Enquiry: about 14 days
A 20-minute call, then a farm visit where it helps. We check the claims register and the deeds records, and tell you honestly whether a state sale is realistic and which route applies.
How it works
Eight stages from mandate to transfer
A state farm sale runs through eight stages: enquiry, mandate, file, valuation, submission, offer, agreement, and transfer. The expected durations below add up to about 19 months, which matches the 12 to 36 month range on our completed files. Your portal shows the same stages, the same durations, and who each stage is waiting on.
Mandate signed: about 21 days
You sign a sole or open mandate and the PPRA disclosure, and every signatory completes FICA. Trusts and companies add their deed or CIPC papers and a resolution. Signing happens in the portal or at the table.
File compiled: about 45 days
Title deed, SG diagram, farm map and infrastructure inventory, water use, leases, bond statements, rates and tax clearances, and the FICA pack. You upload from your phone; we chase the slow ones with the municipality and the water authority.
Valuation: about 60 days
We instruct an independent valuer and brief them with production records, comparable sales, and the improvement inventory, so the evidence is on the table before the state's own valuer arrives.
Submitted to state: about 180 days
The submission pack goes to the district office or the Commission. This is the longest stage: the state values, reviews, and takes the file to committee. We chase on a schedule and tell you when anything moves.
Offer and negotiation: about 90 days
The state's offer letter arrives. We compare it with the valuation, give you a written recommendation, and respond, accept, or counter with evidence. You decide.
Sale agreement: about 45 days
The deed of sale is signed by all parties. Suspensive conditions, occupation, and the cut-off for crops or harvests are recorded so there are no surprises at transfer.
Transfer and payout: about 120 days
The state's conveyancer lodges at the Deeds Office. On registration the purchase price is paid, bonds are settled, and you receive the commission statement and disbursement schedule in your portal.
The three things that decide a sale
Where a state sale is actually won or lost
What "waiting on" means
Every stage has a party responsible for the next move. When it is you, the portal lists exactly what we need. When it is Landmatters, the valuer, DALRRD, or the conveyancer, we tell you what we are doing to move it along and when we last chased. Nothing is hidden and nothing is promised that the state has not put in writing.
Read the deep explainer on selling to governmentCommon questions
What does the state pay for a farm?
Market value, established by the state's valuation and supported by an independent valuation we commission. Nobody can promise a figure before an offer letter.
How long does a state sale take?
Twelve to 36 months in our completed files, with a median of about 20 months.
Can I sell if there is a bond on the farm?
Yes. The bond is settled from the proceeds on registration. We obtain bond statements early so the numbers are clear.
Can a trust or company sell to the state?
Yes. The trust deed or CIPC documents, letters of authority, a resolution, and beneficial owner details form part of the mandate pack.
What if the state's offer is too low?
You can decline or counter. We respond with a reasoned counter supported by the independent valuation and comparable sales.
Can I sell only part of my farm?
Portions with their own SG diagram can be sold on their own. Otherwise a subdivision is needed first, which we advise on.
Who pays the conveyancer?
On a state purchase the state usually appoints and pays the conveyancer. Bond cancellation costs are the seller's.
What is a sole mandate?
An agreement that Landmatters is the only agent for the sale for a set period. It lets us invest in the file and the submission without duplication.
Which documents take longest?
Municipal rates clearances, water use records, and forestry permits. We request them at mandate stage.
Can I keep farming while the sale is in progress?
Yes. Normal operations continue until transfer. Major changes should be discussed with us first because they affect valuation.
Next step
Talk to someone who has done this 140 times
Twenty minutes on the phone. We tell you honestly whether a state sale is the right route for your farm, what it would take, and how long it usually runs. No cost, and no obligation to give us a mandate afterwards.