Important Information

This guide is intended to help you understand the key decisions involved in selling a residential property. Every property, market, and seller’s circumstances are different, so the information should be used as a general guide rather than a substitute for tailored professional advice.

Before signing an agency agreement, contract, or other selling-related document, you should carefully review the terms and seek independent advice from a solicitor, conveyancer, accountant, financial adviser, or other appropriately qualified professional where needed.

Market conditions, buyer demand, pricing expectations, legislation, selling costs, and campaign outcomes can change over time. Verida Property recommends confirming current requirements and costs before making decisions about preparing, marketing, or selling your property.

Verida Property’s guidance is shaped by four practical values: Radical Integrity, Universal Service, Extreme Ownership, and Shared Success. In a selling campaign, this means giving honest advice, making the process clear and supportive, taking responsibility for the details, and working with you toward an outcome that reflects your goals.

Selling Your Home

Quick Success Tips

Contemplating a move? Before you sign with an agency or launch your campaign, consider these vital elements to ensure you’re moving toward your goals with confidence:

01
Choose Your Real Sstate Agent Carefully

Don’t be swayed by volume alone. High sales numbers can indicate experience, but they do not always show who will personally manage your campaign or how your property will be prioritised. Ask about pricing strategy, senior involvement and how the agent will adapt if the initial plan does not deliver.

02
Get Realistic Pricing Advice

The most flattering appraisal is rarely the most accurate. At Verida Property, we believe in Radical Integrity, meaning we provide data-backed evidence and honest expectations from day one rather than inflated promises that can create unrealistic expectations.

03
Price Your Property Correctly From Day One

Your property’s biggest moment is its market debut. Overpricing can lead to "stale" listings and missed competition, which ironically often results in a final sale price far lower than if you had started with a realistic figure.

04
Consider Using A Clear Price Guide

Modern buyers are short on time and prefer transparency. A clear guide makes it as easy as possible for serious buyers to self-qualify, driving the engagement and enquiry levels needed to secure a premium result.

05
Prepare Your Property Before Launching

First impressions matter immensely. By decluttering, addressing minor repairs, and considering professional styling, you help buyers imagine their own future in the home, significantly increasing its perceived value.

06
Invest In Quality Marketing

We take Extreme Ownership of your marketing journey. Professional photography, compelling copy, and a strategic open-house schedule are non-negotiables for making your property stand out in a crowded market.

07
Understand The Costs Of Selling

Before committing, demand a transparent breakdown of every expense. This should include commissions, marketing investments, and any styling or advertising fees, so there are no surprises during your journey.

08
Have A Plan For Offers And Negotiations

The highest number isn’t always the best result. Consider how settlement dates, finance clauses, and other conditions align with your personal needs to find the truly strongest offer for your situation.

09
Expect Regular Communication

A great agent provides a tailored communication strategy. Whether you want daily updates or weekly summaries, you should always feel informed about buyer feedback and campaign performance every step of the way.

10
Choose An Agent Who Will Tell You The Truth

You deserve an advocate who prioritises your success over their ego. Seek a professional who will give you the straight facts, even when they are difficult to hear, to ensure you achieve the outcome you truly deserve.

Selling your home is a monumental life event. By focusing on honesty, service, and a clear plan, you can navigate the process with total confidence and achieve a result you can be proud of.

The quick tips above outline the big-picture priorities. The following section steps through the full selling process in more detail, so you can understand what usually happens, what decisions you may need to make and where the right advice can make the greatest difference.

Selling Process

How the Home Selling Process Works

Selling a home involves more than putting a property online and waiting for an offer. A successful sale usually involves several stages, from deciding whether now is the right time to sell through to settlement.

Begin With a Selling Strategy

Before you prepare the property or speak with buyers, be clear on why you are selling, what result you need, your preferred timeframe, and any financial or lifestyle considerations that may shape the campaign. A clear strategy gives every later decision a practical purpose.

Choose the Right Agent

Choose an agent who can explain their strategy clearly, support their advice with evidence, communicate consistently, and take responsibility for the campaign. The right agent should be a trusted adviser, not just a salesperson.

Understand the Numbers Before You Commit

A strong selling decision is based on realistic price guidance, comparable sales evidence, estimated selling costs, likely net proceeds, and the strategy most likely to attract qualified buyers. Honest numbers help you avoid inflated expectations and make confident decisions.

Prepare the Property Properly

Presentation affects buyer confidence. Focus first on decluttering, cleaning, minor repairs, gardens, lighting, and any simple improvements that make the home feel easier to inspect, understand, and imagine living in.

Launch With Strong Marketing

A well-planned launch gives the property its best chance to capture attention early. Professional photography, clear copy, online exposure, inspection lanning, and buyer follow-up should all work together to create momentum.

Manage Inspections and Buyer Feedback

The campaign should be reviewed in real time. Inspection numbers, enquiry levels, buyer comments, and repeat interest all help show whether the market is responding as expected or whether the strategy needs to be refined.

Review Offers With the Full Picture

The strongest offer is not always the highest number. Consider price, finance, settlement, deposit, conditions, timing, and certainty before deciding how to respond. A good negotiation protects both value and confidence.

Know When to Adjust, Hold Firm, or Negotiate

A campaign should not be left to run without review. If buyer enquiry, inspection attendance, or feedback is not aligning with expectations, your agent should help you decide whether to adjust the strategy, hold firm, or negotiate based on evidence.

Accepting an Offer and Moving to Settlement

Once you accept an offer, the sale moves through contract, conditions, legal requirements, and settlement. Your conveyancer or solicitor should guide the legal process, while your agent should keep communication clear until completion.

Agent Selection

How To Choose A Real Estate Agent

Choosing an agent is one of the most important decisions you will make when selling. Rather than choosing solely on reputation, sales volume or the highest appraisal, consider how the agent will actually manage your campaign.

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Questions to Ask a Real Estate Agent

Before signing an agreement, ask:

  • How did you arrive at your recommended price?
  • What comparable properties support your valuation?
  • What is your strategy for attracting the right buyers?
  • Who will personally manage my campaign?
  • How often will you communicate with me?
  • What information will you provide after inspections?
  • What happens if the property does not receive the expected level of enquiry?
  • What marketing is recommended and what will it cost?
  • What are your fees and are there any additional costs?
  • How will you handle offers and negotiations?
  • What happens once I accept an offer?

The best agent is not necessarily the agent who promises the highest price. Look for someone who can explain their strategy clearly, supports their advice with evidence and is willing to tell you when something needs to change.

Property Value

How Real Estate Agents Determine A Property’s Value

Property value is influenced by a combination of factors, including recent comparable sales, location, property type, land size, condition, presentation, features, buyer demand and current market conditions.

An appraisal is an agent’s opinion of the likely market value of the property based on the information available to them. It is important to distinguish between a realistic pricing recommendation and an optimistic figure used to secure a listing.

At Verida Property, our approach is to provide honest pricing advice and explain the reasoning behind our recommendation. We believe realistic expectations from the beginning create a stronger foundation for the campaign. This builds on our existing commitment to Radical Integrity and our belief that pricing correctly from day one is vital.

Home Preparation

How to Prepare Your Home for Sale

The goal of preparation is not necessarily to make your home perfect. It is to present it in a way that allows buyers to see its strengths and imagine themselves living there.

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Start With the Basics
  • Declutter rooms, cupboards, garages and outdoor areas.
  • Remove excess furniture where possible to make rooms feel larger.
  • Depersonalise the home without removing all personality.
  • Complete obvious maintenance issues.
  • Deep clean the property, including kitchens, bathrooms and windows.
  • Improve gardens, lawns and outdoor areas.
  • Replace or repair damaged or tired-looking fixtures where worthwhile.
Should You Renovate Before Selling?

Not every renovation will add enough value to justify its cost. Before undertaking major work, discuss the likely benefit with your agent and consider whether the improvement will genuinely change how buyers perceive the property.

Often, relatively simple improvements can have a meaningful impact on presentation without the cost and risk of a major renovation.

Marketing Your Property

Your marketing campaign should make it easy for potential buyers to understand what your property offers and why they should inspect it.

Professional photography, accurate property descriptions and strong online presentation are particularly important because many buyers form their first impression before ever visiting the property.

Your agent should be able to explain where the property will be advertised, how buyer enquiry will be managed, how inspections will be conducted and how the campaign will be monitored.

Open Homes and Private Inspections

Inspections give buyers the opportunity to experience the property beyond the online listing. Presentation should therefore remain consistent throughout the campaign.

Before inspections, make sure the property is clean, tidy, well-presented and comfortable. Your agent should provide feedback after inspections so you can understand how buyers are responding.

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Offer Negotiation

Understanding Offers and Negotiations

Receiving an offer is an important milestone, but the highest dollar figure does not automatically mean it is the strongest offer.

Consider:

  • The purchase price
  • Finance conditions
  • Building and pest conditions where applicable
  • Settlement timeframe
  • Deposit amount
  • Whether the buyer has a property to sell
  • The likelihood of the buyer being able to proceed
  • Any other special conditions attached to the offer

Your agent should explain the strengths and risks of each offer and help you understand the options available to you before you make a decision.

Selling Costs

Understanding the Costs of Selling a Property

The total cost of selling will vary depending on your property, agent, marketing strategy and circumstances. Before signing an agency agreement, ask for a written breakdown of expected costs, including which expenses are payable upfront, which are payable at settlement and which are optional.

Potential costs may include:

  • Agent commission or fees.
  • Advertising and marketing.
  • Professional photography.
  • Styling or furniture hire.
  • Floor plans or other marketing materials.
  • Conveyancing or legal fees.
  • Repairs or preparation work.
  • Cleaning and gardening.
  • Moving costs.
  • Any other property-specific expenses.

Ask your agent to clearly explain which costs are included in their proposal and which costs are additional.

What Happens After You Accept an Offer?

Property laws, disclosure requirements and contract processes can vary by state and territory. Use this guide as general information and confirm the requirements that apply in your local market before making decisions.

Accepting an offer is not necessarily the end of the selling process. The contract may still be subject to conditions, and the transaction needs to progress through the relevant contractual and legal stages before settlement.

Your conveyancer or solicitor should advise you on the legal requirements and your agent should continue to coordinate communication between the parties throughout the transaction.

Once settlement is completed, the buyer takes possession according to the terms of the contract and the sale proceeds are dealt with through the settlement process.

Seller’s Checklist

Before Selling
  • Clarify your goals, timing, and preferred outcome.
  • Speak with more than one agent before committing.
  • Ask for evidence-based pricing guidance.
  • Understand agency fees, marketing costs, and likely selling expenses.
  • Seek independent advice before signing key documents.
Before Launching
  • Declutter and depersonalise the property.
  • Complete worthwhile repairs and maintenance.
  • Prepare gardens, outdoor areas, and presentation details.
  • Confirm photography, copy, advertising, signage, and inspection plans.
  • Review the listing before it goes live.
During the campaign
  • Monitor enquiry, inspections, and buyer feedback.
  • Review campaign performance with your agent.
  • Consider whether price, presentation, or marketing needs adjustment.
  • Assess offers by price, conditions, certainty, and timing.
  • Keep communication clear and documented.
Before Settlement
  • Work with your conveyancer or solicitor on contract requirements.
  • Complete any agreed conditions or documentation.
  • Keep the property in the agreed condition.
  • Prepare for settlement, handover, and moving arrangements.
  • Confirm final communication between all parties.
About Selling a Home

Frequently Asked Questions

  • There is no single best time for every property. The right timing depends on your goals,

  • Your home’s likely market value should be guided by comparable sales, current buyer demand, property condition, location, and the strategy most likely to attract qualified buyers.

  • Not necessarily. A high appraisal is only useful if it is realistic and supported by evidence. Inflated pricing can weaken buyer confidence and slow the campaign.

  • A price guide can help buyers understand whether the property suits their budget. The best approach depends on the property, market conditions, and the selling strategy.

  • Time on market varies by location, presentation, price, buyer demand, and market conditions. Your agent should give you realistic expectations based on current evidence.

  • Not always. Minor improvements, repairs, cleaning, and presentation changes often deliver a better return than major renovation work before sale.

  • Selling costs may include agent fees, marketing, photography, styling, conveyancing, repairs, cleaning, gardening, and moving expenses. Ask for a full cost estimate early.

  • Look for evidence-based pricing advice, a clear marketing strategy, strong communication, personal accountability, transparent fees and an agent who is prepared to give you honest advice—even when it is difficult to hear.

  • Speak with your agent about the campaign data and buyer feedback. Low enquiry may indicate an issue with price, presentation, marketing or market conditions. A good agent should be able to identify the likely issue and recommend a strategy rather than simply allowing the property to sit on the market.

  • The sale progresses through the contractual process, including any conditions that need to be satisfied before settlement. Your conveyancer or solicitor will guide you through the legal requirements, while your agent continues to coordinate the transaction.

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Our Difference

Why Verida Property?

Verida Property’s values are designed to show up in practical ways throughout your campaign: honest advice, clear communication, accountable management, and a shared focus on the outcome that matters most to you.

Our Promise to You:

  • We will tell the truth, even when it is hard to hear.
  • We will make the process clear and supportive because service should feel practical, personal, and easy to understand.
  • We will take responsibility for the campaign, from preparation and marketing through feedback, strategy, and follow-up.
  • We will work with you toward a result we can all stand behind, so success is shared and clearly defined.
Contact Us

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Whether you're just starting to think about selling, or you’re ready to go, we’re here to help. Book a no-obligation property consultation and discover the Verida difference for yourself.

Call us to book a free appraisal

Rachel Tosh 0468 132 933

Let Verida Property help you sell with confidence through honest advice, thoughtful service, full accountability, and a shared commitment to your success.

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