What to Know Before Selling A Home in New Zealand

Denese Konowe

Welcome back to Kiwi Real Estate, Inside Out! I'm Denese Konowe, and as always, I'm here with my partner in… well, everything, Dr Lee Konowe. Lee, how're you hanging in there today?

Dr Lee Konowe

Hanging in, yeah! Survived another round of database gremlins this morning and, uh, remembered to put my socks on the right feet. So, that's a win, right?

Denese Konowe

Absolutely, that's progress! Now, look, the 2025 market—there's just this huge question in every homeowner's mind: “What am I walking into if I sell?” We’re seeing median price rises in some regions, flattening out in others. Wellington's stayed pretty steady, but let’s be honest, Auckland’s bounced again, and Hawke’s Bay—wow, that’s been a journey since the policy changes last October. Lee, you’ve poured over the CoreLogic numbers this month. What’s your take?

Dr Lee Konowe

Yeah, so, well, according to the latest figures, Auckland’s median sits just north of $1.1 million again, and Dunedin’s still one of the quickest markets, with, uh, some sales closing in under three weeks—that’s bananas. But lately, there’s been, uh, real fluctuation in buyer demand because we had those lending regulation tweaks—remember those LVR restrictions getting loosened back in March? That made a big dent, especially for first-time buyers. But, Denese, you had that case in Hawke’s Bay—

Denese Konowe

Yeah, talk about a close call. I heard about a Hawke’s Bay client, lovely couple, who almost mistimed their listing because they didn’t realize those new lending rules were about to kick in. Everyone sort of, I don’t know, panicked a bit and rushed onto the market before the new thresholds moved. Their neighbor across the street waited, got caught with a bunch more listings competing against theirs, and it really… I mean, it cost them a solid six weeks extra on market. So, if you’re thinking of selling this year, seriously, watch the lending news. It shifts the playing field, even in regional spots.

Dr Lee Konowe

And, remember, it’s not just price—it’s average days on market, too. If you don’t time it, you can go from three weeks to three months, depending on those outside economic levers. So, yeah, keep one eye on the RBNZ and one on your local agent—or else you might miss that sweet spot.

Denese Konowe

Let’s talk about the potholes, shall we? The big three: overpricing, skimping on disclosures, and—my personal bugbear—bad presentation. Lee, you love your stats. How often do you see sellers overpricing because they’re, what’s the word… a bit too attached?

Dr Lee Konowe

All the time, Denese. I mean, look, it’s natural. You raise kids there, paint the, uh, dining room walls yourself—next thing, you think it’s worth fifty grand extra. But the market, it doesn’t care about holiday memories; it cares about data. Getting a proper comparative market analysis, using the current, real numbers—price per square metre, recent solds—it just grounds those expectations. The danger is, you scare off the real buyers in week one, and, usually, you end up with less in your back pocket after that slow price drop dance.

Denese Konowe

Spot on. And then, skipping out on disclosures. That old “maybe the next owner won’t notice” bit? It’s just… ugh. Lee, you wanna talk about Auckland last year—

Dr Lee Konowe

Oh, man, yeah. There was this homeowner, skipped the pre-sale inspection trying to save a buck, right? Didn’t disclose an older roof leak because, well, ‘it’s fixed, it’s fine.’ But the buyers found it two weeks before settlement. Lawsuits, compensation—all avoidable for the sake of a $600 inspection. Ended up losing tens of thousands, plus the stress. And, you know, bad vibes—no agent wants to deal with that mess, either.

Denese Konowe

Exactly. And presentation? If your place still looks like it’s straight out of 1983, with laundry everywhere, the little things pile up. It sounds like basic advice, but...most agents still have that horror story about the property with a random pet rabbit hopping around in listing photos. True story—won’t name names!

Dr Lee Konowe

You love that story. Thing is, even little lapses in presentation add up to huge perception drops in buyer eyes, especially in a digital-first market, which…

Dr Lee Konowe

…brings us into the must-dos for getting your property ready. Staging, professional photography, and working with a licensed agent—it’s not just fluff, it’s what pushes you to the top of search results or at least higher up in buyer interest. Denese, you built e-Agent NZ Ltd basically on sharing this stuff with other agents, right?

Denese Konowe

I mean, yeah, when we started e-Agent, the big thing was, how do you give Kiwi agents the right toolkit? Regulations keep evolving, but some truths don’t change: you need up-to-date property marketing disclosures, vendor statements, and that practical guidance on prepping a property. The training we do now—way more focused on current compliance, especially with vendors’ statements; honestly, it’s saved so many deals from falling at the last hurdle.

Dr Lee Konowe

And it’s not just paperwork, it’s that you need a trained agent who, uh, understands the latest legalities. Think about it—ad campaigns that say it’s “sun drenched” when the place gets more rain than sunshine? Not a good look. It’s all tied to Advertising Standards, too. Agents can get caught out for even tiny mistakes.

Denese Konowe

Right. And prepping your place with clean, simple staging and killer photography isn’t about hiding flaws; it’s about showing potential and making sure you don’t get skipped online. Doing the basics properly actually means fewer headaches later. The training is about setting sellers up for that—because nobody wants the “why isn’t my house selling?” question if it’s something you could’ve fixed with, I dunno, a new welcome mat and legal description check.

Dr Lee Konowe

If every seller in 2025 just took a beat, did those three steps, and worked with a qualified agent? The settlements would be way less dramatic, and, uh, less likely to end up with Denese phoning me at 11 pm about some bizarre clause mix-up.

Denese Konowe

Alright, so, you’ve got offers coming in—now what? Negotiations can still, honestly, make or break the whole process. Understanding your market value is the first biggie, but the real trick is, can you stay a little flexible on things like settlement dates, inclusions, you know… those little extras buyers love?

Dr Lee Konowe

Yeah, and don’t get forced into a corner on price alone. Sometimes, the buyer who offers slightly less but can settle fast—with all the right paperwork sorted—might be your best bet, especially if you’re, uh, relocating or need certainty. Documentation matters—a single missed disclosure or uninitialed alteration could turn weeks of negotiation into a, uh, legal headache. I’ve sat through enough of those at two AM to last a lifetime.

Denese Konowe

Plus, when you build a bit of a team—your agent, solicitor, maybe a marketing specialist—you get insights you just can’t spot solo. The local nuances, the tiny contract terms you’d otherwise miss. We talked about this in the Māori etiquette and local network episodes—knowing the right people to ask, that can help the deal move ten times faster. No fancy trick—just experience and, honestly, a bit of humility to ask for help when you need it.

Dr Lee Konowe

And, sometimes, the difference between a smooth close and a drama-filled slog is just one keen-eyed conveyancer who double-checks that settlement instruction. Relationships count, especially in a year where one missed tick box can turn into settlement delays and grumpy lawyers.

Denese Konowe

Let’s not forget the shiny stuff—tech. A lot of sellers still underestimate what, you know, a proper virtual tour or a good 3D walkthrough does for your property visibility. Last year, it felt like every second buyer was a remote worker looking from Wellington or even overseas.

Dr Lee Konowe

Absolutely, and targeted online listings—those social media teasers and digital ad campaigns—they’re what gives you a shot at those busier, harder-to-reach buyers. I mean, no one’s scanning the newspaper classifieds anymore, right? Your phone buzzes, someone wants a home tour at midnight…

Denese Konowe

Don’t even remind me about the 3 am WhatsApp queries. But yeah, a good agent or seller has to know their way around online platforms—Trade Me, realestate.co.nz, the whole lot. And, don’t get me started on the advantages of managing offers with the latest software tools. I know, I sound old when I say “back in the day,” but honestly, deal-tracking tools, offer management apps, they make the logistics so much simpler for everyone involved.

Dr Lee Konowe

It’s all about making it easier to communicate, keep buyers informed, and pounce on an offer before someone else does. I think if we can take anything from the last couple of years—especially with clients demanding instant responses—it’s that good tech is the difference between chasing your tail and closing confidently.

Denese Konowe

Exactly. That’s a good place for us to wrap for today—whether you’re prepping for sale or just curious about the 2025 landscape, it pays to be a little proactive, a little techy, and, most of all, to lean on the right people for help.

Dr Lee Konowe

Couldn’t have said it better, Denese. Next time, we’ll probably dig even deeper into a few of these, right?

Denese Konowe

Absolutely. Thanks for joining us, Lee, and thanks to everyone listening. I’m Denese Konowe—

Dr Lee Konowe

And I’m Dr Lee Konowe, signing off for now.

Denese Konowe

Catch you next episode on Kiwi Real Estate, Inside Out. Ka kite!