Selling Your Home in New Zealand: A Step-by-Step Guide for Homeowners

Hello! I’m Marie Nian, a licensed real estate agent in New Zealand.
If you’re considering selling your property, this comprehensive guide will help you understand the entire process and maximize your sales success.

Selling a property is one of the most important financial decisions in life. This guide helps you avoid common mistakes and maximize your returns.

Pre-Sale Preparation

Market Assessment

Before going to market, understanding the true market value is critical:

• Comparative Market Analysis (CMA): Review sale prices of similar properties in the past 3–6 months
• Professional Valuation: If your property is unique and lacks comparable sales, consider a formal valuation from a registered valuer
• Market Trends: Understand pricing trends of current listings in your area

🏡 Free Market Appraisal

We provide a free market appraisal including CMA, trend analysis, and can liaise with registered valuers to help you fully understand your property value.

Property Preparation

First impressions matter. Targeted improvements can significantly lift the sale price:

Street Appeal

• Landscaping: Mow lawns, plant flowers, remove weeds
• Exterior Cleaning: High-pressure wash exterior walls and driveways
• Entry Area: Keep the front door and entrance clean and tidy

Interior Preparation

• Deep Cleaning: Professionally clean carpets and windows
• Depersonalize: Remove personal photos and excessive décor
• Minor Repairs: Fix leaking taps, cracked tiles, scuffed walls
• Neutral Colours: Consider repainting with neutral tones

Home Staging

• Declutter: Remove excess furniture to make rooms feel larger
• Lighting: Ensure bright, well-lit spaces
• Comfort: Keep a comfortable indoor temperature during viewings

🛋️ Staging and Preparation

We can connect you with trusted cleaning companies, staging experts, and moving services to ensure your home presents at its best to buyers.

Choosing a Sales Method

Common sales methods in New Zealand:

1. Auction

Advantages:

• Competitive environment drives price
• Certainty and efficiency with faster, more direct transactions
• High transparency with all bidding conducted publicly

Best for:

• Unique or high-demand properties
• Properties difficult to price accurately
• Sellers seeking a quick sale

🔨 Auction Support

We can arrange a reputable auctioneer and help you prepare for the auction process to ensure a smooth, efficient transaction.

2. Tender

Advantages:

• Maximizes vendor choice
• Creates scarcity and competition
• Avoids low-price anchoring

Best for:

• Sellers wishing to compare different terms and conditions
• Sellers who prefer not to run a public bidding process
• Unique or hard-to-price properties

📩 Tender Process Guidance

We design the tender process, prepare documents and conditions, and help you choose the best offer among multiple bids.

3. Deadline Sale

Advantages:

• High flexibility
• Creates urgency
• Balances transparency with privacy

Best for:

• Uncertain markets or limited buyer pools
• Sellers wanting to remain flexible
• Competitive properties that are not “headline” hot listings

⏰ Deadline Sale Support

We set a realistic sales timeframe and execute a promotion strategy to increase buyer urgency and conversion efficiency.

Legal Requirements and Documentation

Required Documents

• LIM Report: Land Information Memorandum (usually provided by the vendor)
• Building Report: Disclose known issues where relevant
• Title Certificate: Proof of ownership
• Tenancy Agreement: If tenanted, clarify lease end dates

📑 Document Preparation Assistance

We assist in preparing and organizing required legal documents and can recommend trusted law firms.

Disclosure Obligations

As a seller, you must disclose:

• Known structural issues
• Past flooding or geotechnical problems
• Neighbour disputes
• Planning or zoning changes

⚖️ Compliance and Disclosure Guidance

We provide professional advice on your disclosure obligations to meet legal requirements and reduce risk.

Marketing Strategy

Professional Photography

• High-Quality Photos: Engage specialist real estate photographers for the best presentation
• Virtual Tours: Consider 360-degree virtual tours
• Drone Aerials: Showcase the property and surroundings

📸 Photography Arrangement

We can arrange professional photography, virtual tours, and aerials to maximize your property’s appeal.

Online Marketing

• Trade Me Property: New Zealand’s largest marketplace
• realestate.co.nz: Leading real estate portal
• Social Media: Promotion via Facebook and Instagram

🌐 Omnichannel Promotion

We develop a tailored online plan covering major property platforms and social media to expand buyer reach.

Traditional Marketing

• Open Homes: Schedule regular and private viewings
• Signage: For-sale signage to capture neighbourhood attention
• Print Ads: Local newspapers and property magazines

📰 Traditional Marketing Support

We arrange open homes, print advertising, and signage to maximize local market exposure.

Buyer Resources

• Buyer Database: Reach registered active buyers to increase viewing and offer efficiency
• Prospect Network: Maintain long-term relationships with local investors, owner-occupiers, and developers

🔑 Direct Access to Buyers

Beyond public advertising, we directly tap into ready buyer resources—strengthening our unique advantage and improving conversion and sale price.

Negotiation Process

Evaluating Offers

Consider the following when receiving offers:

• Offer Price: Compare with your target price
• Buyer Qualification: Confirm pre-approved finance
• Conditions: Assess any limiting clauses
• Settlement Date: Ensure timing suits your plans

🤝 Offer Evaluation and Advice

We assist in analysing offers, evaluating buyer conditions, and providing negotiation advice.

Counteroffer Strategy

• Price Adjustments: If an offer is below expectations, maintain communication and test scope for price improvement
• Condition Changes: Adjust unfavourable terms
• Timing Negotiation: Modify settlement dates

💬 Negotiation and Counteroffer Support

We provide counteroffer strategies and negotiation tactics to help you secure the best terms.

Post-Sale Process

Legal Steps

Once an offer is accepted:

• Sign the Sale Agreement: Lawyer review and completion
• Due Diligence Period: Buyer inspections and confirming funds to the appropriate bank account
• Settlement Preparation: Lawyers complete title transfer and handover arrangements

📜 Legal Process Coordination

We liaise with your lawyer to ensure the agreement, due diligence, and settlement all run smoothly.

Moving Preparation

• Moving Logistics: Book movers early to avoid settlement delays
• Utilities Transfer: Arrange electricity, gas, and water transitions
• Address Change: Update banks, insurers, and other institutions

🚚 Move and Settlement Support

We recommend reliable moving companies and assist with utilities and address changes for a hassle-free move.

Tax Considerations

Bright-Line Test

Capital gains tax rules for residential property.

Timeline changes:

2015-10-01 – 2018-03-28: Taxable if sold within 2 years.
2018-03-29 – 2021-03-26: Taxable if sold within 5 years.
2021-03-27 – 2024-06-30: In most cases, taxable if sold within 10 years (new builds: 5 years).
From 2024-07-01: Reverted to 2-year bright-line—profits on sales within 2 years of purchase are taxable.

Exclusions/Exemptions: The owner’s main home is typically exempt.

• Professional Advice: We can recommend trusted accountants to provide personalised tax advice and assess your specific situation.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Overpricing: Leads to extended time on market and undermines seller confidence.
2. Insufficient Preparation: Poor presentation reduces perceived value.
3. Emotional Decisions: Letting feelings sway commercial judgment.
4. Ignoring Legal Advice: Lacking proper legal/financial counsel can derail the process.
5. Under-marketing: Inadequate promotion limits attention and enquiries.

We help you avoid these common pitfalls so your sale is smoother and more secure.

Current Market Insights

Key features of New Zealand’s property market in 2025:

• Interest Rates: Mortgage rates trending down—supporting buyer demand
• Inventory Levels: As of mid-2025, Wellington shows elevated for-sale stock
• Seasonality: Spring (Sep–Nov) is usually the prime selling season
• Regional Differences: Market dynamics vary across regions

Why Work with Marie Nian

As an experienced licensed real estate team, I provide:

• Market Expertise: Deep understanding of local pricing trends
• Marketing Capability: Comprehensive strategies across multiple platforms
• Negotiation Skills: Client-first approach to secure the best price
• Professional Network: Close collaboration with lawyers, photographers, and tradespeople
• End-to-End Support: Full service from preparation to settlement

Start Your Selling Journey

Ready to sell your property? Contact me to arrange a free market appraisal. We’ll discuss:

• Your property’s current market value
• The best strategy and timing
• Preparation and improvement recommendations
• Expected timeline and process

Remember, successful sales rely on preparation, correct pricing, and effective marketing. Let me help you achieve the best result.

Book now and let us tailor a sales plan for you.

Contact Marie Nian

Licensed Real Estate Agent (REAA 2008)
📧 marie@ssrealty.co.nz
📱 021 069 3089
🏢 Southern Star Realty

Service Overview

We provide end-to-end support to keep your sale smooth and efficient—from preparation to settlement:

• 🏡 Free Market Appraisal: CMA, market trends, and liaison with registered valuers
• 🛋️ Staging and Preparation: Recommended cleaners, staging experts, and moving services to present at peak condition
• 🔨 Auction Support: Connect with reputable auctioneers and prepare the auction process
• 📩 Tender Guidance: Design the tender process, prepare documents and conditions, and help select the best offer
• ⏰ Deadline Sale Support: Set realistic deadlines and craft promotion strategies to increase urgency and conversion
• 📑 Document Assistance: Organise required legal documents and recommend trusted lawyers
• ⚖️ Compliance and Disclosure: Advice on disclosure obligations to meet legal requirements
• 📸 Professional Photography: High-quality photos, virtual tours, and drone aerials
• 🌐 Omnichannel Promotion: Coverage across Trade Me, realestate.co.nz, and social platforms
• 📰 Traditional Marketing: Open homes, print advertising, and signage
• 🔑 Direct Access to Buyers: Leverage buyer databases and prospect networks to reach high-fit buyers quickly
• 🤝 Offer Evaluation and Advice: Analyse offers and buyer conditions, provide negotiation guidance
• 💬 Negotiation and Counteroffers: Develop counter strategies and assist negotiations
• 📜 Legal Coordination: Liaise with lawyers to keep agreements, due diligence, and settlement on track
• 🚚 Moving and Settlement Support: Recommend movers and assist utility transfers and address changes

👉 Wherever you are in the journey, we provide professional support to keep your sale smooth, secure, and achieve the best outcome.