Investment property sales follow a slightly different rhythm to selling your own home, but the upside is the same. The largest single cost is the commission, and a private sale with the right marketing in place lets you keep that money in the portfolio. The trick is handling the tenancy, the timing and the buyer pool with a steady plan. Most landlords find that once they have done it once, they would not go back. Here are the practical tips that make the biggest difference.

Working with the tenancy and timing

Talk to your tenants early. A respectful conversation about the timeline, the viewing process and any small thank you for cooperation goes a long way. Confirm in writing the notice required for entry, photos and open homes. If the tenancy is fixed term, decide whether to sell with the tenancy in place or wait for the term to end. Each option has trade offs. Selling tenanted broadens the buyer pool to include other landlords. Selling vacant broadens the appeal to first home buyers and family buyers who want to move in.

On the financial side, talk to your accountant about the bright line and any depreciation recapture. Confirm with the bank whether there is an early repayment cost on your mortgage, especially if it is on a fixed rate. Order the property file from the council and any code of compliance certificates so a buyer’s lawyer does not get held up. The more boxes you tick before you list, the smoother the contract goes through, and the less likely you are to lose a buyer in the conditional period over a small detail.

Where Market My Place fits for landlords

Market My Place handles the marketing for an investment property the same way as a family home, with photography that respects tenant timing, a listing that speaks to both investors and owner occupiers, and reach across the major property sites and social media. You decide on the price, the timeline and which offer suits your tenants and your tax position. Selling privately gives a landlord the same upside as any other private sale, with all of it flowing back into the portfolio.