Buying and selling safely
in New Zealand.
Practical guides on escrow, scams, and paying for private sales without putting your money at risk.
Trade Me Scams in NZ: How to Spot Them and Protect Your Money
The Trade Me scams worth watching for, what Trade Me's own Buyer Protection already covers, and where the gap sits for high-value private sales.
Read7 min
Who Goes First? The Uncomfortable Reality of Paying for a Private Sale
The buyer will not pay before they have the car. The seller will not hand it over before they are paid. Why private sales still come down to one leap of faith.
Read5 min
What Is Escrow? A Plain English Guide for New Zealand
How an escrow account works, how it differs from a trust account, what it costs, and when to use escrow for a private sale in New Zealand.
Read8 min
The Safe Way to Buy a Car Privately in NZ
A step by step guide to buying a car privately in New Zealand, covering the checks that matter, the paperwork, and how to hand over the money without getting burned.
Read9 min
Paying a Deposit Safely: How to Secure a Private Sale Without Losing Your Money
Deposits are the riskiest payment in any private sale. Here is how to structure one so you are protected if the deal falls over.
Read7 min