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How to Search for Property Sales History Online

Understanding the current market value of a property is perhaps the best way to reduce any risk in potentially overpaying or undervaluing a property.

It’s equally important data for sellers, buyers and agents – and that’s where property sales history comes in.

As you’ll discover below, you don’t have to scour the internet high and low, as all of this information is available in one place, right at your fingertips!

So, why exactly is property sales history valuable for you?

Property agents have been using property sales data for years to garner a more complete view of a property’s value, including how this has fluctuated over time (to help in their market research and sale efforts).

A home may have been valued at $X amount 5 years ago (or even 12 months ago), but what changes may have impacted its value since then – and how do other properties in the area compare?

Apart from individual factors that play a part in a home’s value (such as renovations to the home, for example), the sales history reflects current market supply and demand.

As a seller, it’s essential to ensure your home is accurately priced – too high and it could sit on the market longer than you’d like without much interest. Too low, and you’re potentially missing out on additional profit and gains you can reinvest in other ways.

As a buyer, naturally you don’t want to overpay for a property! Ideally, any purchase is an investment that should hold or increase its value over time. However, the market is a competitive place and as a buyer you also need to ensure your offer/bid is relevant for it to be seriously considered.

In all of the above cases, a simple property sales history search is the way to go!

When is the best time to look for property sales history?

In almost every case, a search should be performed prior to buying or listing a property for sale – even if you’re not at the stage of selling and just want an idea.

In the case of a property sale:

The data will be used to determine how much your home might be worth, and set a fair market price

You’ll have a factual foundation and comparative information from surrounding properties to back up the price point/price range

This information can also be shared with prospective buyers to better inform their decision-making process

In the case of a property purchase:

If a property has suddenly experienced a significant change in value (higher or lower) – especially over a short period, you can enquire as to why

By performing this due diligence, you’ll have additional information to ensure you’re making the most informed decision possible

It also provides you with peace of mind and enhanced confidence when it comes to putting forth an offer you can feel comfortable with

The kind of information to look for in a property sales history search:

General property history information can include when the property was built, its floor plan, local Government and suburb insights.

Key information includes sale/purchase prices and dates. You can also opt for a more comprehensive summary of the property that includes the property’s permit history information and the most accurate, reliable and up-to-date data sets.

For buyers:

These details can help determine what the property might be worth (not just now, but in the future)

Permit history is also helpful so you know what/if any restrictions you may face in future around planning and build extensions, requiring council approval etc.

For Agents & Sellers:

This data helps in pricing a property accordingly, based on other comparative recent sales in the area

You can also use these insights to better pre-empt local market trends and demand from this available information

Permit activity is a common question buyers want to know about, so you will be informed should this pop up

Where to find property sales history:

Property listing sites and public records are one avenue you can go down. The issue here is that information is often fragmented/incomplete. Commonly, if the property hasn’t been sold for some time, it can be hard to find updated information.

Dedicated property databases such as Landchecker offer a premium property report that is quick and simple to generate.

The data is provided from hundreds of trusted sources; including state government, local councils and partners. It's monitored and refreshed daily to match the sourced data.

The report includes neighbourhood information, recent and proposed planning scheme amendments, imagery and much more.

There’s also no need to waste time digging for the data you need – Landchecker pulls together all the information in one thorough, summarised document (so you don’t have to!).

Quick and easy to read property sales history searches are available across properties in NSW, VIC, QLD, SA, WA and TAS for less than $20 (and it’s downloadable in just seconds).

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