Sell Your Property with Confidence

Look for an agent who is active and achieving results in your area. Do they listen to your goals? Do they communicate clearly and propose a marketing plan designed to attract the right buyers at the best price? Be cautious of agents who quote an inflated price just to win your listing — if they can't deliver, you're the one who pays the price.

You're free to choose whoever you like. Confirm the firm specialises in conveyancing, that the person you meet will actually be handling your matter, and get a fixed-price quote upfront. Ask whether there are any additional costs beyond the quoted fee.

Attend to any outstanding maintenance and tidying up the garden. Declutter and rearrange furniture to present the space at its best. Get spare keys cut for your agent. If the property is tenanted, it's worth negotiating a small rent reduction in exchange for the tenant's cooperation during inspections. Focus only on improvements that will genuinely add to your sale price.

A private treaty sale involves negotiating a price and terms between buyer and seller. Legal commitment only occurs at 'exchange' — when contracts are signed, swapped and the deposit is paid. The buyer has a 5-business-day cooling-off period and forfeits 0.25% of the purchase price if they withdraw, unless the contract is made unconditional. The vendor is always bound once contracts are exchanged.

An auction is always an unconditional sale at a fixed time, date and location — typically in the fourth week of the marketing campaign. The sale proceeds only if the vendor's reserve price is met. Advertising a price guide or range is generally recommended. The right method depends entirely on your property type and circumstances — we'll advise you on what's best for your situation.

Open homes should be scheduled at set times, particularly on Saturdays. All other inspections should be by appointment only. The frequency of inspections is a balance between keeping buyers engaged and your own convenience — a genuinely interested buyer will generally work around reasonable access times.

A strong campaign typically includes prominent online listings, a signboard, high-quality brochures with a floorplan and detailed property information, window display and targeted letterbox drops. Depending on your property type, print advertising may also be appropriate. Most buyers are attracted within the first two weeks of a well-executed campaign, so getting the promotion right from day one is critical.

The settlement date is agreed at the time of exchange — typically around six weeks, though shorter or longer periods can be arranged by mutual agreement. During this time, the buyer's conveyancer arranges searches and the seller's conveyancer organises the discharge of any mortgage. You'll also need to arrange disconnection or transfer of utilities such as electricity, gas and phone, and set up mail redirection.

The property must be vacated and all keys handed over by settlement. The buyer will typically carry out a final pre-settlement inspection beforehand. It's a nice gesture to pass on any useful information about the property — how appliances work, bin collection days, local services — and to leave a forwarding address for any mail that arrives after you've moved.