Selling privately: the steps
- Price. The most common mistake of private sellers: starting too high "because we can negotiate later". Base it on real local selling prices, not on listings.
- Documents. Title deed, compliant cadastral data, energy certificate (APE), building compliance and condominium documents.
- Listing. Bright, tidy photos, a floor plan, a precise description with energy class and fees. Publish on the main portals.
- Viewings. Screen callers by phone: area, budget, mortgage already assessed. Let people view calmly and keep the documents ready.
- Offer and preliminary contract. Ask for a written offer; the preliminary contract with deposit should be drafted by a professional and registered.
- Deed. The notary chosen by the buyer checks everything and draws up the deed.
The main risks
- Wrong price: too high and the home does not sell; too low and you lose more than the commission saved.
- Documents not in order discovered only by the notary: the sale is delayed or falls through.
- A badly written preliminary contract: deposit, deadlines and conditions (for example the buyer's mortgage) must be clear.
- Time: phone calls, viewings, time-wasters. People who work all day often underestimate it.
When selling without an agent makes sense
When you already have a buyer (a neighbour, a relative, a tenant), when you have time and the home is easy to sell, or when the market in your area is very lively. In other cases a good agent often pays for themselves with a better final price and a shorter sale.
If you are selling in South Tyrol
On top of the steps above: check the land register extract and whether the home is resident-only, because then not everyone can buy it. In Bolzano and the surrounding area it pays to advertise in Italian and German. The full list is in documents to sell a home in South Tyrol.
If you are selling in Bolzano or nearby, start from the value: the free estimate by address gives you a range based on local prices.