How to price your house for a private sale
Updated 12 Oct 2026 · 5 minute read
Price is the decision that worries private sellers most. You don't need an agent to get it right. You need good information, and a clear idea of the lowest figure you'd accept.
Four ways to find out what your house is worth
A registered valuation. A registered valuer inspects the house and gives you a written report with a market value. You pay for it, but it's independent, banks rely on it, and you can show it to buyers. It's the strongest evidence you can have.
Recent sales nearby. Look up what similar houses in your street and suburb have actually sold for in the last few months. Free property websites show recent sale prices. Compare like with like: land size, bedrooms, condition and position.
Your council valuation. Often called the CV or RV, it's set by the council to work out your rates, usually every three years. Nobody visited your house to set it, and the market may have moved since. Treat it as background, not as a price.
Agent appraisals. Agents will usually appraise your house for free. It's useful to hear, but remember an appraisal is an opinion from someone who would like your listing, not a valuation.
Decide your walk-away figure
Before you advertise, decide the lowest price you would accept and keep it to yourself. Knowing it in advance makes every later decision easier. You can see at once whether an offer is worth a counter, and you won't be talked below it in the moment.
Choose how you'll show the price
How you sell changes how buyers see your price.
- Advertised price. You name a price. Buyers know where they stand, and it suits a house that's easy to compare with others. Price it realistically: too high and buyers skip it, too low and you set a ceiling.
- Deadline sale. No price is shown, and buyers put in their best offer by a set date. It works when you expect several buyers.
- By negotiation. No price and no deadline. Buyers make offers at any time. It's flexible, but be ready to tell buyers what range you have in mind when they ask.
- Tender. Buyers submit sealed written offers by a closing date, and you choose whether to accept any of them.
If it isn't selling
Listen to what the market tells you. Plenty of visitors but no offers usually means buyers like the house and not the price. Few visitors usually means the price or the advertising is putting people off before they come. Either way, review the price after a few weeks, and don't take it personally.
When offers do arrive, see how to negotiate offers.
How Praedium helps
On Praedium you choose your selling method in the checklist, upload your registered valuation for buyers to download, and set a minimum offer that buyers never see. Offers below it are turned away before they reach you.
Common questions
Is the CV the same as market value?
No. A council valuation is worked out for rates, usually every three years, without anyone inspecting the house. Market value is what a buyer will pay today, and it can be well above or below the CV.
Should I get a registered valuation before selling?
It isn't compulsory, but it's the most reliable figure you can get, and showing it to buyers supports your price. Buyers who need a mortgage often need one anyway.
What happens if I price my house too high?
It tends to sit. Buyers notice how long a house has been listed and start to wonder what's wrong with it. It's better to price realistically from the start than to drop the price later.
This guide is general information for New Zealand home sellers, not legal, financial or tax advice. Praedium is not a real estate agent. Every sale is different, so talk to your own lawyer or conveyancer before you sign anything.