Thank you for using Neighbourly
What to do when selling your home feels like too much work:
Many of us dream of moving to another home one day. But often, when we start thinking of thepractical implications ofgettingreadytomove, theobstacles start mounting and the dream ofa move becomes simply that - a dream.When you own a home,… View moreWhat to do when selling your home feels like too much work:
Many of us dream of moving to another home one day. But often, when we start thinking of thepractical implications ofgettingreadytomove, theobstacles start mounting and the dream ofa move becomes simply that - a dream.When you own a home, it's an emotional safe-haven and also an investment. Often the mostvaluable asset we own. So if we think of selling that asset, it stands to reason that we hope topresent it at its best and maximise its value.Our emotional side wants our home to look great before we open it to the public, and we knowthat improving presentation should add value and bring us the best possible price. Butpresenting a home at its best is no small feat and there can be a plethora of jobs involved:
●Painting exteriors, fences, interiors, doorways, window sills, whatever needs fresheningup.
●Tidying up our section, cutting back trees, removing weeds, creating a positive 'firstimpression'.
●Waterblasting paths, decks, cladding, gutters.
●Repairing overdue maintenance jobs that we have simply lived with up until deciding tosell.
●Sorting any outstanding building consents and chasing up paperwork.
●Decluttering, hiring storage units, clearing out the garage.
And that's just the standard prep. Many owners also need to decide whether to renovate areaslike kitchens and bathrooms pre-sale. Most of us simply don't have the time (or contacts) toproject manage all these tasks.
It's no wonder that once we build a mental to-do list of pre-sale activities, the idea of sellingbecomes way too stressful and we choose not to take action.
Butisthistherightapproach?
Should we allow this list of challenges to stop us from a move that might improve our quality oflife? Do we really need to present our home perfectly when going on the market?
The answer is simply, no. While any prep work you can undertake will likely help your saleprocess, if that list of outstanding jobs stops you from actually selling, then it doesn't matteranyway.
Sohereistherecommendation:
Decide first whether you need to move. If moving would improve your life then commit to makingit happen in a certain time frame (3/6/12 months). Then decide on what prep-work you can
reasonably undertake in the time you have available. Let go of anything that is impractical to tickoff the list.
Whatdoesthislooklikeinpractice?
You might commit to hiring a house-washer, a landscaper, and a handyman to tidy up a fewmaintenance jobs, but that a full-scale renovation is not possible, even though your home mightneed it.
Buyers appreciate well-presented homes, but they also like being able to add value themselves.They are looking at far more than superficial details. The key features of any home are thethings you can't easily change, like sun-aspect, location, access, space. It's those key featuresthat buyers are searching and paying for. Everything else is just a nice-to-have
It can be hard to take the leap to sell when your home is imperfect. Its shortcomings stick out tous because we are familiar with them. In our professional experience, owners place too muchemphasis on the parts of their home they don't like, and not enough on the redeeming factorswhich the next owner will fall in love with.
It's our job to emphasize the attractive aspects of your home when it comes time to sell. That'swhat we do best. It's also our job to help you decide which pre-sale activities will add the mostvalue, and which ones are simply nice-to-haves, but not essential.
Let us leave you with one last thought:
Don't let perfection get in the way of progress.
Your new home is out there waiting. Are you ready to go looking?
Tuesday 9 Aug 22 at Dance Yourself Happy we'll dance to the mix we would have danced to on 19 Aug 21, had it not been for the lockdown 🤩 Here's a little visual teaser, come and enjoy dancing it with us!
See you at our fab 2022 venue, The Lounge, at 186 Wellington St, Howick, … View moreTuesday 9 Aug 22 at Dance Yourself Happy we'll dance to the mix we would have danced to on 19 Aug 21, had it not been for the lockdown 🤩 Here's a little visual teaser, come and enjoy dancing it with us!
See you at our fab 2022 venue, The Lounge, at 186 Wellington St, Howick, Auckland. Session is 7–8pm and music starts 7pm sharp.
Please note: this event is alcohol-free, The Lounge bar and kitchen will be closed.
Thank you to Howick Local board for funding Dance Yourself Happy in 2022, and thank you to MECOSS and all you lovely people for continued support 💚
Dear neighbours,
Every month, NZ Gardener runs a series of tested reader recipes using a seasonal crop. We are now on the hunt for asparagus recipes, so send your best ones to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz before August 21, 2022.
Every published recipe wins a copy of our special edition Vegetable … View moreDear neighbours,
Every month, NZ Gardener runs a series of tested reader recipes using a seasonal crop. We are now on the hunt for asparagus recipes, so send your best ones to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz before August 21, 2022.
Every published recipe wins a copy of our special edition Vegetable Growing Made Easy.
Maths Week is a week-long celebration of all things maths! ?
It is a premier mathematics event in the New Zealand school calendar, and sets out to encourage children to pursue maths by promoting a more positive and inclusive approach.
Visit the Maths Week website to learn more! … View moreMaths Week is a week-long celebration of all things maths! ?
It is a premier mathematics event in the New Zealand school calendar, and sets out to encourage children to pursue maths by promoting a more positive and inclusive approach.
Visit the Maths Week website to learn more! www.mathsweek.co.nz...
Making it onto the first rung of the property ladder can be an incredibly rewarding journey – and Stuff is here to help you through.
Stuff Homed has launched the First Time Buyers’ Club, an email series to help you navigate the equal-parts exciting and terrifying process of buying your first… View moreMaking it onto the first rung of the property ladder can be an incredibly rewarding journey – and Stuff is here to help you through.
Stuff Homed has launched the First Time Buyers’ Club, an email series to help you navigate the equal-parts exciting and terrifying process of buying your first ever home. When you join our six-week LearnStuff course, you’ll get an email every week giving you all the basics on what you need to know, who you need on your side, and what you need to do at each stage of the journey.
We can’t make the houses any cheaper, but we can guide you through the process, share some tips from the experts, and help you avoid some of the trips and traps.
Sign up (it's free) and get started on your house-buying journey.
Update: Car found and an arrest made 💛 thanks to everyone for your comments and shares!!!😊💛
Car stolen from outside our home on Friday 5th Aug evening/early morning, from The Link, Howick. If you have seen anything or have anything information that might help us locate the car, please … View moreUpdate: Car found and an arrest made 💛 thanks to everyone for your comments and shares!!!😊💛
Car stolen from outside our home on Friday 5th Aug evening/early morning, from The Link, Howick. If you have seen anything or have anything information that might help us locate the car, please contact 021728033
Why does this Neighbourly site , have properties placed over a year ago . Even 6mth, its unlikely to be available. Guessing Property Companies must pay a good fee to advertise !!!!
The Pukekohe Masterplan highlights Pukekohe’s heritage, improves its character buildings and emphasises local produce. It also proposes a new dining district together with more places to work or live right in the heart of the town centre. These changes will help Pukekohe remain competitive as the… View moreThe Pukekohe Masterplan highlights Pukekohe’s heritage, improves its character buildings and emphasises local produce. It also proposes a new dining district together with more places to work or live right in the heart of the town centre. These changes will help Pukekohe remain competitive as the region grows.
Please come and meet some of our beautiful puppies who are ready for adoption!
Call us today! If you’re looking for a friendly family run business with over 35 years renovation experience then choose us.
We are based in East Auckland and have a team of good qualified people – Jade (the builder), Kelvin (the plumber), Chevi (the electrician) and Russell (the tiler) to … View moreCall us today! If you’re looking for a friendly family run business with over 35 years renovation experience then choose us.
We are based in East Auckland and have a team of good qualified people – Jade (the builder), Kelvin (the plumber), Chevi (the electrician) and Russell (the tiler) to do every job right.
Our team follows industry guidelines on coronavirus safety procedures to keep your family protected.
Book online using the link below or call Lucy on 021 022 55 388 for a chat about your amazing renovation plans.
Be safe!
It’s easy to age a brand new terracotta pot using Karen Walker Chalk Colour and Vintage Wax from Resene.
Find out how to create your own.
Five reasons not to sell your home privately
It is completely understandable to be tempted by the idea of selling your home yourself, without the help of a real estate agent. Real estate agency fees are a sizeable amount of money no matter what the value of your property might be. And at the start… View moreFive reasons not to sell your home privately
It is completely understandable to be tempted by the idea of selling your home yourself, without the help of a real estate agent. Real estate agency fees are a sizeable amount of money no matter what the value of your property might be. And at the start of the process, the only number you have that you can focus on is the selling fee or commission, since you have no idea what your home is going to sell for,yet. When it comes to private sales, there are traps to watch out for though. Let's go through them:
1. You have to deal with master negotiators. There is a reason why experienced property investors target homeowners selling their homes privately: They are expecting to secure a bargain. When you sell your home privately, it's the real estate equivalent of playing tennis against a professional athlete, with hundreds of thousands of dollars at stake. Are your negotiating skills up to the task?
2. You don't know what you might be missing out on. In most real estate markets, it's easy to sell your home privately. What is challenging is coordinating competition. Let's say you have five people trying to buy your home at the same time, are you going to run an Auction? A deadline sale? Or will you just take the first offer atyour asking price?In real estate, competition between buyers is thekey to achieving a premium sale price. A goodreal estate agent has proven systems to manage interestfrom multiple buyers to ensure youwalk away with the best possible result.
3. Market research takes time. A lot of time.Before you can understand what your home is worth,you need to learn about your local market.That means going to countless open homes and chasingup agents to find out what thosehouses sold for. Then you can compare them to yourhome to come up with an estimated valuerange. This is the process used by valuers and agentsall over the world, who usually visitdozens of houses every week.Skip this step and you might end up selling your homefor far less than what it is actually worth.Alternatively, you could end up overpricing your homeand struggle to find a buyer in areasonable period of time.
4. You miss out on key marketing channels.Some of the busiest real estate websites only allowproperties to be listed by licensed realestate agents. When you sell your home privately youcould be missing out on a large portion ofthe market. Including buyers who might be perfectfor your home, but have no idea it's for sale.
5. Buyers make decisions based on trust and relationships.Imagine you have just made an offer on a home withan agent (or owner) you have never met.Shortly after, they tell you another offer has comein and you are now in competition...Do you believe them? If you are like most buyers,then you would be understandably sceptical."Is this just a ploy to get me to pay more?"Now imagine that you have dealt with a busy localagent on 3 or 4 houses and missed out in acompetitive situation each time. That same agent nowtells you that you are in competition withat least 4 other buyers.Chances are you will increase your offer in this scenario(if you can) because you trust that theagent is telling you the truth, based on your recentprevious experience.This level of belief or trust is a hugely underratedaspect of the real estate process. It helpsbuyers avoid wasting their time and helps owners achievea market price for their property.As experienced local agents, we have relationshipslike this with dozens of motivated buyers inyour area who are looking right now. And we wouldlove to introduce them to your propertywhen you are ready to move.Call us today to book a free consultation to talkabout your real estate goals
Great work. Champion Sommelier Andrea Martinisi and outstanding cuisine for the Awards Dinner prepared by diploma chefs of New Zealand School of Food and Wine with inspiration from Chef Finn and guidance from Chef Stefan.
Read the full story here on our latest newsletter.
© Neighbourly 2025
Loading…