Selling Your Home in Wellington

We've sold 500+ Wellington homes across Karori, Khandallah, Ngaio, Newlands, Johnsonville, Paparangi, Grenada Village, Woodridge, Churton Park, Wilton, Wadestown, and Crofton Downs over 17 years. These are the questions that come up in almost every appraisal conversation.

Can I sell a house that's not ready?

Absolutely. Most homes we list aren't in perfect condition — and that's fine. We'll help you work out what's worth doing before going to market and what isn't. We can also connect you with Harcourts' List Now, Pay Later option if you want professional help upfront without the out-of-pocket cost.

What do I have to disclose to buyers?

Legally, you're required to disclose any known issues that could affect a buyer's decision — leaks, unconsented work, meth history, boundary disputes. We'll help you write it clearly and honestly, without oversharing in a way that raises more questions than necessary.

Steve's area: Disclosure documents, risk issues, and unconsented work are all handled by Steve. It's one of the reasons vendors tell us they felt looked after.

Is it worth spending money before I sell?

Yes — in the right places. Cleaning, decluttering, minor repairs, and garden tidy-ups consistently give the best return. Major renovations often don't pay off — buyers price in what they want to change anyway.

Ask us for a no-pressure prep plan specific to your property. We'll tell you what matters and what doesn't.

Should I price my property or go to tender?

In the current Wellington market, tender is almost always our recommendation. Tender creates competition between buyers without requiring them to bid unconditionally — which suits Wellington buyers, most of whom need finance and building report conditions.

A set price can cap what you achieve if buyer demand turns out to be stronger than expected. Tender lets the market tell you what your property is worth.

How do I choose between tender and deadline sale?

Both involve a closing date for offers. The difference: with a deadline sale, the vendor can accept an offer before the deadline if they choose to. With tender, all offers are held until the tender date.

We use tender for most listings. Deadline sale suits situations where a vendor wants the flexibility to act on a strong early offer.

What's the best time of year to sell in Wellington?

Spring (September–November) is traditionally the most active period — more buyers in the market, better presentation conditions, and more competition between buyers.

That said, the best time to sell is when your property is ready and you're ready. A well-prepared home in winter will outperform an unprepared home in spring every time.

Do I need to stage my home?

You don't have to — but you'll almost always get a better result if you do. Staging helps buyers see how a space works, makes rooms photograph better, and reduces the mental effort buyers have to make to picture themselves living there.

We can connect you with staging contacts who understand Wellington buyers and what works in our suburbs.

Can I sell if my tenants are still living there?

Yes, but it needs careful handling. Tenants have legal rights under the Residential Tenancies Act, including the right to quiet enjoyment. Open homes require proper notice, and photography needs to be arranged with their cooperation.

We've managed tenanted sales many times. It's workable — it just needs more coordination and lead time than a vacant property.

What if a builder's report finds issues?

It rarely kills a deal — but it can affect price or conditions. The key is knowing what's in your property before buyers do. We recommend vendors get their own building report before going to market so there are no surprises mid-negotiation.

Steve handles all offer negotiations and will walk you through any issues that come up. No surprises, no leaving you to figure it out alone.

How long does it take from listing to sold?

A standard Wellington campaign runs 2–3 weeks to the tender or deadline date. Settlement follows 4–6 weeks after that.

From the day you go live to the day you hand over the keys, you're typically looking at 6–9 weeks total for a well-prepared, well-priced property.

What are buyers in Wellington looking for right now?

In our northern and western suburbs, buyers consistently prioritise: a decent section with sun, garaging or off-street parking, a functional kitchen and bathroom (doesn't need to be new — just clean and working), and good access. School zones matter in family suburbs.

What they're less bothered about than vendors often expect: décor, carpet colour, and dated fittings they can replace themselves.

How do I handle multiple offers?

That's a good problem to have — and tender is specifically designed for it. All offers are submitted by the deadline, opened together, and you choose the one that suits you best. It doesn't have to be the highest price — settlement date, conditions, and deposit all factor in.

Steve will walk you through every offer and what each one means in practice. You make the call; we make sure you understand all of them first.

What should I fix before listing?

Focus on what buyers see in the first 30 seconds: the section, the exterior, and the entry. After that, clean and declutter beats renovate every time.

Fix anything obviously broken — dripping taps, cracked glass, broken fences. Don't rush major work. A rushed kitchen reno raises more questions than it answers.

Also useful: Seller FAQs | General Questions | Buyer FAQs

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