Selling your home, in three stages.
The Selling M.A.P. — Market, Agree, Possession. The framework we use for every residential sale. Each stage has its own lawyer workstream running alongside the agent workstream, so you never feel the legal side is behind.
The three stages of selling.
Each stage has specific legal tasks that sit alongside the agent's work. The checklist covers both.
M — Market (getting set up right)
Free discovery call, free initial review of your draft SPA, title and LIM. Pre-listing legal check before open homes.
Appoint agent and sign agency agreement
Choose your agent, commission structure, method of sale. Brief your lawyer on disclosures and deal structure.
A — Agree (locking in the deal)
When an offer comes in, send it to your lawyer first. Negotiate via the agent, confirm terms, sign correctly.
Manage deposit and conditions
Deposit paid to the agent's trust account. Conditions run through the conditional window.
Book signing, complete settlement paperwork, coordinate pre-settlement inspection and key handover.
Book signing, complete settlement paperwork, coordinate pre-settlement inspection and key handover.
Funds settle, title transfers, keys to buyer
Settlement day: funds received, title transferred via LINZ, keys released to the buyer.
Angus Grayson, LLB
The Selling M.A.P. exists because most sellers don't know what their lawyer is supposed to be doing at each stage. The framework makes it visible. You know what we're doing, when, and what it costs.
Send me the guide.
Each stage has specific legal tasks that sit alongside the agent's work. The checklist covers both.
Before you download.
When should I appoint a lawyer — before or after signing the agency agreement?
Before. A quick review of the agency agreement commission structure, exclusivity period, and marketing terms is often worth hundreds.
What if I'm selling and buying at the same time?
Use the same lawyer for both. It allows us to sync settlement dates and manage the bridging risk.
How long does a typical sale take?
Auction campaigns: 3–4 weeks marketing, auction day, 4–6 weeks settlement. Negotiated sales vary — anywhere from 4 to 16 weeks total.
Do you do private sales?
Yes — see our Private Sale Checklist. The framework is different because there's no agent.