Selling land can seem like a daunting prospect if you’re not familiar with the process. Between figuring out the market value, navigating regulations, and negotiating deals, there are a lot of moving parts. The good news is you don’t have to go it alone – working with an experienced land agent can help you realise your property’s full worth with far less effort on your end. At Planning House we work with some amazing Land Agents so if you’re not sure which Land Agent to go to then get in touch.
In this guide, we’ll break down the key things to understand so you feel informed and in control. By the end, you’ll know exactly how partnering with a pro can take your land sale to the next level, without costing you a fortune upfront.
Land Value 101: What Really Drives the Price?
More goes into appraising land value than just location and acreage. Planning permissions and potential uses have a huge impact. For example, acres classed as rural may fetch far less than the same sized parcel identified for residential development.
An agent knows how to maximise approvals and proposals to open up higher/better uses. They may also foresee future planning changes that might drive prices upwards later on. All of this goes far beyond what public records reveal. Great land agents work with town planners to look at options for clients.
Material Considerations: What You Need to Disclose
When selling, full disclosure of any issues is required by law. But deciphering material planning considerations can perplex even knowledgeable sellers. An expert identifies constraints and opportunities that must be addressed to protect yourself legally and achieve optimum terms.
Some examples include nearby infrastructure projects, environmental protections, historic designations, flood risks and more. Leave no stone unturned to avoid future disputes. If in doubt consult a town planner who can do a development appraisal for your site.
Negotiating The Best Price With Ease
Selling land requires savvy dealmaking expertise. An agent has years of experience crafting winning strategies, marketing effectively and handling complex negotiations. They know the ins and outs of contracts, surveys and legal processes too.
Rely on their proven system so you get fair market value with minimal hassle. Their deep industry connections also attract serious buyers. Walk away stress-free while maximising profit!
Benefits of using a Land Agent include:
- They understand market cycles and can time listings for optimal pricing based on demand trends. Selling at the wrong time leads to leaving money on the table.
- Experienced agents have a deep understanding of buyer motivations and can craft flexible packages catering to different investor profiles like developers, farmers or conservationists.
- Negotiations may involve complex deal structures like gradual payments upon achieving lot approvals/permits that a novice seller may miss out on.
- Similar properties don’t sell for similar rates – an agent leverages their extensive comparable database to argue your case and maximise value.
- They screen buyers thoroughly to attract serious proposals and weed out tirekickers, ensuring a smooth transaction process.
- Major planning applications, land promotion efforts or development conditions are full time jobs, so relying on an expert avoids dragging out your sale unnecessarily.
- Ongoing access to an agent’s counsel after sale closure means guidance on unexpected post-sale issues that could affect price paid, like access disputes etc.
- Vendor liability protections are important – an experienced rep ensures comprehensive due diligence to head off costly latent defect claims post-sale.
- Sellers who go it alone may spend more on legal/third party costs trying to replicate what an agent provides as standard services.
In summary, proper guidance allows land assets to be monetised easily and optimally. Partnering with the right land agent takes the headache out of selling, while ensuring you achieve top dollar properly and legally in return.
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We have a wealth of information on our website. Our eBooks, Practical Guides and Articles cover a range of topics giving you the information you need, in easy-to-understand terms, without the unnecessary waffle. Here are a couple of articles you might find useful.
