The Biggest Mistake We See People Make When Buying and Selling at the Same Time

by Paige Hardy Hill

Thinking about buying and selling a home at the same time? It’s totally possible and we help clients do it all the time! But there’s one major mistake we see people make that throws a wrench into the process:

They try to find their next dream home before listing their current one.

We get it, it feels safer. You don’t want to risk being “homeless,” right? But in reality, this approach often leads to more stress, fewer options, and missed opportunities.

Why This Strategy Doesn’t Work in Today’s Market

Right now, homes are sitting just a little longer than they were in recent years, but the good ones? They're still going quickly. So when buyers try to search for their ideal home before even listing their current one, they often run into a few issues:

Their offers aren’t taken seriously by sellers if their home isn’t even on the market.
They’re not in a strong negotiating position.
They feel rushed and frustrated when they can’t make a move on the home they love.

Bottom line: trying to shop before you sell is like putting the cart before the horse and in real estate, that can cost you big time.

A Smarter, Smoother Way to Buy and Sell

So what should you do instead? Here’s the approach we recommend (and use ourselves!):

✅ Step 1: List Your Current Home

Start by getting your home on the market yes, even if you haven’t found your next one yet. The key here is to make your sale contingent on finding a replacement home. This means you don’t have to close or move out until you’ve found your next home. It’s a super common clause and protects you from being left without a roof over your head.

✅ Step 2: Accept a Contingency-Aware Offer

Once your home is listed, we’ll find a buyer who understands your timeline. When an offer comes in and many buyers are flexible about this! You’ll go under contract with the understanding that you’ll close once you secure your next home.

✅ Step 3: Begin the Search With Confidence

Now that your home is under contract, you’re in a much stronger position. You can tour homes, submit offers, and negotiate with more leverage because sellers see you as a serious buyer with your ducks in a row.

And don’t worry, we’re pros at aligning timelines, negotiating terms, and making sure both transactions move smoothly. With the right plan in place, buying and selling at the same time can actually be less stressful than you think.

Need a Game Plan? We’ve Got You.

If you're feeling nervous or unsure about how to make this happen, you're not alone. That’s why we’re here.

Whether you want to understand your options or you're ready to list, we’ll walk you through the process step by step and customize it based on your situation.

We’re Jill and Paige, your local realtors and community experts. We love helping people make smooth, confident moves, and we’d love to help you, too.

Follow us!
IG - @househardys - https://www.instagram.com/p/DKiFpc7BYml/
Website - https://askhardy.com/
YouTube - www.youtube.com/@livingintemeculavalley