Selling your rural or lifestyle property in New Zealand

There are many reasons why people decide to sell their rural or lifestyle property. If you’ve decided that spring is the time for you to go to market, there’s a few things you should know (and do) before putting up the ‘for sale’ sign.

Because while you want it to be sold as soon as possible, and for the right price, it also needs to be done in a way that works for you and your situation. Whether you have a family to consider, or a new opportunity you’re ready to move on with - your individual circumstances can really influence the selling process. For example, you may need a short, sharp campaign that is high impact, or one that takes the time required to achieve a suitable price. You might want a long settlement period, or be willing to negotiate if a buyer can move quickly.

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But whatever the motive, winter is a great time to get prepared for the selling process. So here’s some practical tips and advice to ensure a successful sale of your rural or lifestyle property in New Zealand:

Do your due diligence
From your accounts, to record of title, land use and purpose, water consents and compliance records, it’s vital to check all your paperwork is in tip-top shape presale. It would be such a shame to get all the way to the offer stage, only to be held-up unnecessarily when the buyer carries out their own due diligence on aspects that you could have already had documentation available for consideration pre-offer.

Understand your buyers
While you may think this is something for the real estate agent to worry about, it’s also helpful if you have a solid insight into your property’s features and benefits to help identify the ‘target market’ - that means, the person or people most likely to want to buy it. This is something you will have insight on from your history with your property.

By getting clear on this, you’ll be in a better position to understand what they are looking for, and how you can make sure your property ticks all of their boxes. Don’t forget to ask your agent what their marketing plan is too, so you can know what kind of coverage you’ll be getting for your listing, and the timeframe for exposure.

Spend time on repairs and upgrades
Once you know the type of buyer you’re wanting to appeal to, then you can get underway with any repairs and refurbishments required for your home and land.
If you want a young family to know that your property is well-suited to them, show them where their children can play safely and how the home is warm, comfortable and ready for them to move straight into.

If you think it might be empty-nesters who are semi-retired and want a bit of land to tend to, have the basics all ready-to-go so they can get stuck in making it their own.

Perhaps it provides a business opportunity for a buyer, and if so, they’ll want to know that they don’t have to invest more money before they see a return. Provide them with peace of mind for their purchase by having all of those elements in order.

Highlight your property’s uniqueness
Your property will have specific selling points which are unique to other rural or lifestyle listings, and it’s key to make sure these are glaringly obvious to any potential buyers. That might be cutting back overgrown gardens to showcase the view over the valley, or tidying up around the natural water resources so they can be easily accessed and utilised.

Whatever it is that makes your property different from those around you, let it be clear and evident to those viewing it, so they don’t have to go looking for it.

Play your part in the selling process
Your agent will be doing what they need to do to get your property in front of the right people, but once they bring them to the home and land, it’s up to you to present for selling.

This means for viewings and open homes, the entrance to the property and the home must always be fresh, tidy and welcoming - lawns mown, clutter put away and a doormat that is clean and straight. Every detail matters when someone is looking to part with a significant amount of money.

Choose the right real estate agent
A good real estate agent will be able to guide you through the selling process and will also remove the niggly aspects of moving on - such as creating a marketing campaign, bringing in buyers, and negotiating price and conditions of sale.

But for this to happen, you need to find the right salesperson in the first place. So take your time in choosing the right one for you. Never feel pressured into signing an agreement until you’re confident in their abilities and make sure you feel comfortable discussing the ‘hard’ stuff with them.

Bonus: We’ve created a quick checklist to make it easier for you to work through what you need to do to get your rural or lifestyle property ready for sale.

Download ‘Preparing to sell your rural or lifestyle property checklist’.

Here at PGG Wrightson Real Estate, we have a nationwide network of agents who can help to get the right buyers in front of your property. Because if you have goals for your next move, we’ll be there every step of the way - reach out to your local property expert today to talk through your options.