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Selling Tips

How do I go about getting an appraisal on my home?

You will need to contact a Licensed Real Estate Agent of your choice and make an appointment for them to come and visit your property.

They will take details of your property in order to go away and do research on comparable properties that have sold.  It is only by doing this that a fair market value can be ascertained.

At this time your Maggie Dixon agent will leave you with a copy of our Company information booklet which contains Complaints and Disputes procedures as well as the Real Estate Agents Act (Professional Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2009.

You will also be given a copy of the New Zealand Residential Property Agency Agreements Guide. If all the owners of the property are present at this time a written receipt will be obtained acknowledging the booklet has been given to you.

It is possible if one of the owners is not present that this acknowledgment may be left with you for the other owner to sign.  Once all owners of the property have signed this receipt it will be uplifted or sent back to the agent.

The next stage will be when the agent returns to your property with a written market appraisal.  This will include statistical data procured from various sources to substantiate the market value at the time.  It will also include marketing information and costs together with a letter showing a price range for the property.  You will be required to sign another acknowledgement form at this time to say you have received this appraisal in writing.

At this time and after discussion with the agent you may decide to list your property with them.  If this is the case you will be presented with an Agency Agreement which is a legal document giving authority to the real estate agent to sell your property on terms you have agreed upon.

Once you have signed an agency agreement you are given a 24 hour 'cooling down' period before the agreement becomes effective.  This gives you the opportunity to think about your decison overnight to ensure you are happy and wish to proceed.  After the stand down period has lapsed the agreement becomes effective and the agent may begin to market your property.

It should be noted that although these procedures may seem rather long winded, they are necessary to comply with the new Real Estate Agents Act 2008.  The legislation for this came into effect on the 17th November 2009.

What can I expect during the time my property is on the market?

Putting advertising into place is usually one of the first things your agent will arrange once your agency agreement becomes active.  This will involve photos being taken and advertising being booked for you (as agreed to in the marketing plan you will have discussed together).  You will also have a sign placed outside your property unless you stated you do not want one.

Maggie Dixon agents work together as a team and as such they will arrange a time as soon as possible to get the whole sales team through your property so they can see for themselves what it offers potential purchasers.  This viewing normally occurs on a Tuesday morning.

If there are to be Open Homes then suitable times will be discussed with you.  The vast majority of Open Homes are done on a Sunday, although sometimes another day of the week is used as well, or instead of Sundays.

Communication is a vital factor throughout the whole marketing period and at Maggie Dixon Real Estate Ltd we believe in keeping our vendors informed as things happen.

Weekly vendor report are also done to give you feedback on what activity there has been on the marketing of your home.  These can be in the form of a letter or email or by phone.  A record of these communications will be kept by your sales agent.

We encourage our clients to contact us as soon as possible if they are uncertain or concerned about anything.  This way concerns can be addressed quickly before they become a problem.

If for any reason you are uncomfortable talking to your sales agent then you can contact the Maggie Dixon Customer Service Department which operates independently of the sales department.

What happens when I am presented with an offer?

Before you are presented with an offer, you will receive the New Zealand Residential Property Sale and Purchase Agreements Guide.  This provides you with information about the selling process and it is a legal requirement to provide vendors with this booklet under the new Real Estate Agents Act 2008.  You must be given enough time to read this information and obtain legal advice if necessary before you sign a sale and purchase agreement.

When an offer is presented to you it will be in writing on the approved form issued by the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand.  Your agent will go through the offer with you and explain anything you are unsure of.  You may not wish to accept the offer as it stands in which case you have the opportunity to countersign the offer with a figure that is acceptable to you.  Your sales agent will then negotiate with the purchaser to see if an agreement can be reached that is mutually acceptable to both parties.

Once a satisfactory agreement is reached and has been signed off by both parties the original copies of the agreement will be sent to the vendors and purchasers soliticors for further action.  A copy of the fully signed agreement will be given to you for your records.

Signing a contract on your property does not mean the marketing of your property will automatically cease.  It is not until unconditional confirmation is received from the solicitors that the property can be considered sold. With your agreement the sales agent may continue marketing the property until this confirmation is received.  Upon notice of unconditional from the solicitor (in writing) the agent may place a SOLD sign on the property, they may also choose to advertise the property as sold.

Your Maggie Dixon sales agent will continue to stay in touch even when the property is sold and settlement has taken place.

We believe in keeping in touch with our clients even after our professional dealings with them have been completed.  This could be in the form of a newsletter or letter from either the sales agent or the company.

The vast majority of our business comes from past clients or referrals and we are committed to continuing this trend.

Quick tips for preparing your house for sale

Once you have decided to sell, it is important to set a good first impression if you want to bring in as many potential buyers through the front door as possible. Just by looking after a few simple tasks around the house, you are setting the scene for a successful marketing period.

  • Street appeal presentation - Make sure your front garden is always in pristine condition - Lawns mowed, footpaths swept and the garden beds weeded.

  • Sweep cobwebs and wash any mould, grime or mildew.

  • Put on soft music before your agent arrives.

  • Use flowers to highlight features of your home.

  • Shampoo the carpets.

  • Open all drapes and window blinds.

  • Keep counter tops cleared.

  • Replace all burnt out light bulbs.

  • Restrain pets; take them to a neighbour or for a walk.

  • Remove clothes from the line and keep laundry clear.

  • Keep your garage doors closed.

Some of the turn-offs for buyers include

  • Shabby front door and dirty windows.

  • Animal odours, cigarette or strong food odours.

  • Too many items cluttering the house.

  • Dirty dishes, stained or dirty carpet.

  • Evidence of damp or moisture in the walls.

  • Dark uninviting rooms.

  • Doors, windows or gates that stick.

  • Cracked glass and/or ceilings.

Sale preparation checklist

  • Detail the property thoroughly.

  • A few hundred Dollars spent sprucing up the property will increase the saleability and more than likely, increase the sale price.

  • A certificate of compliance should be obtained from the Local Council if you have recently undertaken major building works such as a swimming pool, pergola, deck or shed.

  • Make a note of all the inclusions i.e. everything that will be included in the purchase price and remain at the property after completion. Standard items include light fittings, coverings, curtain and blinds. These can also be excluded if you prefer, but it will need to be noted in the contract of sale.

  • Make a copy of a recent rates notice available to the agent.

  • If you have plans of the house, give them to the agent to copy for prospective buyers.

  • Shampoo the carpets.

  • Clean out and touch up the gutters.

  • Water blast the roof and driveways.

  • Give the garden a makeover. e.g. Prune shrubs and trees, fertilise and green up grass, smart edges always make a garden more attractive and can increase the sale price

On Inspection Day

Check that all rooms have been cleaned and tidied, beds are made and there are no dirty clothes or dishes scattered around the house.

Use strategically placed fresh flowers to add a little warmth, perfume and colour.

Rock and roll will never die but it might kill a real estate transaction. So turn down the music and switch off the television.

Good lighting adds colour and warmth to a home, making potential buyers feel welcome. During the day, pull back your curtains to let the sunshine in and when showing your home in the evening, turn on all the lights - both inside and out.

Watch your pets. Dogs and cats are great companions, but not while potential buyers are inspecting your home. Keep animals outside or at least out of the way and under controlled supervision. If pets are usually allowed indoors, attend to any animal odours prior to inspections.

For extra security, it is advisable to make sure all your valuables are locked up and out of sight when buyers come through your home.

Presentation

"You never get a second chance to make a first impression".

The first impression must be positive when a buyer visits your property. A home that "shows well, sells well". Experience constantly indicates that a well presented home will sell more quickly and, usually, for a higher price.

In preparing your home for the market, the aim is to spend as little money as possible to enhance its appeal.

An excellent test is to go outside, close your eyes and say to yourself… "I'm a buyer seeing this house for the first time !". Go right through the house and look at it as a potential buyer would.

Make a list of all the chattels that will remain in the house. Anything you may wish to take with you should be noted on the contract as an 'exclusion'.

Listed here are a few tips on helping you get a better price for our home:

Have an Exterior House Wash…

This isn't expensive and can really give a lift to paint work, and use a soft wash rather than water blasting unless the paint work is very robust … and don't forget the fence, gate, paths and decks.

Maximise Available Sunlight…

Sunlight is one of the most universal requirements when viewing homes so make sure you make the most of it. Tree pruning may provide a real bonus if it allows more light into your home.

What About a Few Pot Plants…

The careful placement of some pot plants around the entrance can lend a touch of colour and make your home feel more welcoming … and best of all you can take them with you when you go.

Keep The Lawns Ship Shape…

This is very easy and very inexpensive to do. Keep your lawns mown weekly and make sure the lawn edging is straight and crisp.

Get Rid of Garden Rubbish

Garden rubbish is unsightly and detracts from the appeal of your garden, but it's easy for each of us not to 'see it' because we're used to it being there. So if you have a pile of 'stuff', get rid of it. This goes for the garage, old sheds and any outbuildings.

Sparkling Swimming Pool

If you have a pool, ensure that it is clear of leaves, the water clean, tiles are clean top and bottom and any pool equipment is stored away.

Pets

Pets should be kept well out of the way during open homes. You may cherish your pet but some people will not come into a house that has a dog running loose.

Have A Spring Clean…

Sounds obvious, but what a difference a spring clean can make. Carpet cleaning can help make a home look and even smell much more inviting, particularly if pets are present. And when windows sparkle the whole home seems to take on more vitality and life.

Flowers & Warmth

Fresh flowers are always welcoming in a home and sometimes smell wonderful too. During summer open all windows and doors to the sun. In winter have the fire or heater going to warm the home up.

Make The Most Of Your Space…

Space is another significant universal requirement so make the most of it by 'creating' a feeling of space. You can do this by removing clutter, storing things in boxes … even re-arranging the furniture. Make the most of the space in every room.

Spruce Up The Paint Work…

When it's necessary, sprucing up the paint work can be an investment that pays big dividends. But remember it needs to be done well, rough edges or paint on the windows will send all the wrong signals to prospective buyers

And Don't Forget The Bathroom and Laundry…

If mildew is present, use a commercially available mildew remover to give these naturally damp areas a fresh look. And if there's lino on the floor which needs replacement, do so with a relatively nondescript pattern. Obviously new lino can often lead to a suspicion about what may be 'hidden' beneath.

Kitchens Are Important Too…

And don't be fooled into thinking that kitchens are only important to women, many men play an active role in kitchens too. The two key things which can most readily be done to improve the look are replacing cupboard doors (using the existing doors as templates) and, budget permitting, replacing the bench top unit. Both of these are considered purchases but in the right circumstances, can be well worth the investment.