Preparing for Settlement: A Seller’s Guide to a Smooth Handover
By Leigh Martinuzzi – Martinuzzi Property Group
For many homeowners, settlement can feel like the most stressful part of selling. You’ve gone through marketing, open homes, and negotiations, now you’re almost at the finish line. But for sellers who aren’t prepared, the final weeks can become overwhelming.
At Martinuzzi Property Group, we want to take that stress away by giving you a clear picture of what to expect once your contract goes unconditional, and how to plan for settlement day with confidence.
From Contract to Unconditional
The process really begins once a buyer makes an offer. Best practice is always to have offers submitted in writing via a formal contract, not just a verbal agreement. Verbal offers can create confusion or misunderstandings, while a contract ensures everything, price, conditions, dates, is clear.
Here on the Sunshine Coast, most contracts include two common conditions:
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Building & Pest Inspection – to ensure there are no major issues with the property.
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Finance Approval – even with pre-approval, banks still need to finalise the loan against your property.
Typically, these conditions are satisfied within 7–14 days, although finance can sometimes take longer. Once both are met, the contract goes unconditional. This is the green light: the deposit is paid in full, and the countdown to settlement begins.
The Settlement Period
Settlement is generally negotiated between 30 and 60 days from contract signing. This gives both parties time to organise finances, removals, and moving logistics.
On the Sunshine Coast, settlement is handled electronically through the PEXA system, usually between 12pm and 2pm on the agreed day. Your conveyancer will notify you of the exact timing in the lead-up to settlement. At this moment, ownership transfers to the buyer, which means as the seller, you must be fully packed, moved out, and ready to hand over the keys.
What Sellers Often Overlook
Even with good intentions, some sellers fall into common traps during this stage:
- Not engaging a conveyancer early
A solicitor or conveyancer should be in place before signing the contract, so they can review terms, confirm compliance, and avoid nasty surprises later. A good agent will walk you through the details, but because agents can’t provide legal advice, at MPG we always recommend a contract is reviewed first by a legal professional.
- Rushing the contract
Skimming over settlement dates or clauses can cause stress down the track. Always take the time to review, and never feel pressured by an agent to sign before seeking legal advice.
- Leaving mortgage discharge too late
If you still have a loan, your bank needs time (often weeks) to arrange payout. Delays here can delay settlement. While your conveyancer will manage this, it’s wise to stay in regular contact to ensure nothing is missed.
- Poor communication
Failing to keep your agent or conveyancer updated can cause deadlines to slip. At MPG, we pride ourselves on clear, proactive communication. We’re always available to answer questions, no matter how small, and we make sure you never feel left in the dark. Many sellers share stories of agents who disappear once a contract is signed, which is why we stay with you every step of the way, from contract through to settlement and beyond.
- Messy handovers
Leaving the property dirty or without proper keys can sour the final experience for the buyer. Believe it or not, I’ve seen more than a few homes settle without a full set of keys ready! As long as this is communicated to the agent and buyer in advance, it’s manageable, but ideally, you’ll prepare labelled keys and leave the property in the same condition you’d like to move into yourself.
Pre-Settlement Inspections
The buyer is entitled to a final inspection, usually the day before or morning of settlement. This confirms the property is in the same condition as when they agreed to buy it. Hence why we believe it’s important to be prepared in advance to make sure there is nothing during the pre-settlement inspection that might cause a delay to settlement.
It can be a hectic time for sellers, packing, cleaning, moving, but your agent will manage this with the buyer on your behalf. Our advice: keep the property neat, leave nothing broken, and where possible, do a final tidy before handover.
+Should You Get a Professional Clean?
Some contracts specify a professional clean, but most don’t. Even when not required, we recommend leaving your property in a respectable, move-in ready state. It’s a courtesy that makes for a smoother transition.
Focus on:
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Kitchens and bathrooms
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Floors and windows
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Patio and garden areas
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Rubbish removal
The Seller’s Settlement Checklist
Here’s a simple guide to make your settlement stress-free:
- Conveyancer engaged early – ideally before signing the contract.
- Mortgage discharge organised – contact your bank well ahead of settlement.
- Removal plan – book removalists, consider storage if needed, and start packing early.
- Utilities & rates – most are handled by your conveyancer, but confirm to avoid surprises.
- Keys and documentation – prepare labelled keys, appliance manuals, and warranties for the buyer.
- Professional clean or tidy – depending on contract terms and courtesy.
- Communication – stay in touch with your conveyancer and agent throughout.
Final Thoughts
Settlement doesn’t need to be stressful. With the right preparation, you’ll move out smoothly and hand over your property with peace of mind.
At Martinuzzi Property Group, we guide our sellers every step of the way, not just in achieving a great result at sale, but also in making sure the final handover is seamless.
If you’d like more tailored advice or are thinking of selling your Sunshine Coast home, reach out today.
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