Selling a home is rarely just about putting up a "FOR SALE" board and waiting for offers. Knowing what actually happens, and roughly how long each step takes, makes the whole process a lot less stressful. Here's the honest rundown.
Start with a realistic valuation, not a hopeful one
A Comparative Market Assessment (CMA) looks at actual recent sales in your suburb, not the portal asking prices, which are often inflated, to give you a realistic sense of what your home will sell for. Overpricing is the single biggest reason homes sit on the market for months; buyers and their agents know the local price bands, and an overpriced listing just gets ignored.
Presentation matters more than people think
Buyers decide how they feel about a home in the first few minutes. Fix the small, obvious things, be it a dripping tap, a scuffed wall, or cluttered surfaces, before photos are taken. Good photography and a floor plan aren't optional extras in a market where most buyers start their search online. At Bass Property Group we give you a guide on how to stage your house, when you decide that it's time to list your property.
Marketing beyond a portal listing
Your home will be marketed across the major property portals, including Bass Properties' own database of active buyers, and social channels such as Facebook, Instagram and Whatsapp. A show day, where relevant, brings in buyers who might not have clicked on the listing online but will walk through an open door.
Once you've accepted an offer
The offer to purchase becomes a binding agreement once signed by both parties, usually subject to conditions like bond approval, by a set date. From there, a conveyancing attorney (majority of the time appointed by you as the seller) handles the legal transfer, while the buyer's bond attorney registers their new mortgage. Expect roughly 6-10 weeks from signature to registration, depending on how quickly the buyer's bond is approved and documents are submitted.
What you'll actually walk away with
Remember to factor in your outstanding bond settlement, agent's commission, rates clearance costs, and any compliance certificate costs when working out your net proceeds. The sale price and what lands in your account are not the same number.
Ready to get a realistic number?
If you're weighing up whether now's the right time to sell, the best starting point is a proper valuation or CMA, based on what's actually selling in your suburb right now.
Get a free Comparative Market Assessment or speak to a Bass Property Group agent today.
