Private house sales are booming in South Australia! Owners love the savings and control, and buyers love dealing directly with the person who knows the home best. This page explains how private sales work for both sides, and how PLBO brings them together.
Where SA private house sales are listed
- PLBO: South Australia's private listings, where buyers contact the owner directly.
- Seven major Australian portals: PLBO listings appear on Domain.com.au, view.com.au, homely.com.au, soho.com.au, realty.com.au, onthehouse.com.au and allhomes.com.au*, right alongside agent listings.
- Buyers agents: professional buyers agents search PLBO for private-sale opportunities for their clients.
- Social feeds and notifications: PLBO's Facebook campaigns and targeted notifications, depending on the owner's package.
For buyers: what you get in an SA private sale
| Protection | How it works |
|---|---|
| Form 1 vendor's statement | discloses the title, mortgages, easements, zoning and outgoings; served at least 10 clear days before settlement in a private treaty sale |
| Cooling-off | 2 clear business days from the later of signing and receiving the Form 1; any deposit above $100 refunded if you cool off |
| Written contract | binding once both parties sign; conditions such as finance or inspection written in |
| Deposit in trust | held in a conveyancer's or solicitor's trust account |
Sources: SA.GOV.AU, Law Handbook SA.
Buyers enjoy the same protections as in any SA sale, plus the bonus of speaking directly to the owner.
How to buy a private house in SA
- Browse private listings on PLBO and message the owner.
- Inspect at a scheduled time or by appointment, and ask the owner anything.
- Ask for the Form 1 and contract and have your conveyancer review them.
- Arrange finance approval and a building inspection before you sign. The two-day cooling-off period is designed for final checks, not for arranging finance (Law Handbook SA).
- Make a written offer: price, deposit, conditions and settlement date.
- Sign through your conveyancer, then settle.
For sellers: why private house sales work in SA
- The savings are substantial. At the SA average commission of about 2.25%, selling a $975,000 home through an agent costs about $21,938 (OpenAgent; Valuer-General, June quarter 2026). PLBO packages cost $699 to $3,699 including GST.
- Buyers are ready. SA buyers know the Form 1 and cooling-off process and are comfortable dealing with owners.
- The market is strong. Domain reported Adelaide's median house price up 15.9% in the year to June 2026 (ABC News).
- You keep control. You set the price, the inspection times and the terms you accept.
What SA buyers love to see from private sellers
- The Form 1 and contract ready before inspections begin
- Clear inspection times and quick replies to messages
- A price based on recent sales, which you're happy to explain
- Great photos and a floor plan so they can plan their visit
- The deposit held in a trust account, as standard
PLBO's dashboard makes all of this easy, with buyer messaging, inspection registration and offer management in one place.
For buyers: great questions to ask the owner
Buying privately means you can ask the person who knows the home best! Try these:
- What have you loved most about living here?
- What work have you done on the home, and when?
- What are the council rates, SA Water and power bills like?
- How are the neighbours and the street?
- What's included in the sale?
- What settlement date would suit you?
Owners on PLBO answer through buyer messaging, so you'll have everything in writing.
*Availability on allhomes.com.au may depend on the property's location, listing type and applicable portal requirements.
Bringing buyers and sellers together
PLBO is built for private house sales. Owners list with one upfront fee and keep 100% of their proceeds, and buyers and buyers agents find private homes and talk directly to the people selling them.
- Selling? Start with sell my house privately in SA.
- Buying? Browse private listings on PLBO.
- Buyers agent? See PLBO for buyers agents.