Preparing to Sell

Presentation

Getting your property market-ready

Fix, declutter, refresh

Fix the small stuff: dripping taps, sticking doors, blown bulbs. Small faults make buyers wonder about big ones.
Declutter hard: half-empty cupboards read as "plenty of storage". You're moving anyway.
Refresh cheaply: neutral paint, clean carpets, tidy gardens. Skip big pre-sale renovations — you rarely get the money back.
Street appeal: the scroll-stopping photo and the first ten seconds of every viewing happen at the kerb.
Light, warmth, smell: open curtains, heat the home for viewings. Warm and dry sells.

Paperwork buyers will ask for

Consents and code compliance certificates — sort discrepancies before the campaign, not during it.
Warranties, plans, and records of quake repairs or insurance claims where relevant.
For unit titles: body corporate disclosures (see stage 3).

Remember your disclosure obligations. Known defects must be disclosed via your agent — hiding them risks the sale and legal action later. Present the home at its best; represent it honestly.

Choosing your method of sale

Auction

A no-price campaign building to a public auction. Bidding is unconditional, buyers arrive with finance and research done, and the reserve protects your bottom line. If it passes in, you negotiate with the highest bidder first.

Deadline sale

Marketed without a price, offers by a set date (you can usually accept a strong one earlier). Competitive tension with flexibility, since offers can be conditional. Very common in Canterbury.

Advertised price / by negotiation

A fixed price gives certainty and filters enquiry; "by negotiation" invites offers without anchoring a number. Both settle into the offer / counter-offer dance (see stage 4).

Which is right depends on your property, timeframe and the market — one of the first things we'll give you a view on at appraisal, with reasons.

Selling after a natural event

If your property has EQC/Natural Hazards Commission or insurance claim history, gather the documentation early — claim records, scope of works, sign-offs. Organised disclosure keeps buyers (and their insurers) confident and protects your price.

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This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice — always get independent advice before signing anything. See also the Real Estate Authority's settled.govt.nz.