Selling Privately

 Each year, some homeowners choose to sell privately. The reasons are understandable. It can feel simpler. There’s a sense of control. And there’s the perception of saving commission.

But selling property well involves more than finding a buyer.

One of the biggest challenges is emotion.

When it’s your home, it’s personal. Buyers comment on presentation, layout, and value. Even normal feedback can begin to feel like criticism. That emotion often surfaces during negotiation — either through defensiveness or by accepting less than you should just to get the deal done.

An experienced agent provides distance. They absorb feedback, remain calm, and negotiate strategically. That separation protects value.

Pricing is another major risk.

Online estimates and recent sales provide data, but interpreting that data in the context of current buyer behaviour is where mistakes happen.

Price too high and the property can sit, lose momentum, and weaken your position. Price too low and you may leave significant money on the table. Pricing is positioning — and positioning drives outcome.

Information and leverage also matter.

Buyers rarely disclose their full motivation or budget directly to an owner. Through an intermediary, those conversations are more open. That insight allows agents to create structure, urgency, and ethical buyer-versus-buyer competition. Privately, that leverage is often limited.

Disclosure is another area that deserves careful attention.

Although private sellers are not governed by the Fair Trading Act in the same way licensed agents are, they must still disclose known defects. Sale and Purchase Agreements contain vendor warranties, and failure to disclose issues can expose sellers to breach claims.

Buyers should also be cautious. Purchasing privately means fewer Fair Trading Act protections than when buying through a licensed agent. Many buyers prefer the transparency and oversight of an agency process, which is why more serious purchasers tend to move through agent channels — increasing the likelihood of structured competition.

There are practical considerations too:

• Limited access to qualified buyer databases
• Reduced exposure across key marketing platforms
• Difficulty managing multiple interest situations
• Navigating contract conditions without crossing into legal advice

Selling privately can work in certain situations. But it requires clarity about risk, pricing strategy, compliance, and negotiation psychology.

The real question isn’t whether you can sell privately.

It’s whether you can achieve the same price, protection, and leverage.

Our team’s role is to bring calm strategy, accurate positioning, buyer intelligence, and professional structure to the process — so you can focus on your next move while we protect the value of this one.