Thinking of Buying but Need to Sell First? Here's What You Need to Know
If you're a homeowner looking to move but need to sell your current home before buying the next one, you're not alone. This is a very common scenario—and one we help clients navigate all the time.
As your buyer's agent, my job is to help you write the strongest offer possible on your next home. But when you're also a seller, your current home's status plays a huge role in how sellers view your offer.
Let’s walk through the five most common situations and how they impact your chances of getting your offer accepted:
Lowest chance of acceptance.
From a seller’s perspective, this is the riskiest scenario. If your home isn’t on the market yet, there’s no clear timeline, no guarantee it will sell quickly, and no assurance that you'll be ready to close. Most sellers won't take their home off the market based on this type of contingency.
Slightly better, but still limited.
At this stage, you've taken an important step forward—but there's still a lot of uncertainty. Until your home has an accepted offer, a seller may worry about delays or complications on your end. Some will consider your offer, but only if they’re not receiving stronger options.
Moderate chance of acceptance.
This is when things start to improve. A seller can now see real progress on your end. You're under contract, and the buyer is working through due diligence. However, because there are still potential deal-breakers (inspection issues or appraisal shortfalls), your offer may still carry risk in the seller’s eyes.
Strong offer.
Now you’re in a great position. You’ve cleared the inspection hurdle, and the only remaining piece is the appraisal. At this point, most sellers will see your offer as serious and likely to close.
Strongest possible position without closing.
This is where we, as buyer’s agents, love to be. With all contingencies removed, your home is nearly ready to close. Sellers view your offer as nearly equivalent to cash, and you’ll be much more competitive in a multiple-offer situation.
Because it’s all about leverage.
When your home is under contract—especially with few or no contingencies—you have a clear closing timeline, a serious buyer behind you, and the ability to make offers that are far more attractive to sellers. This dramatically increases the chances of your next offer being accepted, especially in a competitive market.
If we jump too soon—before your home is listed or under contract—you may fall in love with a home we can’t get. And we don’t want you to miss out on the right house because of poor timing or an offer that doesn’t stand out.
If you’re thinking of buying and selling at the same time, let’s put a plan together. I’ll walk you through how to prepare your home for market, position you for success, and time the process so that your transition is as smooth—and strategic—as possible.
Buying and selling doesn’t have to be stressful. It just takes a solid plan, the right timing, and a team that knows how to manage both sides of the deal.
Ready to talk strategy? Let’s connect.