To help you find a real estate agent in your area to assist in the buying or selling of your property, we have detailed all the licensed real estate agents featured on this website within New Zealand — click here to view by office or by name and by region of the country.

Advice in Selecting a Real Estate Agent

You should not underestimate the value of the professional expertise of a real estate agent when it comes to buying or selling your property.

Real estate agents are experts in the process of buying and selling property. As such, you can expect them to walk you through the process from the initial planning of the sale of your home to closing the deal on your next property purchase. They can also help you determine your buying power and refer you to lenders who are best qualified to serve you.

When selling your home, a good agent can give you access to market appraisal and data. He or she should be intimately familiar with your district and its zonings- -as well as have up-to-date knowledge of changes in land use (including probable future changes based on apparent trends), as well as the laws and by-laws relating to property.

He or she should also be able to advise you on the best method of sale for your property, e.g. by auction, tender or by negotiation (private treaty) — view The Real Estate Institute of New Zealand’s glossary of real estate terms for an explanation of the various methods.

Your agent should also be able to undertake effective marketing and promotion of your property, including advising if any cosmetic improvements should be made to your property to maximise the selling price (see our home-seller’s checklist for some useful tips). He or she can also arrange for all inspections of your property to take place, provide access to a wide range of buyers and follow up on those with genuine interest in your property.

Your real estate agent will also assist with the complexities of the negotiating process to ensure you not only get the best price, but also to ensure that other factors in the sale and purchase agreement fall into place, e.g. financing, terms, date of possession, chattels and inclusion/exclusion of repairs. Your agent should also undertake the administration of all legal and financial aspects of the sale.

Your real estate agent should be well presented, a clear communicator and a confident negotiator.

When deciding on the agent that will do the best job for you, talk to several agents in your area, then compare costs, taking into account the services and level of skill and experience each agent offers.

Here’s a checklist of some questions you could ask:

1. Are you a member of the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand Inc. (MREINZ)?
2. How long have you been working as a real estate agent?
3. How long have you been operating in the area?
4. How many properties have you sold in the area in the past 12 months and what were the prices achieved?
5. What is your proposed marketing strategy and why is this the most suitable means of marketing my property?
6. Can you present my property to a wide marketplace?
7. Are you able to provide progress reports once the marketing plan is underway?
8. Are you able to provide references/testimonials from recent clients?
9. What is the code of ethics you adhere to?
10. What costs will I incur (i.e. agent’s commission, marketing costs and other fees)?
11. What contract duration do you propose?
12. If selling at auction, what will happen if the property fails to sell?

There are several ways to go about finding an agent:

1. The internet: Realestate.co.nz features property listings on behalf of real estate agents all over New Zealand, so you will find a database of agents right here. Most real estate agents have their own websites, with details on each agent and their experience in the local area.
2. Word of mouth: Ask friends, family members and colleagues for personal references.
3. Yellow Pages: Turn to the ‘Real Estate Agents’ section.
4. Local newspapers: This is a good way to see how agents advertise their services and the properties they represent; and finally
5. Attend open house inspections: This will give you a chance to see agents in action.