For buyers who are ready to act, that creates a powerful mix: motivated vendors, smoother negotiations, and stronger deal momentum.
EOFY motivates decision-making
Most vendors don’t wake up in February panicking. The shift is more subtle, and far more useful for buyers. EOFY puts a deadline on indecision.
It’s a natural checkpoint. Vendors start thinking:
- If I’m going to do this, it needs to move now
- I don’t want this dragging into the new financial year
- I want settlement clarity, not months of “maybe”
- I’m not doing another winter season in limbo
That mindset shift is the real opportunity. It pushes vendors to focus less on holding out and more on getting the right deal across the line.
And when a vendor is in that headspace, the buyer who is organised and aligned with the business becomes far more attractive.
Certainty becomes a bargaining chip
The strongest buyer isn’t always the one with the biggest offer. It’s the one who is prepared and can close.
With EOFY around the corner, this becomes even more true. Vendors feel time pressure, and time pressure changes what they value.
Prepared buyers win because they offer what motivated vendors want most:
- Fewer complications
- Faster progression
- Clear conditions
- A believable path to settlement
In other words, your certainty becomes leverage.
If you can move efficiently and professionally, vendors are often more open to practical terms, realistic pricing conversations, and flexible settlement structures.
That’s because your preparation mirrors their urgency. When you reduce the vendor’s risk, you create room to secure the right business on the right terms.
Urgency creates momentum
As we move closer to 31 March, deals naturally accelerate.
Vendor responses tend to shift from “let me think about it” to “what will it take to get this done?” That often leads to:
- Faster negotiation cycles
- Fewer drawn-out counteroffers
- Greater openness to practical solutions
When the vendor trusts you can settle, they are more likely to meet you halfway, particularly if it keeps the deal from drifting into winter and losing steam.
Common behaviours of successful buyers
The buyers who secure the best outcomes in Q1 tend to have three things nailed:
1. Clear buying focus
They know what they’re looking for and what they won’t touch.
They’re not comparing ten industries or chasing every listing. Their search is narrow, which makes decisions faster and negotiation stronger.
2. Funding clarity
They’ve spoken to lenders or finance partners early. They understand deposit requirements, servicing expectations, and which deal structures are realistic.
That means they don’t lose momentum once an offer is in play.
3. A disciplined process
They move with structure. They ask sharp questions early, make clean conditional offers, and keep due diligence tight.
What to be cautious of: EOFY urgency can cut both ways
While the push towards EOFY creates opportunity, it also increases noise. Here are three risks to keep in front-of-mind:
The “settle before EOFY” pressure play
A push on timeline isn’t automatically a red flag, but it can be used to minimise scrutiny. Stay calm and stick to your process. Fast is fine. Blind is not.
EOFY numbers can be polished
Some businesses will tidy up the financial story at this time of year. You’ll want to understand what’s repeatable, what’s seasonal, and what has been engineered for presentation.
A motivated vendor can still be unrealistic
Motivation doesn’t always equal reasonableness. If pricing expectations don’t match performance, hold your line.
The bottom line: Q1 is the best time to act, if you’re already ready
Buying before EOFY is a smart play because it lines up with a market shift buyers can actually use.
When sellers want certainty and timelines matter, a prepared buyer has a real advantage. Not only in getting a deal done, but in negotiating one that works.
If you’re actively searching now and you’re capable of moving, Q1 is your opportunity to secure something strong before the market resets into the new financial year.
At LINK, we work with serious buyers across New Zealand who are ready to acquire, not just browse. If you’re looking to buy before EOFY, we can help you identify the right opportunities and move through the process with speed, clarity, and confidence.
