The Complete Timeline for Selling a House in Christchurch

Selling a Canterbury property involves a predictable sequence of steps across a period of typically 10-20 weeks from initial decision to receiving settlement proceeds. Here is a clear week-by-week guide to what happens and when.

Weeks 1-3: Preparation

Invite two or three agents to appraise your property and provide written market appraisals with comparable sales evidence. Decide on your agent, agency, and sale method. Sign the agency agreement. Arrange any necessary pre-sale repairs, painting, cleaning, and garden work. Professional photography, floor plan, and video are commissioned. Your agent writes the listing description. The listing is built and reviewed before going live. This preparation phase typically takes one to three weeks depending on how much work the property requires and how quickly decisions are made.

Weeks 3-7: The Campaign

Your property launches publicly on realestate.co.nz and Trade Me. Your agent activates their buyer database. The for-sale sign goes up. Open homes are held - typically one or two per week. Buyer enquiry is managed, private viewings are arranged, and feedback is collected after each open home. For a four-week auction campaign, auction day falls at the end of week seven from listing. For a deadline sale, the offer deadline falls at the end of week six or seven. Price by negotiation has no defined endpoint and can run indefinitely.

Weeks 7-9: Offer and Conditions

Offers are received, negotiated, and one is accepted. The conditional period begins - typically five to fifteen working days during which buyer conditions (finance, building inspection, LIM) must be satisfied or waived. During this period, you maintain the property in its current condition and cooperate with any buyer inspections required to satisfy conditions. At the end of the conditional period, the agreement becomes unconditional - binding on both parties.

Weeks 9-14: Settlement Preparation

Your solicitor prepares the title transfer documents, liaises with your bank about mortgage discharge, and calculates the settlement statement. You prepare to vacate - moving, transferring utilities, and organising key handover. Your solicitor and the buyer's solicitor confirm settlement arrangements in the days before settlement date.

Settlement Day

Settlement typically occurs at the agreed time on the settlement date. Funds are electronically transferred between solicitors. Your mortgage is discharged. Keys are handed over. Your solicitor deposits your net proceeds (after mortgage discharge, commission, fees, and adjustments) to your nominated bank account. You receive confirmation that settlement is complete. Total elapsed time from initial decision to settlement proceeds: typically 12-18 weeks for a standard Canterbury sale.

For general information only. Timelines vary based on property condition, campaign duration, conditional period length, and settlement date agreed. Consult your agent and solicitor for your specific situation.