Senior Home Sellers in NZ: A Scam Safe Guide (2025)
TL;DR
If you sign a sole agency, you can cancel by 5 pm on the first working day after you receive a copy (cancel in writing). The agent should give you that copy within 48 hours. Settled.Govt
If you were signed after a door-knock or cold call (an uninvited direct sale), you can cancel within five working days of receiving a copy of the signed agreement. Consumer Protection
If a public price range is used, the lower end must be an amount you would seriously consider accepting.
Agency agreements must disclose any rebates/discounts/commissions tied to your costs (Real Estate Agents Act 2008, section 128). Legislation New Zealand
Treat any ‘new bank details’ notice as a scam until you verify by phone using a number you found yourself; report incidents via the NCSC online tool (CERT NZ is now part of NCSC). NCSC NZ
Check the public register to confirm your agent’s licence and see whether any complaints were upheld in the last 3 years. Complain to the agency first, and then to the REA if necessary.
Why older Kiwis are targeted — and the first moves that keep you safe
Selling later in life often involves tight timelines (due to health or moving dates), numerous documents, and more of the process happening online. Scammers exploit urgency and unfamiliarity. Slow it down, keep everything in writing, and add a trusted support person/enduring power of attorney (EPOA) to all key emails and calls from day one.
Your quick safety anchors
Read the Agency Agreement Guide before signing. If you sign a sole-agency agreement, you can cancel by 5 pm the next working day after receiving your copy (please cancel in writing).
If you were signed after an uninvited approach, you can cancel within five working days.
Phone-verify bank details before any transfer (standing rule for everyone helping you).
The core scam & risk patterns — what to watch for and what to do
1) High-pressure sign-ups
Red flags: “Today-only” offers; blanks in the agreement; “we’ll fill that later”.
Do this: Take the agreement away to read. If you signed a sole-agency, you can cancel by 5pm the next working day after receiving your copy (in writing).
2) Uninvited door-knocks and cold calls
Red flags: You’re rushed into signing at home or on the phone.
Do this: Treat it as an uninvited direct sale; you can cancel within five working days and are entitled to a refund.
3) Price manipulation (over-quoting to win your listing; under-quoting in ads)
Red flags: A shiny appraisal with little evidence; public ranges that feel like bait.
Do this: Request a written pricing rationale that includes recent comparable sales. If a price range is used publicly, the lower end should be an amount you’d seriously consider.
4) Hidden marketing costs and “preferred supplier” bundles
Red flags: No line-by-line costs; pressure to use specific suppliers.
Do this: Approve an itemised plan only. Your agreement must disclose any rebates/discounts/commissions tied to your expenses (Real Estate Agents Act, s. 128)
5) Payment-redirection / invoice scams (BEC)
Red flags: “We’ve changed bank details — pay this account today.”
Do this: Phone-verify using a number you found yourself (not the email/invoice). Report incidents to CERT NZ; fast action helps.
6) Paperwork shortcuts
Red flags: Missing pages; last-minute edits with no copy for you.
Do this: Never sign blanks; keep copies of everything.
Your NZ consumer protections
Cooling-off for sole-agency: If you change your mind, cancel by 5pm on the first working day after you’re given a copy of the signed agreement (cancel in writing). The agent should give you that copy within 48 hours.
Uninvited direct sales: If you signed after a door-knock or telemarketing call, you can cancel within five working days after receiving the copy, and you must be told how to cancel.
Advertising accuracy: If a price range is quoted, the lower end should reflect an amount you’d seriously consider; otherwise, buyers can be misled.
Fee transparency: Agency agreements must disclose any rebates, discounts, or commissions related to your costs (Real Estate Agents Act s128; standard disclosure form in the regulations).
Licence checks & complaints: Use the REA public register to confirm an agent’s licence and view recent upheld complaints. If something goes wrong, complain to the agency manager first, then escalate to the REA.
The NZ market context for senior sellers
More older sellers every year. The 65+ population is on track to reach about 1 million before the decade’s end, rising as a share of all New Zealanders. That means more long-held family homes coming to market, and more demand for clear, scam-safe processes. Stats NZ
Ownership is still common — but planning matters. 2023 Census data show that home ownership increased from the 2018 level, with 66% of households owning or partly owning (including family trusts). For seniors, that means many will sell a home they’ve held for decades — but timing, presentation and post-sale plans still determine outcomes.
Retirement villages & later-life moves. If you’re considering a village, the framework is monitored by the Retirement Commissioner under the Retirement Villages Act 2003 — still get independent legal advice on any occupation right agreement. (This is about your rights and obligations over the long term.)
What this means for you
If you’re mortgage-free, you have more flexibility on timing; focus on presentation and good campaign management.
If you still have a mortgage, sync sale timing carefully with your next move and confirm net proceeds with your lawyer before accepting terms.
If moving to a village or to renting, line up settlement with entry/tenancy dates and keep a cash buffer for overlap costs.
For timing and planning context, refer to 'Best Time to Sell Property in NZ' and 'The Process of Selling a House in 2025'.
Choosing and comparing agents
Build a clean shortlist
Check the licence first on the public register; it’s illegal to do agency work without one, and the register shows any recent upheld complaints.
Anchor on local proof: agents who’ve sold homes like yours (type, condition, price band) nearby in the past 6–12 months.
Helpful reads:
What to ask (and why)
Track record
“Show your last 3–5 comparable sales in my suburb with dates and outcomes.”
“What’s your typical days on market for homes like mine?”
Strategy
“Why is auction/tender/by negotiation right for this property?”
“What’s the week-by-week plan from photos to negotiation?”
Pricing rationale (plain English)
“Which recent sales did you use, and how did you adjust for condition/site/school zone?”
“If we use a public price range, how will you make sure the lower end is something I’d seriously consider?”
Communication
“How will you keep me and my support person updated? Show me a weekly written summary.”
Fees & value
“Give me an itemised marketing plan (each line with purpose and price).”
“Confirm commission and any other fees in writing; disclose rebates/discounts if they apply.
Compare proposals side-by-side
Score each proposal on:
Local relevance (quality of comps),
Sale-method fit (plan matches your goals/timing),
Pricing clarity, communication, marketing value, and total cost.
For structure, use How to Compare Real Estate Agents in New Zealand and our commission explainer.
Red flags (walk away politely)
On-the-spot signatures (“today-only”).
Vague price ranges not aligned with what you’d accept.
Non-itemised “bundles” or pressure to use preferred suppliers.
Reluctance to include your support person.
Evasiveness on past results or fees.
How MyTopAgent helps (and its limits)
What it is:
A free comparison service for NZ home sellers. We use independent sales activity and your property details to suggest a small shortlist of licensed agents who regularly sell homes like yours in your suburb. You decide who (if anyone) to speak with. See How We Work and start from the homepage: MyTopAgent.co.nz.
What it costs:
Free for vendors. If you choose a recommended agent and sell, the agent pays us a referral fee. Your commission and marketing are still negotiated directly with the agent — get everything in writing and compare apples-to-apples.
What it doesn’t do:
We’re not a real estate agency, we don’t handle money, and we don’t provide legal advice. We can’t guarantee outcomes or prevent scams — you still use the protections and habits above (written approvals, licence checks, phone-verify bank details, keep copies).
Use it well:
Take our shortlist, then run the same questions with each agent using 23 Questions To Ask… and compare proposals with How to Compare…. If you’re balancing agent vs private sale, see Sell House Privately vs Agent NZ.
FAQs (quick answers for seniors)
Do I have to use the recommended agents you provided?
No. Our shortlist is a starting point. You choose who to speak with and who to hire (or not).
Who holds the deposit?
Usually, the agency’s or your lawyer’s trust account. Confirm who holds funds, when they’re released, and to which account in writing — and phone-verify any bank details before paying.
What if I signed under pressure?
If it’s a sole agency, you can cancel by 5 pm the next working day after receiving your copy (please cancel in writing). If you signed after an uninvited approach, you can cancel within five working days.
Can I check the agent’s licence?
Yes — use the REA public register; it shows current status and any recent upheld complaints.
Where can I complain if something’s not right?
Email the agency manager first; if the issue remains unresolved, use the REA complaints process. Keep dates, messages, and copies of agreements. (Both steps are standard and expected.)
Final word
Selling a long-held home is a big moment. Slow the process, keep every decision in writing, involve a trusted support person, and lean on NZ’s clear protections. Compare agents on evidence, not pressure — and verify before you sign or pay.
When you’re ready, start with a no-pressure shortlist tailored to your suburb and property type: MyTopAgent.co.nz.
