ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Losing out on homes because your offer looks “too hard” is brutal, especially when you’re a first home buyer trying to tick every box the bank and your lawyer require. We kick off with a real question from Facebook: finance condition (15 working days), KiwiSaver, valuation, builder’s report, and a LIM report, then multiple declined offers with the hint that the conditions are the problem. So what can you change without putting yourself in danger?
We get practical about KiwiSaver timing, because this is where many buyers accidentally make their offer slower than it needs to be. If KiwiSaver is needed for the deposit when you go unconditional, the withdrawal process and lawyer undertakings matter, and that can shape your deadlines. But if you only need KiwiSaver for settlement, it may not belong in your offer conditions at all. We also talk about why having an adviser or mortgage broker can make a massive difference compared with trying to piece it together from a busy bank conversation.
From there we move into what really tightens an offer: strong pre-approval, fast finance sign-off, and realistic planning for the slow bits like valuations and LIM reports. We share typical timeframes, where you can pay for urgency, and what banks actually care about versus what your lawyer is focused on. We wrap with a reminder that vendors sometimes take a lower cash offer simply for certainty and speed, and how you can compete by being prepared rather than reckless.
If this helped, subscribe, share it with a first home buyer mate, and leave us a review so more Kiwi buyers can find it.
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SHOW NOTES 🔗
TRANSCRIPT 🔗
00:00:10.480 --> 00:00:14.320
And one more from our good old friend called Facebook.
00:00:14.560 --> 00:00:16.000
And I've got George in the house.
00:00:16.079 --> 00:00:16.800
Hello, George.
00:00:16.960 --> 00:00:18.160
Hello, Zebroneso.
00:00:18.399 --> 00:00:18.719
Right.
00:00:18.880 --> 00:00:20.000
First home buyer.
00:00:20.160 --> 00:00:23.679
How can we make our offer conditions more attractive?
00:00:24.000 --> 00:00:25.439
I'm gonna read you out a post.
00:00:25.519 --> 00:00:25.679
Yep.
00:00:25.839 --> 00:00:26.879
I like reading out posts.
00:00:27.039 --> 00:00:27.199
Yeah.
00:00:27.359 --> 00:00:29.280
I put my own spin to them.
00:00:29.839 --> 00:00:31.920
First home buyer here looking for some advice.
00:00:32.079 --> 00:00:37.679
We've had a few offers declined, and with one of them, we're told that our conditions were a factor.
00:00:38.159 --> 00:00:41.679
At the moment, our offer needs to be conditional on finance.
00:00:41.920 --> 00:00:46.079
15 working days, as we need to use KiwiSaber, which is interesting.
00:00:46.160 --> 00:00:47.520
I'm gonna address that separately.
00:00:47.679 --> 00:00:50.399
A builder's report, valuation, and limb report.
00:00:50.560 --> 00:00:54.640
These are requirements we need to meet for the bank before they will release the funds.
00:00:54.960 --> 00:00:57.200
Has anyone been in a similar situation?
00:00:57.439 --> 00:01:05.520
Is there anything we can do to make our conditions more attractive to a vendor without removing the conditions we need to meet for finance?
00:01:05.759 --> 00:01:06.640
It was all in bold.
00:01:07.120 --> 00:01:08.319
So I had to read it out that way.
00:01:08.479 --> 00:01:12.479
Any advice or experiences from other first-time buyers would be really appreciated.
00:01:13.039 --> 00:01:16.159
I think that question is all about you, isn't it?
00:01:16.240 --> 00:01:26.159
You know, because it it basically comes down to them talking to their bank or their mortgage broker and finding out what they can cut down.
00:01:26.400 --> 00:01:30.639
Now, I think a big one there is is like the Kiwi Saver.
00:01:30.879 --> 00:01:34.000
Because Kiwi Saver can be used in two different ways.
00:01:34.080 --> 00:01:41.759
Some people need it at the very beginning, there, for the deposit and everything, and then some people only need it for the settlement.
00:01:41.919 --> 00:01:42.240
Yeah.
00:01:43.039 --> 00:01:47.039
So if it's only for the settlement, then I don't even know.
00:01:47.199 --> 00:01:50.240
Do you need Kiwi Saver in there at all as a condition?
00:01:50.400 --> 00:01:50.639
No.
00:01:50.879 --> 00:01:51.280
You don't.
00:01:51.360 --> 00:01:51.520
Yeah.
00:01:52.080 --> 00:01:53.840
So I think people are getting mixed up here.
00:01:53.919 --> 00:01:56.960
And again, this is the classic example.
00:01:57.199 --> 00:02:02.479
If you are working just with a banker that hasn't explained things properly, you should really have an advisor by your side.
00:02:02.719 --> 00:02:05.759
Because often I find people don't get the information from the first time.
00:02:05.840 --> 00:02:12.639
I have to repeat myself five times sometimes, in five different ways for my clients to understand and get it.
00:02:12.800 --> 00:02:14.000
And bankers wouldn't do that.
00:02:14.159 --> 00:02:15.680
Yeah, they wouldn't, in my experience.
00:02:16.000 --> 00:02:23.039
Nothing against bankers, but I feel like because they're stretched, they only work nine to five, you know, and a lot of the time my clients have questions in the middle of the night.
00:02:23.199 --> 00:02:28.239
They have questions at eight o'clock at night going, oh my God, I haven't thought this through, or I forgot about this.
00:02:28.319 --> 00:02:29.280
Can you please repeat?
00:02:29.519 --> 00:02:44.799
So if we go back a step for KiwiSaver, as you rightfully mentioned, if people put a deposit on a sales and purchase agreement, let's say$10,000, and they don't have any savings at all, all of their deposit is coming from KiwiSaver.
00:02:44.879 --> 00:02:44.959
Yes.
00:02:45.120 --> 00:02:46.879
Then that 10K has to come from somewhere.
00:02:46.959 --> 00:02:47.199
Yeah.
00:02:47.439 --> 00:02:50.400
And that 10K is probably going to come from their KiwiSaver.
00:02:50.479 --> 00:02:50.560
Yeah.
00:02:50.719 --> 00:02:53.759
And that's what they have to apply for the moment that offer is accepted.
00:02:53.919 --> 00:02:54.079
Yes.
00:02:54.319 --> 00:03:00.799
Kiwi Saver takes 10 working days for withdrawal, not 15, in my experience, sometimes faster.
00:03:00.879 --> 00:03:02.319
But usually it's 10.
00:03:02.400 --> 00:03:02.560
Yeah.
00:03:02.799 --> 00:03:10.079
And it's the lawyers that have to do the undertaking to the KiwiSaver saying, we're going to have this funds, we're going to release it for the deposit.
00:03:10.239 --> 00:03:16.000
But if the purchase doesn't go unconditional, this funds will be returned back to the KiwiSaver provider.
00:03:16.479 --> 00:03:20.400
Now, not all lawyers like doing that undertaking.
00:03:21.039 --> 00:03:23.919
So you have to find a lawyer that will be keen to do that.
00:03:24.319 --> 00:03:31.120
So this only applies if you're going to be using Kiwi Saver as a deposit when you go unconditional.
00:03:31.199 --> 00:03:31.359
Yeah.
00:03:31.439 --> 00:03:32.479
Or when yeah.
00:03:33.519 --> 00:03:48.560
The thing is, if you're not using your KiwiSaver, if you've got that 10K saved up somewhere, or if mom and dad is lending you money for a period of time or whatever, then you don't need to put the KiwiSaver as a as a condition or you don't need to put 10 working days for finance.
00:03:48.639 --> 00:03:48.719
Yeah.
00:03:48.879 --> 00:03:50.959
If you can meet your finance sooner.
00:03:51.120 --> 00:03:58.479
And this is where pre-approval is super important because a lot of my clients that are pre-approved first, like we take a week to get them pre-approved.
00:03:58.560 --> 00:04:02.479
You know, sometimes it's still document collection, the bank turned around, da-da-da.
00:04:02.799 --> 00:04:07.680
But once they're pre-approved, the moment they want to offer on something, I can turn it around within a day.
00:04:08.239 --> 00:04:11.519
So we don't need 10 working days for finance.
00:04:11.759 --> 00:04:12.079
Yes.
00:04:12.239 --> 00:04:14.319
And that will make your offer super attractive.
00:04:14.479 --> 00:04:14.959
Yep.
00:04:15.199 --> 00:04:18.240
So well, I know that from first experience with you guys.
00:04:18.319 --> 00:04:21.840
I've seen it firsthand going through pretty fast in a day.
00:04:22.079 --> 00:04:22.400
Correct.
00:04:22.639 --> 00:04:22.879
Correct.
00:04:22.959 --> 00:04:24.240
So we can do it super, super fast.
00:04:24.400 --> 00:04:26.079
So this is what will make your offer attractive.
00:04:26.240 --> 00:04:28.879
If you need valuation, yes, valuation does take time.
00:04:29.040 --> 00:04:32.079
Standard valuation takes seven to ten working days.
00:04:32.399 --> 00:04:36.079
You can pay for urgent and get it within three days.
00:04:36.319 --> 00:04:36.560
Yeah.
00:04:36.719 --> 00:04:37.040
Again.
00:04:37.199 --> 00:04:40.480
So for due diligence, you could put just five days if you wanted to.
00:04:40.719 --> 00:04:44.560
Builder's report, again, you could, I'm sure you can arrange within three to five days.
00:04:45.040 --> 00:04:48.079
Limb Report is the one that usually takes the longest.
00:04:48.560 --> 00:04:52.480
But if the vendor already has a limb report, you could start with that one.
00:04:52.879 --> 00:04:54.959
And then if you want to get your own, you could still apply for your own.
00:04:55.279 --> 00:04:59.599
So are most banks that happy with the homeowners' limb reports?
00:04:59.920 --> 00:05:01.759
Banks don't read limb reports.
00:05:02.159 --> 00:05:03.759
Banks do not read limb reports.
00:05:04.639 --> 00:05:06.480
It's the lawyers, isn't it, that really wants it.
00:05:06.560 --> 00:05:06.719
Yeah.
00:05:06.959 --> 00:05:07.199
Correct.
00:05:07.360 --> 00:05:07.519
Yeah.
00:05:07.599 --> 00:05:10.319
And they're happy if it's been supplied by the homeowners.
00:05:10.719 --> 00:05:11.599
Usually they are.
00:05:11.680 --> 00:05:11.920
Yeah.
00:05:12.159 --> 00:05:14.319
But usually they'll still encourage you to get your own.
00:05:14.560 --> 00:05:15.040
Is that right?
00:05:15.199 --> 00:05:15.599
They will.
00:05:15.759 --> 00:05:15.920
Yeah.
00:05:16.159 --> 00:05:16.399
Yeah.
00:05:16.879 --> 00:05:22.800
Because again, as I was mentioning in the previous episode, if you want to pull out from the property for one reason or the other, then um.
00:05:24.159 --> 00:05:29.199
Look, it's it's an interesting thing with people like I always find with first home buyers.
00:05:29.519 --> 00:05:38.000
And I'm coming from again, Megan and I buying our first home, and I look back at the sacrifices we made to save a deposit.
00:05:38.639 --> 00:05:54.719
And I think if if you're going into a big responsibility of wanting to buy a house and have a mortgage, I my belief says then you've got to make some sacrifices at the early stages to make that happen and make a plan and get some money there.
00:05:54.800 --> 00:06:10.240
And I think if you can do that and show the banks and everything that you've done that, I think then they can be a lot more accommodating and helping you getting into your property if you've managed to save$10,000,$20,000, you know, as your deposit.
00:06:11.040 --> 00:06:12.240
What do you feel about that?
00:06:12.560 --> 00:06:13.360
I feel the same.
00:06:13.519 --> 00:06:14.319
I feel the same.
00:06:14.480 --> 00:06:19.040
And I think this is where you and I come in, you know, and we educate our clients.
00:06:19.120 --> 00:06:19.439
Yeah.
00:06:19.599 --> 00:06:25.920
Because if they get the wrong information elsewhere, and then that information just travels like wood fire.
00:06:26.079 --> 00:06:27.199
Wait, wood fire?
00:06:27.360 --> 00:06:28.079
Forest fire?
00:06:28.639 --> 00:06:29.759
So like a fire.
00:06:30.240 --> 00:06:31.279
Like a fire.
00:06:31.519 --> 00:06:32.480
A raging fire.
00:06:32.800 --> 00:06:33.920
A raging fire, you know.
00:06:34.000 --> 00:06:41.920
And we and this is why we do this, I guess, is to educate people on what is right and what is the the way the way to go.
00:06:42.079 --> 00:06:45.040
So diaposter on Facebook.
00:06:45.120 --> 00:06:52.079
If if you ever come across this podcast, I hope you uh get the benefit of it of you know, to make your off attractive.
00:06:52.159 --> 00:06:52.319
Yeah.
00:06:52.560 --> 00:06:56.800
Talk to your broker, talk to your advisor, agent, and yeah, get it through.
00:06:57.040 --> 00:07:01.839
That that site that you were on there in the questions, I go in there there there a lot and read read stuff.
00:07:01.920 --> 00:07:10.399
And I was actually reading one just the other day about a first home buyer that missed out on a property by$40,000.
00:07:11.040 --> 00:07:20.000
And it was because the the one that the the offer that the owners took was$40,000 less for a cash offer there.
00:07:20.800 --> 00:07:27.519
They had a couple of conditions in in there, which I would have looked at and thought wasn't wasn't that bad.
00:07:27.680 --> 00:07:32.879
But yeah, the homeowners decided to take the cat cash offer at$40,000 less.
00:07:33.040 --> 00:07:36.000
I'm not sure if I would have done that for$40,000.
00:07:36.560 --> 00:07:43.599
Maybe they would dispensate, but you don't know what the homeowners' situations are, you know, and maybe needed a fast sale.
00:07:43.759 --> 00:07:44.079
Yeah.
00:07:44.240 --> 00:07:44.719
Yeah.
00:07:45.040 --> 00:07:45.920
Awesome, George.
00:07:46.079 --> 00:07:46.560
Thank you so much.
00:07:46.719 --> 00:07:48.319
And I can't wait to see you again.
00:07:48.639 --> 00:07:49.599
Looking forward to it.