Fund the prep work now, repay from your sale proceeds at settlement. 80% of SellSmart clients defer payment until their property sells — no upfront cost, no monthly repayments, no juggling cash flow during the most expensive moment in homeownership.
SellSmart is not a credit provider. This page does not constitute an offer of credit, nor a recommendation. SellSmart provides a transparent comparison service connecting homeowners to independent third-party funders. All credit decisions are made by the funder, subject to their eligibility criteria.
What is pay on settlement?
Pay on settlement is a funding option that lets you complete the work needed to prepare your home for sale — without paying anything upfront. The funder pays the trades on your behalf when the work is done. You repay the funded amount, plus a fee, directly from your sale proceeds when the property settles.
It's designed specifically for sellers: no monthly repayments, no impact on your existing mortgage, and no cash needed at the most expensive moment of the homeowner journey. SellSmart compares your options across five established Australian funders so you don't have to.
Funding calculator
Get an indicative estimate of what you could fund through pay-on-settlement, based on your property and project.
Calculator powered by Property Credit, one of our five funder partners. This provides an indicative estimate from one provider. Book a free 15-minute call for a tailored comparison across all SellSmart funder partners.
Got a number? Compare it across all five funders in a free 15-minute call — we'll find the best terms for your project.
What you can fund
Sellers most often fund painting, flooring, landscaping, and styling. The real value comes from bundling — one application, one fee, one repayment at settlement.
How we do it
Same SellSmart methodology, applied to pay-on-settlement. We compare your options, structure your bundle, and align everything to your sale timeline.
i. Prepare
SellSmart pays for a Matterport digital twin of your property — inside, outside, condition, and measurements. One scan, used by every quoting trade. No site visits, no missed details.
ii. Compare
For every service, three fixed-price itemised quotes from vetted local trades. Then we compare your funding options across all five partners side-by-side — so you see fees and terms before you commit.
iii. Sell smart
Trades get paid on completion by the funder. You make no upfront payment, no monthly repayments. At settlement, the funded amount and fee are repaid directly from your sale proceeds.
Cost transparency
Pay-on-settlement funding has a fee — that's what makes it possible for the funder to pay your trades upfront. The fee is paid out of your sale proceeds at settlement.
Fees vary by funder, project size, and how long the funds are out. Rather than quote a generic number that may not apply to your situation, SellSmart compares the actual fees across all five partner funders for your specific project, so you can see exactly what each option would cost.
If you have cash readily available, paying upfront avoids the fee entirely — and we'll be honest with you about whether pay-on-settlement makes sense for your situation. Sometimes it doesn't, and we'll tell you when.
Common questions
The questions sellers ask us most often. If yours isn't here, ask us directly — we'll give you a straight answer.
It works similarly to a short-term loan, but is structured specifically for property sale preparation. The funder pays the trades for your prep work upfront. You repay the funded amount, plus a fee, from your sale proceeds at settlement. You don't make repayments along the way.
Each funder has different criteria. Some perform a credit check at approval, some don't. None require changes to your existing mortgage. The funded amount is repaid from sale proceeds before the rest of the funds are released to you, so it doesn't add to your monthly outgoings.
Each funder has their own policy on extended timelines or unsold properties. Most allow flexibility for a reasonable period. SellSmart helps you compare these terms across funders before you commit, so you understand the risks specific to each option.
Fees vary by funder, project size, and how long the funds are out. Some charge a flat fee; some charge a percentage of the funded amount. Rather than quote a number that may not apply to your situation, SellSmart compares the actual fees across our partner funders so you can see what your project would cost with each.
It depends on your project size, timeline, property value, and personal financial situation. SellSmart is independent — we compare your options across all five partner funders and recommend the best fit. We don't earn more by steering you to one over another.
When your property settles, your conveyancer is instructed to repay the funded amount plus the agreed fee directly to the funder from your sale proceeds. The remaining balance is released to you as normal. You don't handle repayment yourself.
Get started
Free 15-minute call. We'll understand your situation, your timeline, and run a comparison across our funder partners so you know exactly where you stand. No commitment required.