selling a house privately
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Category: General Chat
Forum Name: General Chat
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URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=40612
Printed Date: 27 August 2025 at 11:57am
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Topic: selling a house privately
Posted By: Mum2ET
Subject: selling a house privately
Date Posted: 26 September 2011 at 12:57pm
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We are going to put our house on the market shortly and DH is very keen for us to try and sell it ourselves via trade me. I am less keen and would prefer to just give it to an agent, however I have agreed that he can have 1 month to try and sell it privately and then go to an agent. So, I was wondering has anyone on here tried to sell a house themselves and how did it go? Any tips? At this stage our thinking is we will just try advertising it on trade me and do viewings by appointment only
------------- Mum to Ella (5) and Tom (2) |
Replies:
Posted By: pudgy
Date Posted: 26 September 2011 at 1:24pm
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We sold ours through an agent but we both wish we'd done it privately. You can save loads of money angents fees are ridiculous. I'd give it longer than a month too say 3 or 4.
Make sure you take decent photos, with proper light etc. And show all rhe rooms + inside and out. Sooo many listings have bad photos and photos of only the kitchen. Eta. I would consider doing at least one open home per weekend too. I know I don't bother with houses unless they have open homes. Especially because we have kids and organising view by appointment can be a pain. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: T_Rex
Date Posted: 26 September 2011 at 1:30pm
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My parents sold several houses privately when I was a kid. It did seem like hard work, but having sold a house via an agent, it doesn't seem like THAT much work to save the $15k commission!
I do think 1 month is awfully quick to sell it privately though. Unless you are in a rush to sell it (we were as we had a conditional offer on our next house), I'd consider giving him more than that. Is he a decent negotiator? Perhaps you could agree that you take the kids and scarper when someone comes round and leave the wheeling and dealing up to him? ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 26 September 2011 at 1:32pm
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In laws sold theirs privately and sold it for more than what the agents said it was worth.
Good photos are a must. Also I think it helps having proof of why you are asking that price. Inlaws got an independant valuation which they showed everyone who came through.Took them 2 weeks to sell it. |
Posted By: AngieBaby
Date Posted: 26 September 2011 at 1:48pm
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HI MUM2ET
I just recently sold my house privately. we had it on the market last year with agents and it didn't sell This year I did it all. This is what I did and learnt... MARKETING: - Trade me advert - adverts in the local paper in the homes area - adverts in NZ Herald - weekend Homes - A5 flyers printed (2000 copies) and put it mail boxes around the area. - Sign outside the house (note - you can buy these and make them through a website that links through trademe once you have completed your listing - can't remember what it was a link you go to at the end of the listing you'll see) We started out doing by appointment only, then I started doing open homes. For the open homes I had some signs up on the 'main road' OPEN HOME 1-1.30pm XYZ STREET then I had made some open home signs (arrowed) and pegged them in the ground directing people to our place from the main road (i got them from here: http://www.realestate.gen.nz/new-zealand/private-sale/real-estate-signs.html#openhomesignstands) I had an open home sign outside the house too and had printed out a register - for people to sign in so I could call all visitors back and ask for their feedback on the property and see if they would like a second viewing. What I learnt: - That you have to allow a bit longer for your house to sell privately. - That while we did have a lot of people through the open homes - it was the people that called and came through by appointment that were really interested and ultimately, a couple that booked by appointment were the ones that purchased (we had several offers also - and all were from people that had viewed by appointment). - The open homes were good to get feedback on the property though. - Of all the advertising we did - it was Trade me that got the best results and the final buyer for our property - There will be a lot of real estate agents saying they have buyers for your property, if you're prepared to pay their commission on the sale then you can allow them to bring a buyer through (if the REALLY do have one) and sign a ONE DAY!!! (they will try and rope you into more only do one day!) listing for that buyer and NAME THE BUYER on the agreement - so that any other people that come through are YOUR buyers. - Also if you decide to go with an agent - or let one of their buyers come through NEGOTIATE their rate - you don't have to settle for their commission rate :) TIPS: - get your LIM report from the counsel so they don't have to. - Organise with your solicitor a sale and purchase agreement, I had a range of 'conditions' printed from them (e.g. conditional on another house selling etc) which we could add if required - if the legal side of things is 'beyond you' I'd very much recommend you get the offer and discuss verbally then get the lawyer to draw it up with any conditions for both parties to sign in person - you may want to ask your lawyer how to best do this. - set an advertising budget for yourself and stick to it. - Take good photo's - this is REALLY important!!! - Look at other listings and the descriptions of those houses - much like yours and the ones you think are good are the ones you should create your marketing material from as inspiration to describe your property Good luck and hope it helps! thanks |
Posted By: Mum2ET
Date Posted: 26 September 2011 at 1:50pm
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thanks for the quick replies. We are getting a registered valuation done this week so we will have a good idea about what is realistic.
We agreed on 1 month as although we don't have to sell in a rush, I would just like the place sold and we can move on (we aren't going to buy a place though until it is sold). We are looking at moving to a slightly different area so would like us to be set up etc because Ella starts school in the middle of next year- I just don't like this being in limbo.
good point about the photos- thks and I guess I could always get DH to do an open home one weekend and see how it goes. I guess my main concern is whether people would be put off buying a house privately? or it just me who feels like that ------------- Mum to Ella (5) and Tom (2) |
Posted By: JessDub
Date Posted: 26 September 2011 at 1:52pm
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We sold ours privately last year. Had a photographer mate take some good photos of the house and very very tidy, dressed rooms. Did lots of research on value of house and put a realistic price on (which HEAPS of private sellers don't). Be worth getting your house valued. We didn't but the buyers had to get one for the bank and we were spot on in our asking price.
Had a lot of interest and my husband showed people through while the rest of us went out - usually to the park round the corner. We sold the house within 2 weeks. Unfortunately though the buyers had an agent so we had to pay his commission (negotiated down) which sucked. Put 'no agents' on your ad if you don't want to be in this situation! I would do it again if I wasn't working. It's time consuming - keeping house tidy, arranging views. And I would advertise 'no agents' for sure, although he was quite good at working through the contracts. We were fortunate to have FIL as ex RE agent so he gave us advice. We had copies of Sale and Purchase agreement ready to go and our lawyer on standby. Edited to add yes, get the LIM report before you put house on market as this can take two weeks to come through. ------------- 
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Posted By: Mum2ET
Date Posted: 26 September 2011 at 1:52pm
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thats brilliant info Angiebaby- thanks for all that ------------- Mum to Ella (5) and Tom (2) |
Posted By: T_Rex
Date Posted: 26 September 2011 at 2:05pm
Nope, I wouldn't be put off buying privately. I'd almost prefer it - RE agents are a pain in the neck  ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: CrazyCass
Date Posted: 26 September 2011 at 2:14pm
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Haha yup agents are a pain in the neck!
TM is a good place to start - you can also get a company called Home Sell, they help with marketing, take all your photos (so they'll be a bit better) and all for an upfront fee.... could be worth a look? ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Tracey1972
Date Posted: 26 September 2011 at 3:06pm
| I think Angie baby has hit the nail on the head with her fab post don't think you can go wrong if you follow her advice. If we move in the future think we would try doing it ourselves first but photos are the key I reckon to getting people in the door. When we were looking to buy we always went for the ones that had good photos. Try Chris Hope from property pics he is great and really reasonable he took some for a friend and did a really good job and doesn't rip you off .. its a one off fee for pics on a disk I think :-) |
Posted By: Troods
Date Posted: 26 September 2011 at 5:34pm
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Most people looking to buy I think would definitely prefer to buy private rather than dealing with agents.
Definitely get decent photos as there's nothing more frustrating than lots of repeated pointless photos (of beds, furniture) or a lack of photos. Yes it's a good idea to have get recent valuation and LIM, and make several copies, so that prospective purchasers can view them and take them away if they need to. That way any offer they make would be more attractive if they don't need to make it conditional on a LIM and/or finance because they have already seen what they need to and the copy valuation is usually sufficient for their bank if they have pre-approved finance. The valuation and LIM and the photocoyping might cost a bit in the beginning, but worth it when it draws in prospective purchasers and a lot less compared to paying agents fees. Do whatever advertising you can yourself, even if it's going to cost a small fee. And if you do get interested buyers who want to make an offer, please agree on a handshake first then go straight to your solicitors to get them to draft up the Agreement for Sale and Purchase. Get the purchaser to give you their solicitors details so your solicitor can send it on to their solicitor to advise them and put in extra conditions that they might need to put it, so that both parties are advised of their rights and obligations before entering into the legally binding contract to avoid any likely problems arising later down the track. And one more thing, if your house is a Unit Title and administered under a Body Corporate - see your solicitor before you do anything, that is even before you start the selling process. There have been major changes to the Unit Titles Act this year affecting all owners of unit title properties and you must be aware of your obligations when it comes to selling. If in doubt about what type of house title you have, I'd recommend checking with your solicitor first anyway before you start. Hope that helps and good luck selling! ------------- 
 Missed MC July 2011
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Posted By: Babe
Date Posted: 26 September 2011 at 6:25pm
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We'd definitely buy private if we found what we wanted.
My only 2c worth is to clean as much out of your house as possible. My parents brought and sold more places than the local real estate agent lol and the key is presentation. Declutter declutter declutter, pack everything excess up and store it somewhere else, depersonalise and streamline. People want to see the house not scads of other peoples stuff. The bonus is that it makes it much easier to keep tidy. Oh and always run the vacuum round, do the dishes and a general tidy in the morning, every morning, coz the day you slack off is guaranteed to be the day people want to visit 
GL!!! -------------   
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Posted By: Mum2ET
Date Posted: 26 September 2011 at 8:12pm
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thanks this is all great advice- much appreciated
Yes definitely decluttering Babe- it felt great to get rid of so much stuff and now I am in the process of packing away the stuff that we want to keep but don't 'need' in the next couple of months- thank goodness my parents have a couple of spare rooms. ------------- Mum to Ella (5) and Tom (2) |
Posted By: fire_engine
Date Posted: 27 September 2011 at 9:00am
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We're in the same boat and after meeting a REA the other day (and getting told we'll be very lucky to get back what we paid), I'm inclined to try and sell privately.
We bought privately which I had no issue with. I liked that they could give us information about their home/neighbourhood at the open home. I HATED negotiating with them (the seller was lacking a "negotiation" gene) and would have preferred to do that through a third party. We're thinking we'll try through TM first. We've got a friend who is a great photographer so once we've decluttered decluttered decluttered, we'll get some good pics. I remember when we bought this place, when we arrived, we had those images in our mind and I think that's really important. I also think we'll do 2 open homes a weekend but I'm wondering about paying a friend to do at least one of those so we have some family time as well. DH is a lawyer so we have that covered
Good tip about the valuation. I might get another agent through to give us an opinion then get that done. JessDub - that seems a bit rude that they had an agent so YOU had to pay his commission  ------------- Mum to two wee boys |
Posted By: Mum2ET
Date Posted: 27 September 2011 at 1:23pm
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thats a really good idea about getting a friend to do one of the open homes- as DH & I were talking more about it last night and I can just see our weekends being very busy trying to sell the house (not to mention trying to find a place to buy). ------------- Mum to Ella (5) and Tom (2) |
Posted By: yermasyada
Date Posted: 27 September 2011 at 2:02pm
Some awesome advice you've had... especially from Angiebabe 
Just to give a buyers perspective ....
* PHOTOS: make sure you get *really* good photos which show the room/house to it's best advantage. I know someone who can give you some tips
* PRICE: list a price. A buyer always prefers to see a price and will (if they've got any brain cells) always offer under what your asking, so compensate a wee bit for this. * BE PROFESSIONAL: There's nothing worse (as a buyer) phoning up about a property and speaking to someone who barely registers that there's a property for sale, let alone provides any useful information. * BUYERS PACK: Have a pack of info ready to hand potential buyers. Include the LIM and a print out of recent sales in the area. If you've done any major renos, make a point of including the Code of Compliance. I think you've really got to give it a good shot though, and I don't think 1 month is long enough. |
Posted By: buzylizy
Date Posted: 30 September 2011 at 12:12pm
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we bought our house privately, got it at a cheaper price and had a solicitor look over the contract. was pretty easy and straightforward in the end. if someone wants they won't be put off by the private sale. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Babe
Date Posted: 30 September 2011 at 1:10pm
Yeah I remember someone brought a house of mum and dad and they had an agent but THEY had to pay her commission not mum and dad? I had another thought too - clean your windows lol I know it sounds like extra work but sparkly windows make the whole house brighter, sunnier and cleaner looking. I know this coz DH cleaned ours the other day -------------
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fire_engine wrote:Posted By: BDTM14
Date Posted: 30 September 2011 at 1:28pm
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I havent tried selling a house privately but have done through an agent and it is painful with an agent.
You will save SO much money through private sales and have the viewings when you want. Agree with cleaning the windows as well...its always a much better look. when taking the photos to put up. If you have a camera that has a wide angled lense use that too. And get the best photos possible when you have just cleaned the house so it is looking at its best. And again yes you need to have a photo of everyroom as well as the outside (pref on a really nice sunny day with - if you have any - outdoor furnature When you have the viewings. Have candles that have just been lit to give off some nice smells..esp in the bathroom and kitchen. 1 month is fine. You can get a lot of viewing in that time. A friend just recently put their house on TM and sold it in a day (privately). But you still maybe want to go longer than that? Agree with what other have said AngeBaby has some great advce as well Best of luck to you in your quest to sell your place :) |
Posted By: fire_engine
Date Posted: 30 September 2011 at 5:56pm
I did mine the other day for the first time in four years  ------------- Mum to two wee boys |
Posted By: Babe
Date Posted: 30 September 2011 at 6:08pm
Bahahahaha!!! Seriously if it were left up to me they'd never get done - well the outsides anyway! I tell DH that these things are the things that make him far too useful to ever trade-in  I most like the fact that now even when we haven't vacuumed everything still looks sparkly lol!
ETA though as an afterthought that sparkly look could be the now uninhibited sunlight bouncing of the scads of glitter the boys have showered around willynilly... -------------
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