Paying for Pre-Sale Costs at Settlement.
Preparing a property for sale can involve costs before the vendor receives any sale proceeds. Some vendors may prefer to keep their cash available until the property settles.
Paying for Pre-Sale Costs at Settlement.
Preparing a property for sale can involve costs before the vendor receives any sale proceeds.
These may include:
Cleaning
Repairs
Painting
Gardening
Styling
Furniture hire
Photography
Marketing
Other approved pre-sale work
Some vendors are happy to pay these costs upfront.
Others may prefer to keep their cash available until the property settles.
Why vendors may prefer to pay later.
A vendor may already be paying for:
A deposit on another property
Moving costs
Mortgage repayments
Legal expenses
Temporary accommodation
Other household expenses
Paying eligible pre-sale costs later may make it easier to prepare the property properly without using as much cash before settlement.
Where Property.Credit may help.
Property.Credit offers approved funding options that may allow eligible vendors to cover certain property sale expenses and repay them later under the provider’s terms.
Depending on the product and approval, this may include eligible costs connected with preparing and marketing the property.
Fees, eligibility and conditions apply.
The agent should use Property.Credit’s current approved information when discussing what can be funded.
Keep the improvement decision separate.
The availability of pay-later funding should not be a reason to spend more.
First decide:
Does this work genuinely help the sale?
Then decide:
How will the vendor pay for it?
For example, a $1,500 styling recommendation should still make sense whether the vendor pays upfront or later.
Explain it simply.
You might say:
“There are a few preparation items I think are worth doing before we launch. You can pay those costs upfront, or we can look at whether any are eligible for a Property.Credit pay-later option.”
Keep the explanation factual.
Vendor Conversation Script.
Vendor:
“I would like to do the work, but I do not want to spend all that money before we sell.”
Agent:
“That is understandable. Let’s first agree on which improvements are worth doing.”
Vendor:
“Can any of it be paid at settlement?”
Agent:
“Property.Credit may be able to fund eligible pre-sale expenses for approved vendors. We can check which costs qualify and show you their current terms.”
Vendor:
“So I do not need to cut the preparation budget straight away?”
Agent:
“Not necessarily. We should first decide which work is worth doing, then look at the payment options.”
Do not make promises.
Avoid saying:
Every cost can be funded
Approval is guaranteed
There are no fees
Everything will automatically be paid at settlement
Use the provider’s current information for detailed questions.
Agent Action Plan.
1. Identify worthwhile preparation work
Do not recommend unnecessary improvements.
2. Get written quotes
Know the real cost before discussing payment.
3. Separate essential and optional work
Help the vendor prioritise.
4. Explain payment choices
Include Property.Credit where suitable.
5. Check eligibility before committing
Confirm which expenses may qualify.
6. Keep records
Document the approved work, supplier costs and payment method.
Paying eligible preparation costs later can give vendors more flexibility, while still allowing the property to be properly prepared for market.