Selwyn Times: February 01, 2023

2
30
[Edition datE]
Checklist for selling your home
MAKE SMALL FIXES
Inspect your home with a buyer’s
eyes, and correct the flaws that are
most egregious (if affordable) or
can be relatively easily fixed—from
repairing cracks in the walkways
to repainting dingy walls or oiling
creaky hinges.
SET A PRICE
A real estate agent will give you a
market analysis free of charge or
commitment. Ask a few to get a
broader picture of the market, then
ask to see listings for properties
similar to yours that have sold
in the past six months. Check
out comparable listings yourself
Accelerating success.
in the real estate section of your
newspaper or on websites. Then
decide whether you want a quick,
easy sale or the highest possible
price.
CLEAN & DECLUTTER
Weed out excess furniture,
knicknacks, and “stuff ”—toss it,
donate it, give it away, sell it at a
yard sale, or put it into storage—so
the house seems more spacious and
buyers can imagine themselves in it.
STAY VIGILIANT ABOUT
MAINTENANCE
From the moment you start
showing your house, keep the lawn
mowed, shrubs trimmed, gardens
weeded, rooms spotless and
clutter-free.
READY YOUR HOME FOR
OPEN DAYS
Hide pocketable valuables,
display fresh flowers or bowls
of fruit, bake a batch of cookies
for the homey smell, open the
drapes, keep pets out of sight.
DECIDE WHETHER
TO DO YOUR OWN
BUILDING INSPECTION
It may save you time,
especially with older homes,
to identify—and potentially
solve—problems your buyer’s
inspection will discover [Edition later. datE]
2
Four things you MUST
do before buying a home
Buying a home is a big deal. It’s likely to be the most expensive thing you buy,
and it can be a complicated legal process. It might be tempting to take a few
shortcuts, but failing to do things properly could cause more problems later.
Here are our top four tasks for home
buyers.
1. Research the property
The real estate agent selling the
property acts on behalf of the seller,
however they are also required to
tell you everything they know about
the property. They must respond
professionally to all your enquiries and
not withhold any details. Remember
that you still need to do your own
due diligence. That means getting a
title search so you can find out all the
facts about the property’s ownership,
boundary and access, as held by Land
Information New Zealand (LINZ). It’s
a good idea to get a Land Information
Memorandum (LIM), which shows
information held by the local council
about the property and land. For
valuable feedback on the property’s
condition, get a report done by
an inspector who has professional
indemnity insurance and carries out
their work in accordance with the New
Zealand Property Inspection Standard.
Although this all costs money, it will
save you more in the long term. Sellers
may occasionally provide some of this
information for you. If this happens,
check that it is up-to-date.
2. Get legal advice
Buying property is expensive, and it
can cost even more if something goes
wrong. That’s why it’s important to get
legal advice before you sign anything.
A lawyer will handle all the paperwork
LOOKING FOR DESIGN INSPIRATION?
Visit one of our stunning showhomes to gather ideas for your dream home
involved in the process, including the
title search, and offer impartial advice.
If you don’t have a lawyer, the New
Zealand Law Society can help you find
one at propertylawyers.org.nz.
3. Understand the sale process
There are several methods of buying
and selling property, for example,
tender or auction. It’s important to
understand the process for the property
you are buying. Practices can vary
between agencies so make sure you
confirm details with them. The Home
Buyer’s Guide at buyingahome.reaa.
govt.nz has more helpful advice.
4. Read the sale and purchase
agreement and understand what it
means
The sale and purchase agreement
is your contract with the seller. It is
crucial to read it very carefully and get
legal advice before you sign. You can
negotiate the terms and conditions of
an agreement, but once you sign it,
there’s no going back.
Faringdon, 47 Lanner Drive, Rolleston
Faringdon, 49 Lanner Drive, Rolleston
SHOWHOMES
Both showhomes
Open Wed-Sun 12pm-4pm
SHOWrOOM / OfficE
31 Watts Road, Sockburn
Open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm
0800 844 488
signature.co.nz