Seller guide hub
NZ property-selling guides
Practical New Zealand guides for planning a property sale, comparing agents and fees, preparing a house, choosing a sale method and reaching settlement.
Start with the decision you need to make next, then use the linked calculator, checklist or comparison tool.
01
Plan the sale and likely net proceeds
Start with a defensible property-value range and calculate more than one outcome. The plan should still work at a conservative sale price after commission, marketing, legal, preparation, moving and mortgage-related costs.
- Estimate what the property may be worth
- Compare commission and complete selling costs
- Choose a workable launch and settlement window
- Identify legal, title, consent and finance questions early
02
Choose an agent or prepare a private sale
Compare operating models as well as price. An agent proposal should include appraisal evidence, complete costs, campaign logic, named responsibilities and agreement terms. A private seller needs a plan for those same tasks.
- Verify each agent's licence and office
- Ask every candidate the same interview questions
- Compare private-sale workload with the commission saved
- Have a lawyer involved before signing a sale and purchase agreement
03
Choose the agency agreement and method of sale
Sole and general agency agreements change who can act and when commission may be payable. Auction, deadline, tender, negotiation and advertised price also change timing, buyer conditions and how offers are handled.
- Read the commission trigger, duration and cancellation terms
- Approve marketing costs and later changes in writing
- Ask how early and multiple offers will be managed
- Agree what evidence would trigger a campaign change
04
Prepare, launch and reach settlement
Prioritise material defects, documents and buyer-stopping maintenance before cosmetic work. During the campaign, track enquiry and decisions; after an offer, track every condition and settlement task.