Short answer: A conditional offer contains written requirements that must be dealt with under the sale and purchase agreement. Sellers should copy conditions and dates exactly, ask the lawyer what they mean and avoid calculating or changing contractual deadlines themselves.
Read conditions inside the whole agreement
Settled.govt.nz explains that the sale and purchase agreement records conditions, obligations and next steps. Common labels may refer to finance, building reports, title, LIM information, due diligence or the sale of another property, but the actual wording controls. Do not assume two conditions with the same label have the same effect.
Give the full written offer to the lawyer before signing. Ask what the seller must do, what the buyer must do, how satisfaction or waiver is communicated and what happens if a requirement is not met. Keep professional interpretation out of the website notes.
Copy dates without recalculating them
Record the condition label, written due date and responsible person exactly. If the agreement expresses time through working days or another formula, ask the lawyer for the confirmed calendar date. The workspace should display a date entered by the seller, not invent one from legal text.
Set practical reminders earlier than the legal deadline where appropriate, but label them as reminders. A reminder does not amend the agreement. Keep the source document and the lawyer's confirmation available when several people are coordinating the sale.
Treat changes as contractual decisions
An extension, waiver, variation or counter-offer can change legal rights and timing. Do not accept a casual message as sufficient without advice on the required form. Record which written document contains the change and when the lawyer confirmed it.
If the buyer cannot satisfy a condition, ask the lawyer about the available steps. Do not publish or follow a generic remedy from an article because the agreement wording and facts may differ.
Connect conditions to money and moving plans
A conditional sale can affect purchase commitments, mover bookings, storage, insurance and temporary accommodation. Keep those practical plans flexible until the relevant professional confirms the sale status and funding. Mark assumptions visibly in the workspace.
When the agreement becomes unconditional, confirm the settlement plan, lender tasks, insurance dates and pre-settlement inspection. Continue to use the signed agreement and lawyer's instructions as authority.
- Exact condition wording and source document
- Confirmed due date and responsible person
- Dependencies on another property or funding
- Written change and lawyer confirmation
Put this guide into your private workspace
Use these connected tools to record your own facts and questions. Values stay private and are never sent to an agent without a separate reviewed contact action.
Frequently asked questions
Can the website calculate a condition date?
No. Enter a calendar date confirmed from the signed agreement and your lawyer's advice.
What if the buyer needs more time?
Ask the lawyer about the written agreement and any proposed extension before agreeing to a change.
When can I treat the sale as unconditional?
Rely on formal confirmation under the agreement and from your lawyer, not a workspace label or verbal assumption.
Official sources
Sources were accessed and checked on 21 August 2026. Keep the live source and current professional advice as authority if rules or circumstances change.