How do I sell my property privately?

Selling your property shouldn’t cost ridiculous amounts of money in commission fees, so why not sell it yourself?  

Here are 5 quick tips to getting prepared BEFORE your home hits the market…

1. Work out the value of your home by knowing what is happening in your area.  Sign up to real estate agents email newsletters and market updates and get to know what the sale prices are in the area.  You may also want to ask a few local real estate agents for a free market appraisal of your home to see where the experts see value.  A realistic price will help with an efficient sale.

2. Take professional photos and write a great script .  Professional photos will help make your property stand out. Be sure to include both inside and outside shots of the house.  Include important information about the property in the advertising text such as the building size, land size, exterior construction etc.  The more detail, the better.

3. List the property on Trade Me Property.  Listing fees on Trade Me range from $359-$449, depending on rateable value (RV) (no success fees apply).  As a private seller, other marketing media may not be available to you.

4. Put a “For Sale” sign up outside the property so your neighbours and everyone driving past is well informed that you are selling.  The old saying goes… You can’t sell a secret!  The more people that know, the better.

5. Advertise open homes.  On the Hibiscus Coast, most open homes are advertised on Saturdays and Sundays.  Set aside between 30 to 60 minutes on each day and put these times on your Trade Me listing and For Sale sign.

If that sounds like a lot of work, that is just the beginning!!

You will have to give up your own time for paperwork, advertising and open homes.  Not to mention dealing with nosey neighbours, time wasters and buyers who think they can purchase your property at a steal.

It can also be quite emotional as you may have to deal directly with negative reactions from buyers who don’t love your property as much as what you do.

A private sale can really restrict the number of potential purchasers who will get to view the property, and you might miss out on finding the buyer who will pay top dollar for your home.  Agents have access to different marketing avenues.  For example, at Harcourts we advertise on Trade Me, www.realestate.co.nz, www.hougarden.com, The Outlook, The New Zealand Herald, The Property Press and social media such as Facebook, to name a few.

If you have changed your mind or would like meet with me for a free market appraisal for your home, contact me on 021 337 093.

© Anita Dobson, Harcourts Tandem Realty – 021 337 093