What I Wish Every Seller Knew Six Months Before Selling
One of the biggest mistakes I see homeowners make is waiting until they’re ready to sell before they start preparing.
By the time many people call an agent, they’ve already spent months worrying about where to start, what to fix and how they’ll ever get it done. The smoothest sales often begin much earlier.
Over the 17 years I’ve been in real estate, I’ve noticed a pattern. The sellers who achieve the best outcomes are the people who sought advice early, created a plan and tackled tasks over time.
Many homeowners assume preparing for sale is all about decluttering, gardening, painting and fixing the odd maintenance item. Those things certainly help, but they are only part of the picture.
Increasingly, buyers want information as well as presentation. They want to know what work has been completed, whether improvements were consented where required, and whether there is documentation to support claims about upgrades.
Some of the most valuable preparation is gathering paperwork: insurance information, council consents, Code Compliance Certificates, warranties, trade invoices, LIM reports and building reports. Having records of completed improvements readily available can make a real difference to buyer confidence.
Planning ahead also gives homeowners time to make informed decisions about where to spend their money. Not every renovation adds value, and some cost far more than they return. Getting advice on what local buyers want can help prioritise the right improvements.
For many long-term owners and downsizers in Karori, the challenge is not deciding to move – it’s knowing where to start. Years of accumulated possessions and memories can feel overwhelming, and I regularly meet people who simply put the whole idea off for another year.
One of the advantages of starting early is having time to tackle the process step-by-step. Through years of working with local sellers, I’ve built a network of trusted professionals covering decluttering, packing, repairs, gardening, staging and more. Sometimes all people need is a practical plan and the right support.
Early planning can also help answer bigger questions. Should you sell first or buy first? Who is the most likely buyer for your property? Are there maintenance items that should be addressed now rather than becoming an issue during negotiations?
As we move through winter, it can be a good time to start preparing for a spring or summer sale. Tackling jobs gradually is often less stressful than trying to do everything at once.
Having a plan doesn’t just improve the presentation of a home – it gives people confidence, reduces stress and helps avoid costly mistakes. If you’d like to talk through your options or connect with my network of trusted providers for pre-sale assessments and preparation, reach me at andrea@loweandco.nz.