Step-by-step selling guide

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. 

Visit our market reports section – which contain latest housing price, rental and suburb reports or check out our sold properties.

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 a guide to help you choose the one who's right for you.

3. Why choose Barfoot & Thompson?

We have over 1,800 salespeople across Auckland, Northland and Tauranga who are all working for you. All our salespeople are free to introduce their buyers to your property – which gives us greater reach and selling power. This, in turn, gives your home more exposure and gives you a better chance of getting a premium price.

• Why we’re right for you
• Our commission rates - see how we compare

Check out the power of our network

4. How to get your home ready to sell

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

Read our top tips and advice on what you can do before you sell your home.

Top selling tip - You can't sell a secret

The more buyers who know your property is for sale, the greater the opportunity you have to achieve a premium price. 

For more information speak to a salesperson.

5. Finding a lawyer

Before you sell a property, we recommend getting 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.

6. 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. Find out more about different selling methods.

7. Marketing your property

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

8. 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 may be 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 Barfoot & Thompson office until your solicitor advises us, in writing, that the settlement has taken place
• Deposit payments are made by the buyer to the real estate agency, which is required by law to hold the money in an audited trust account, only releasing when legally authorised to do so.

9. 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!