How to price, prepare and sell for the best price — and what happens on transfer day.
The seven stages of selling property in Dubai, start to finish:
Asking prices on property portals are just that — asking prices, often set optimistically and sitting unsold for months. We price against actual recorded DLD transaction data for comparable units in your building or immediate area, which tells you what buyers are genuinely paying rather than what sellers are hoping for.
Cosmetic condition moves resale price more than most sellers expect relative to its cost — a fresh coat of neutral paint, decluttering, and fixing obviously broken fixtures typically pay for themselves several times over in a faster sale at a better price. If the unit needs more than cosmetic work to compete, our renovation project management service scopes exactly what's worth doing before you list, and what isn't.
Professional photography (and video, for higher-value units) is not optional in a market this competitive — most buyers rule a property in or out from the listing photos alone before ever requesting a viewing. We list across the major portals and directly to our own buyer and investor network simultaneously.
Once you accept an offer, a Memorandum of Understanding (commonly Form F) is signed by both parties, setting the agreed price, timeline and conditions, with a deposit — typically 10% — held until transfer. This is also the point to start your No Objection Certificate application with the developer, since it can take longer than either party expects.
Your developer's No Objection Certificate confirms there are no outstanding service charges or registered mortgage against the unit, and is required before DLD will process the transfer. If there's an existing mortgage, your bank issues a liability letter and the buyer's payment (or their bank) settles it directly as part of the transfer-day process.
Both parties (or authorised representatives) attend a DLD trustee office, the balance is paid, transfer and any mortgage-related fees are settled, and the title deed is reissued in the buyer's name. Agency commission — typically 2% — is generally due at this point per the signed MOU.
A straightforward cash sale with no existing mortgage can transfer within a couple of weeks of an accepted offer; a sale with an existing mortgage to settle, or a buyer who also needs financing approved, typically adds several weeks for the additional paperwork on both sides. We manage the NOC and paperwork trail so a slow step on one side doesn't stall the whole transaction.
This guide covers the general rules — WhatsApp us for a straight answer on your exact situation.
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