HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO SELL A HOUSE?
In February 2025, the national average number of days to sell a house was 54 which is three additional days year on year.
(Scroll for proven advice about selling a property faster than average.)
Wellington had the biggest reduction of days on market by 14 when compared to January 2025 and Taranaki followed with nine fewer days on market compared to January 2025.
Days on market for properties listed by vetted real estate agents in today's market is usually only 29-31 days on average.
The most reliable way to achieve a faster than average sale at a price you expect is to use a vetted, licensed real estate agent proven to be competent in all the areas you will need, for example:
A real estate appraiser is required to:
- Provide an accurate property value range using appropriate comparisons in your location.
- Know how to leverage digital technologies to help create buyer competition and expedite an optimum result.
- Know which method of sale will achieve the optimal price in a faster than average timeframe at that point in time.
- Have the knowledge and experience to manage legal contracts you will be asked to sign such as Marketing Plans, an Agency Agreement (including a commission estimate) and subsequently a Sale and Purchase Agreement. (Omissions and errors in these are often the root cause of why sellers change agencies - find out more about changing agencies.)
- Provide you with advice that you can rely on as your decisions will be dependent on that advice.
Get informed about commission fees.
How long after the sale does it take to get paid?
Vendors do not receive final payment from the property sale until settlement day. Buyer deposits are generally held in real estate agency or solicitors' trust accounts.
The settlement date is agreed between buyers and sellers (with legal advice) at the time of signing the sale and purchase agreement.
When are commission fees paid to the agency?
- Real estate agencies receive a deposit from buyers when a sale and purchase agreement is signed. This can be negotiated.
- Real estate commission can be paid to real estate company or lawyer trust accounts from the deposit when a property sale goes unconditional.
How to sell a house faster than average
The following recommendations are well proven, simple ways to influence how long it will take to sell your house.
1. USE A PROVEN COMPETENT VETTED REAL ESTATE AGENT
If you want the best achievable sale price, be more diligent about selecting a real estate agent rather than choosing the agent who sold you the property, a friend of a friend or the agency with the most listings. These are not the wisest reasons for choosing who will sell your biggest financial asset.
If you expect a real estate agent with the competencies essential for selling properties in todays market, use a vetted licensed real estate agent. This will not only give you the best chance at selling for an optimum price and faster than average, but provide assurance that your agent has the integrity, communication skills and ability to close a sale with interested buyers.
We have a proven 15+ year track record for vetting real estate agents to get property sellers the best possible sales result. Our vetting criteria independently and objectively establishes credibility and competence across a range of areas.
Comparing 2-3 real estate agents is a good place to start
Request your real estate agent shortlist. It is wise to interview two or three to compare:
- their appraisal values (see advice about scrutinising real estate appraisals below.)
- method of sale recommendations such as tender, by negotiation, priced, auction or buyer enquiry over (BEO).
- marketing strategies to reach maximum interest from buyers regionally, nationally and globally
- the cost of advertising and real estate agency commission and fees.
- which real estate agency and agent is the best 'fit' for you and your property type/location/price range.
- their agency contracts (don't assume anything - read the fine print)
We can provide you with questions to ask real estate agents to help you make a fully informed decision. Get in touch.
Premium sale prices don't just happen - these will only be achieved with effective management by an astute agent and their real estate agency's standards of practice.
Our clients' properties have mostly sold in half the average time for the areas in which they are located and have done since our inception in 2009.
2. METHOD OF SALE INFLUENCES SETTLEMENT DAY
Method of sale has proven to be an important decision whether you're selling a residential home, a lifestyle block or a farm.
Methods of sale can achieve both a faster property sale and expedite the settlement date.
Methods of sale managed effectively by your real estate agent can achieve two things:
- They should ramp up a higher volume of interested buyers
- Agents should then manage the competition between buyers to achieve the optimum price - the agent is working for you.
Essentially this is what various methods of sale are designed to do. Take your time to understand them thoroughly, and ask the agent to explain why they have chosen the method they have. The method can vary depending on market conditions, property and location.
When real estate agents are under pressure to conduct your property sale within a tight timeframe, you need to be sure you have listed with the best real estate agent available. (No 4 below explains how you can avoid a preventable scenario that can cause long drawn-out sales and settlements.)
If you would like help to prepare to sell your property - call us on 0800 789 532. This is a genuine free service NZ-wide.
3. HOW HOME STAGING CAN INCREASE THE SALE PRICE
If you are selling a property that has been home staged or re-styled using your existing furnishings, your real estate agent will be more likely to attract multiple offers and sell within 3-4 weeks. Often sooner.
This has been well proven and real estate agents have consistently reported that home staging a house can add 10-15% onto an expected sale price.
4. THE REAL ESTATE APPRAISAL DILEMMA
We are hearing more often of real estate agents over-estimating property values in their Comparative Market Appraisals (CMA) to entice you to list with them.
This behaviour is often a subject of justifiable complaint to the Real Estate Authority. It should not be tolerated and the practice can result in repeated price reductions and pressure on vendors - a stress to avoid.
Many New Zealanders have approached us about changing their existing real estate agents to one who has been vetted. Find out about changing real estate agents if you are already listed.
It doesn't have to be this way and is a scenario Agent Finder NZ helps vendors avoid as evidenced in our many reviews.
Get in touch for a shortlist of vetted real estate agents first - we're here to help and it's a free service.
Agent Finder NZ Service Awards:
- Awarded Property Advisor of the Year 2023 - Property Institute of New Zealand
- Best Independent Real Estate Advisors 2022 | BUILD 2022 Real Estate & Property Awards
- Best Property Advice Hub New Zealand 2021 | APAC
- Most Reputable Property Advice Hub New Zealand for Wise Up NZ 2020 | APAC
- Best Real Estate Agent Vetting Service 2018 | APAC
Page updated March 17, 2025 by Trish Willis | Agent Finder NZ director | Member of the Property Institute of NZ (IPAC)
Disclaimer: The content of this researched article is general in nature and not intended as a substitute for specific professional or legal advice on any matter and should not be relied on for that purpose
