Checklist: Countdown to
settlement for sellers
Look for a moving company.
Meet any outstanding conditions and make sure all
chattels, such as appliances, are working.
Tell your bank or lender.
When you’ve signed the sale and
purchase agreement:
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Seller
Seller
Lawyer / conveyancer
Agent
Seller
Seller
Seller
Agent
Seller
Receive deposit from purchaser.
When the sale and purchase
agreement becomes
unconditional:
Book a moving company, conrming the date of the
move and get some boxes for packing.
Make travel arrangements if moving out of town.
If you have children or pets, make arrangements for
them for moving day.
Agree a date and time for the buyer to do their
pre-settlement inspection (through the real estate
agent).
Make arrangements for any repairs and maintenance
that were agreed.
Arrange new broadband, phone etc.
Arrange for the house insurance to stop on
settlement day.
About three weeks before:
The settlement statement is prepared.
About two weeks before:
Seller
Seller
Lawyer / conveyancer
Checklist: Countdown to settlement for sellers
2/3
Order a water meter reading (if you are on metered
water).
Redirect mail and change any regular contracts e.g.
lawn mowing, rubbish collection etc.
Cancel any automatic payments for rates, or body
corporate fees.
If you have any goods on hire purchase, talk to the
hire purchase company so they know you are moving
to a different address. If some goods on hire purchase
are being sold with the house, they will need to be
repaid in full before settlement.
Unit title property owners must have a copy of all
insurance policies held by the body corporate and
the Section 36 certicate at least 5 working days
before settlement. Contact your body corporate to
arrange.
Arrange insurance for the house you are moving into.
About one week before:
Notify change of address to friends, relatives and
different organisations you deal with e.g. IRD, Land
Transport Agency, your bank etc.
Conrm arrangements with the moving company.
Separate valuables and things you may want straight
away on moving day (e.g. jug, coffee mugs etc.) and
put them aside to take yourself.
Ensure you have insurance for your home contents
while you move.
Conrm arrangements for children and pets.
Lawyer / conveyancer
Seller
Seller
Seller
Lawyer / conveyancer
and seller
Seller
Seller
Seller
Seller
Seller
Seller
The day before:
Ensure all the keys to exterior doors, window locks,
garage door openers are ready for the new owners.
They will need instructions for any security alarms
too..
On the day
Read the power and/or gas meters and advise your
power companies of readings.
Money received from buyer’s lawyer.
Seller
Seller
Lawyer / conveyancer
Checklist: Countdown to settlement for sellers
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Mortgage repaid if applicable.
Keys handed over to new owner.
Check the agreement for any additional cleaning
requirements.
Ownership of property transferred to buyer at LINZ.
Local authority notied of the sale .
Payment of water and general rates.
After settlement
Move out of the property and ensure that any rubbish
and chattels not included in the agreement are
removed and the property is in the same condition as
when the agreement was signed.
Lawyer / conveyancer
and lender
Agent / Lawyer
Seller
Lawyer / conveyancer
Lawyer / conveyancer
Lawyer / conveyancer
Seller
This checklist provides you with some helpful tips for knowing what needs to happen for a sale to settle but
will not necessarily cover all that is relevant to you or to the property. You should always get advice from your
own lawyer and other registered professionals – this checklist is not intended to replace that advice.