Consumer Advice
Information for Sellers/Potential Sellers and Buyers/Potential Buyers
Harcourts Group Ltd and its franchises are all licensed under the Real Estate Agents Act 2008 and therefore our agents, branch managers and salespersons are bound by the Real Estate Agents Act (Professional Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2012 required by section 14 of the Real Estate Agents Act. The rules should be read in conjunction with the Act and regulations.
As required under the rules, Harcourts has an in-house Complaints and Disputes Resolution Procedure (See Below) .
Please note: you may access the Real Estate Authority’s complaints process without first using Harcourts in-house procedures; and any use of our in-house procedures does not preclude you from making a complaint to the Authority.
Information for Residential Property Sellers/Potential Sellers
If you are considering listing a residential property you should ensure you have been given a copy of the New Zealand Residential Agency Agreements Guide prepared by the Real Estate Agents Authority. (Please note: you will need to acknowledge (in writing) receipt of the guide before you sign a Harcourts agency agreement.)
Information for Residential Property Sellers/Buyers
If you are considering either selling or buying a residential property you should ensure you have been given a copy of the New Zealand Residential Property Sale and Purchase Agreements Guide prepared by the Real Estate Agents Authority. (Please note: You will need to acknowledge (in writing) that you have received the guide before you sign a Harcourts sale and purchase agreement.)
Harcourts Complaints and Disputes Resolution Procedure
Harcourts is committed to handling any complaints or disputes that do arise professionally, fairly and expeditiously.
Our standard in-house procedure is outlined below:
1. Any client or customer who wishes to make a complaint will be referred to the manager of the relevant office.
2. If the complainant is not satisfied with the response received from the manager they can make a written complaint to Harcourts Group Ltd (the franchisor), preferably using the Harcourts Complaint Form. (See Contact details for Harcourts Group Ltd Below)
3. Harcourts Group Ltd will acknowledge receipt of the complaint and commence a review, which if deemed necessary may involve discussion with all relevant parties.
4. Harcourts Group Ltd will respond to the complainant upon completion of its review of the complaint.
5. If the complainant is dissatisfied with the outcome Harcourts will suggest a further course of action.
Please note: Customers or clients may access the Real Estate Agents Authority's complaints process without first using our in-house procedure; and any use of Harcourts in-house procedure does not preclude a customer or client from making a complaint to the Authority.
Contact Details
Harcourts Group Ltd
Physical Address: 7-9 Alpers Ave, Newmarket
Postal Address: PO Box 99549, Newmarket, Auckland 1149
Email: headofficeakl@harcourts.co.nz
Fax: 09 524 1481.
Information for Harcourts Reports is sourced from Harcourts International Ltd. Harcourts International Ltd gathers information publicly available from sources such as REINZ, REIQ, REIWA, REINSW, REISA and Harcourts own sales database.
In designing this web site, we have incorporated security procedures and practices that we consider are consistent with best industry practice. We review our security procedures from time to time and update them when relevant.
Protecting your information is important. If you submit information to Harcourts either by using an electronic form or by sending an email we collect that information and use it for the purposes for which you have provided it.
In addition, we may use your information to provide you with special offers, information about new products and special promotions that we think may interest you. If you do not want to receive this information, you can let us know by sending an email to privacy@harcourts.net, by mail P.O Box 8054, Riccarton, Christchurch, New Zealand or call +64 3 348 8784. Please provide us with your customer details including name, address and contact number. In addition, indicate if you do not wish to receive any more promotional material.
Personal information about you and your business with Harcourts is only accessible by you and by Harcourts personnel who also must use a password, and are bound to safeguard the information and access it only for approved business purposes.
If you have any questions or comments about Harcourts privacy policy please email us at privacy@harcourts.net.
Every precaution has been taken to establish the accuracy of the material herein. Prospective purchasers should not confine themselves to the contents but should make their own enquiries to satisfy themselves in all respects. Harcourts International Ltd will not accept any responsibility should any details prove to be incomplete or incorrect. All Harcourts offices are MREINZ. All references to "agents" are strictly for ease of clarification and that they are all officially "sales consultants".
Information for Sellers/Potential Sellers and Buyers/Potential Buyers
Harcourts Group Ltd and its franchises are all licensed under the Real Estate Agents Act 2008 and therefore our agents, branch managers and salespersons are bound by the Real Estate Agents Act required by section 14 of the Real Estate Agents Act. The rules should be read in conjunction with the Act and regulations. As required under the rules, Harcourts has an in-house Complaints and Disputes Resolution Procedure. Please note: you may access the Real Estate Authority's complaints process without first using Harcourts in-house procedures; and any use of our in-house procedures does not preclude you from making a complaint to the Authority.
Information for Sellers/Potential Sellers
If you are considering listing a property or business for sale please read the approved Guide for Agency Agreements prepared by the Real Estate Agents Authority.
Copyright
Design and contents are Copyright Harcourts International Ltd. No reproduction, distribution, or transmission of the copyrighted materials at this site is permitted without the written permission of Harcourts International Ltd, unless otherwise specified.
We have just had the Harcourts Blue Fern awards for the year ending March 2015, for West Auckland, and we won the following awards
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Leonie is Personal Assistant to Deb McCool. She handles processing of listings, preparation of open home documentation, designing of marketing material, booking of advertising and assisting Deb with all of her needs as a busy agent.
Hot Real Estate Tips for Selling Your Home!
Preparing your property for sale is a crucial part of the sales process – when there are plenty of buyers in the market, the right preparation can help you get top dollar, and when there are fewer buyers, paying attention to presentation can help ensure your home sells more quickly.
To get the best results in selling your property, we recommend you follow our tips below:
Clean Up Your Act – Be Ready for Inspection!
The average person spends a couple of hours every week cleaning their house with the odd run around with the vacuum cleaner. You may have someone who cleans the windows and maybe you keep your garden quite tidy.
Start from the outside - all those cobwebs over the porch suggest neglect, mud on the walls in the hallway from dogs shaking and gumboots being kicked off needs to be scrubbed away. Give your home a real Spring Clean
First Impressions Really Do Count – Does your Home Have Kerb Appeal?
Smarten up your home to improve its kerb appeal. Keep in mind that many prospective buyers will do a “drive by” before they call an agent to go through the properties they like.
If your front garden is a mess, you’ve stacked bins by the front door, your window frames are peeling paint and your windows are grimy, no-one is going to give your home a second look unless they are looking for a restoration project (and a price tag that reflects the work required).
Don’t Create a Money Pit
Unless your house is hideously dated or very run down, we recommend that you don’t spend a fortune to smarten it up. The possibility of over capitalising is very real, particularly in a competitive market.
Look at any problem areas objectively, consider where improvements can be made for little outlay and make them. More often than not, a good clean, de-clutter and some paint will work wonders.
Presentation, Presentation, Presentation
If you have someone coming for a viewing that’s a great sign. It means that they have read about your property, probably know the area it is in, have even seen a picture of it on the Internet or in the newspaper, know the price range and are still very interested.
It is now up to you to perfect your presentation of the home and help to close the deal. Take time for a quick run round with the duster to make sure your newly spring cleaned and pristine property is still perfect.
Lighten Up & Heat Up
There is nothing more depressing than walking into a dark and dingy house. It shouts out all the wrong messages to buyers. Get rid of dirty net curtains and the brown 1970s décor, cut back plants that overhang windows and place lit lamps in rooms when people come around to view.
Maximising the light in your home makes it feel more welcoming and seem bigger.
The winter months are cold and often grey and there is nothing more off putting for buyers than feeling they have entered a cold and unwelcoming space. Before a viewing, put on the heat pump or light the fire. Make your house feel warm and cosy as it makes buyers feel more secure.
Open Homes Are Good
It’s a good idea to have open homes on fixed days for any potential buyers to have a look-see. Having a set viewing time gives buyers from out of town time to get to see the neighbourhood too. If there is a lot of interest in your property, an open home can also be motivating for potential buyers, if they see other buyers are also very keen. While there are some security issues associated with opening up your home in this way, and you can be sure some of your nosey neighbours will pop in for a look as well, it can be a positive approach to marketing your home.
Know Your Market and Dress Accordingly
If your property is likely to appeal to an executive couple, dress it up appropriately – for example, hire in some more modern furniture and put yours into storage while the property is for sale.
If you have a family home, maximise the bedroom space – put unnecessary furniture into storage, get the kids to minimize their clutter.
If you are selling a property by auction
You will need a sole agency agreement with an agent, have an agreed marketing plan and establish a reserve price in advance of the auction.
The reserve price
Is the lowest price the seller is willing to accept for the property and is confidential to the seller.
A property may be sold in advance of an auction
However, the terms and conditions must allow for this. Your agent should also make sure that any marketing material makes this clear. Potential buyers can register an interest with the agent and ask to be informed if an offer is made.
Auction sales and purchases are unconditional
A buyer cannot attach conditions to an auction purchase. Once the bid is accepted and the auctioneer’s hammer has fallen the sale will be unconditional and must go ahead.
What a buyer needs to do before bidding for a property at auction
You will need to do all your research on the property before the auction. You should commission a building inspection, a title search and a Land Information Memorandum before the auction. You will need to arrange any mortgage and finance and also consult your lawyer in advance.
If you haven’t attended a property auction before
You will need to register to take part in the auction and know what to expect on the day. Auctions are fast-moving events. Ask the agent marketing the property to explain the auction process to you.
Vendor bids
Sometimes during an auction, the auctioneer or some other person working on behalf of the seller (such as the real estate agent), may make a bid on behalf of the seller. This is called vendor bidding. Vendor bidding is sometimes used by the auctioneer as a way of starting off the bidding or trying to move bidding towards the reserve price. Vendor bidding is only allowed if all three of the following conditions are met: The property being auctioned has a reserve price The reserve price has not been met The auctioneer makes it clear that the bid being made is a vendor bid. Vendor bids must be clearly identified by the auctioneer and they will say something like “This is a vendor bid”. They will not be able to use auctioneering jargon such as ‘The bid is with me’.
Different methods of buying and selling property
There are several methods of buying and selling property in New Zealand. It is important that you understand the particular process for the property you are buying or selling. Practices also vary between agencies so make sure you confirm details with them.
Buying and selling by auction
An auction is an open process where buyers bid against one another to purchase a property.
Click here to find out more
Buying and selling at an advertised price
This is when the property is marketed with a selling price – the amount the seller wants to be paid for it.
The amount the property will be marketed for
This is decided by the seller in discussion with the agent, taking into account the seller’s views and the agent’s appraisal of the property’s value. The seller will also agree a marketing plan with the agent.
If more than one person makes an offer:
Then each prospective buyer will be asked to make a signed written offer. They should have this checked by their lawyer. The agent will then present all offers to the seller who will weigh up which, if any, they want to accept. The seller may also choose to instruct the agent to negotiate further on conditions or price.
Selling by buyer enquiry over (BEO) or buyer budget over (BBO) or pricing guide
There are several different ways of selling a property by negotiation. One is to market it as buyer enquiry over (BEO) or buyer budget over (BBO) a certain amount (such as ‘BEO $350,000’) or by giving a pricing guide. These give an indication of the lowest price the seller hopes to achieve for the property. The seller will then negotiate with prospective buyers through the agent. Prospective buyers can still make an offer below the advertised guide prices
Selling by negotiation without a guide price
This is a marketing approach an agent may suggest when it is hard to estimate the price a property is likely to sell for. Prospective buyers make offers based on their perception of the market value of the property and the seller will negotiate with them on price, through the agent.
Buying and selling by tender
When a property is being sold by tender prospective buyers submit confidential written offers for the property to the agent. Buying or selling by tender is when prospective buyers prepare and submit confidential written offers for a property to the agent for the seller’s consideration. There is no reserve price (the lowest price the seller is willing to accept) but there may be a price guide. Buyers can offer less than this.
If you wish to submit a tender
Ask the agent for a copy of the tender documents. Read them carefully, including conditions or amended clauses. You will be asked to fill in a sale and purchase agreement and submit it before the close of the tender. Get your lawyer to check it before you sign. It’s a legally binding contract and you cannot simply change your mind after it has been signed. There will be a deadline for tenders to be submitted, usually to the real estate agency offices.
For more information on auctioning your property view the video below:
