).

Pets
If you have pets, it might be a good idea to find a sitter while you are doing viewings – especially as many people are allergic.
To get out stubborn odours, try steam cleaning and shampooing any carpets, rugs or soft furnishings. Also, make sure you take your bins out!

Make sure everything works!
If there’s something even slightly dodgy, we can bet your potential buyers will find it! Make sure you:

Check that doors and windows aren’t jammed or sticky (including cupboards!)
Test light bulbs and replace any that aren’t working
Check smoke alarms and home security systems
Fix any cracks, chips or missing tiles

Clear the decks
Coco Chanel once said you should take one thing off before leaving the house. We think that applies to home styling, too! Remove all clutter so that every item is perfectly placed and has a clear purpose. This is where a property stylist can really help you.

Sunshine !
Let the sunshine in, Open up blinds, curtains, windows and doors to let in light and fresh air. Of course, if it’s blowing a gale outside this is the exception!

4. Finding a lawyer

Before you sell a property, we recommend that you get your own independent legal advice. Finding the right lawyer is an important part of the buying and selling process. Agency and Sale and Purchase Agreements are legally binding, so consult before you sign.

5. Choose how you want to sell

We will help you work out the best way to sell your property - that’s right for you personally and your house. There’s more than one way to sell your property in New Zealand. Here are the most common ways of selling a property.

Auction
Tender (Dead Line Sale)
Price by negotiation
Fixed price

6. Marketing your property

We pride ourselves on holding nothing back when it comes to promoting your property. Talk to us about our marketing options.

7. Accepting an offer

By law, all written offers - irrespective of price - must be presented to you. Our salespeople will be there for advice and will help guide you through the process. Our salespeople are skilled negotiators and will work with the buyer, on your behalf, to get you the best price possible.

Once your offer has been accepted:

There maybe conditions on the offer, such as the buyers being satisfied with a building report. If so, these will need to be met before the offer becomes unconditional
Once an agreement is unconditional, neither the buyer or the seller can change their mind, and the buyer must pay the rest of the purchase price on the settlement day
We'll hold your house keys at the Cobb Property office until your solicitor advises us, in writing, that the settlement has taken place
Deposit payments are made by the buyer to our agency, which is required by law to hold the money in an audited trust account, only releasing when legally authorised to do so.

8. Settlement

Settlement day is the date on which the balance for the property is paid. Usually it is the same date as the date the buyers gets possession - the keys - but that is not always the case.

You've sold your property. Congratulations!