A strong campaign brings the right buyers to your property and gives you useful information for the decisions ahead. At Ray White Addington, we can discuss your property, likely buyer audience, timing and preferred terms before recommending a marketing approach.
An agency agreement appoints the agent and sets out the services, term, commission and other agreed costs. An exclusive or sole agency is an appointment arrangement, rather than a sale method. A property can be offered at an asking price, by negotiation, auction, tender or deadline within the agreed appointment.
Before signing, check when commission becomes payable, marketing charges, cancellation terms and any continuing obligations to a previous agency. Your lawyer can help you understand the agreement. Read Settled’s agency agreement guidance.
An advertised price gives buyers a clear starting point. Price by negotiation invites offers without a fixed asking figure. Both allow discussion about price, conditions and settlement.
The price approach needs to be supported by comparable evidence. Overpricing can put buyers off, while a figure that is too low may not reflect the property’s position in the market. Review enquiry and viewing feedback with your salesperson rather than leaving an unsuccessful campaign unchanged.
Auction combines a defined campaign period with public bidding. You set a confidential reserve and buyers bid on the auction terms. This can suit buyers who are ready to commit, but some need a finance or other condition and may be unable to bid.
An auction sale is unconditional when the hammer falls. Agree the terms and any permitted variations beforehand. Discuss the pre-auction process, advertising costs and what happens if the property is passed in. Competition may help the result, but an auction does not guarantee a sale or a premium price.
Buyers submit written offers using tender documents by an advertised closing time. You can assess the price alongside conditions, deposit and settlement requirements, then accept, reject or negotiate an offer.
There is no blanket legal ban on accepting an early tender. The advertised process and tender terms need to be checked before considering an early offer. A conditional offer can give a buyer time for specified checks, but it also means the sale remains subject to those conditions being satisfied.
A deadline campaign invites offers by a stated date. Offers can differ in price, conditions and settlement. Check whether the advertised process allows a sale before the deadline and how interested buyers will be kept informed. The highest figure is not necessarily the offer that best meets your needs.
For more detail, read Settled’s methods of sale and offer and negotiation guidance. Have your lawyer review an agreement before you sign.
The sale method sets the process; marketing gives buyers reasons to investigate your property. A family home, a compact townhouse and a section each raise different questions. Start by identifying the home’s strongest supported features, likely buyer needs and information gaps, then agree how the campaign will address them.
Agree which photographs will explain the home best: its layout, living spaces, outdoor areas, parking and relationship to the site. A floor plan, when included, helps buyers judge how rooms connect and whether furniture or daily routines could work. Accurate descriptions of size, access, chattels and improvements help people decide whether to view. Any staging or edited image should represent the property clearly; ask how altered imagery will be identified.
Have the property information ready alongside the pictures. In Christchurch, buyers may ask for title and council records, consent and completion documents, earthquake repair information and insurance details. Your lawyer can help determine what should be supplied and how an unresolved issue is described. Clear information gives a serious buyer a more useful basis for their next step.
Compare the proposed channels and what each adds. Online property searches reach people actively looking; a well-prepared listing gives them a reason to enquire. A salesperson’s existing buyer conversations can identify people whose requirements may fit, while social, print, signage or other paid promotion may introduce the home to a wider audience where appropriate. Agree the actual channels and costs for your campaign instead of assuming every option is included.
Our team has different relevant backgrounds. Jodie Barclay’s marketing degree, Bre Poulter’s business and customer-service experience, and Ali Ahmadi’s structured team approach offer useful points of comparison when you discuss presentation and buyer follow-up. Read the complete team introduction and ask the salesperson you are considering to explain their recommendation for this particular home.
An effective campaign makes it straightforward to request information, attend an open home or arrange a private viewing. Agree access, pets, security and privacy arrangements before launch. For occupied or tenanted homes, discuss the practical requirements with the occupants and obtain the appropriate advice before setting times. Confirm how changed viewing times and new information will reach interested buyers.
Buyer follow-up should help explain what people liked, what is holding them back and what they still need to know. A large number of online views is different from a buyer who has inspected, reviewed the documents and is ready to discuss terms. Your salesperson should help you interpret those differences when considering the campaign response.
Ask for an itemised proposal identifying what is included, optional upgrades, GST, payment timing and charges that apply even if the property does not sell. Compare the whole service as well as the advertising spend. Confirm who approves changes or additional costs and when photography, advertising and viewings are expected to begin.
Agree when you will review enquiry, inspections, buyer feedback and any offers. If interest is limited, work through the possible causes: presentation, missing information, channel choice, competing homes or price expectations. A change should follow the evidence rather than simply repeat the same advertising. Useful reporting connects activity with a decision and a next action.
Our Property Technology guide explains the role of listings, Ray White network buyer tools, reporting and live auction viewing. Confirm which tools your salesperson will use, what access you receive and how the information will be explained. See also Settled’s independent property marketing guidance.
Discuss the features that deserve attention, the photography and property information needed, where advertising will appear, viewing arrangements and the agreed budget. Ask what is included, what costs extra and how you will receive feedback. A useful review looks at enquiry quality and buyer objections as well as activity totals.
Our preparation tips can help you get ready for photography and viewings. If an auction is agreed, ask about the property’s broadcast arrangements; our live-auction page provides the existing viewing route.
Arrange a property appraisal or contact Ray White Addington to discuss your options.