If this is your first sale, the whole process can feel a bit overwhelming. There are a lot of moving parts, from pricing the home to wrapping up the legal side at settlement. The good news is the path is well trodden and surprisingly orderly once you can see it laid out. Most of the early worry is just the unknown. Here is a clear, friendly walkthrough of the key milestones, with the bits that catch first time sellers out flagged early so you can plan ahead and avoid them.

The seven steps every Kiwi home sale goes through

First, decide on your price by researching comparable sales. Second, talk to your lawyer and let them know to expect a sale agreement. Third, prepare the home, fix the small things and have it photographed properly. Fourth, list on Trade Me Property and Realestate.co.nz with a clean listing and a floor plan. Fifth, run open homes and private viewings. Sixth, receive offers in writing through your lawyer or directly to you. Seventh, accept the offer that suits you and let your lawyer handle the contract through to settlement.

The bits that often catch first time sellers out are small but worth flagging. Underestimating how long the photography day takes, so the home is not quite ready when the photographer arrives. Forgetting to check the home for chattels that come with the sale and writing them clearly into the listing description. Setting an asking price without checking the most recent two months of comparables, rather than the last twelve. Each of these is easily avoided once you know to plan for them.

How Market My Place supports first time sellers

Market My Place is genuinely designed with first time private sellers in mind. The marketing side is taken care of, including the photographer, floor plan, signage and listings, so you can focus on preparing the home and making decisions. Our team is available if you want a hand thinking through pricing or fielding an offer. You learn the process as you go, and you keep all of the savings the modern model delivers. Most homeowners look back and say it was easier than they expected.