Selling A House.

[robin8495]

While I am waiting for my house to be sold, is it a good idea to look for a future property now, or to wait till a buyer puts an offer in to by my house? In the past when I was in the same position 20 years ago, I had found a property that I liked, and the owner was willing to wait till my house was sold. That was lucky for me, they waited and I purchased their property, but does it still apply these days?
The problem is that if I see a property I like and put an offer in, I then have no idea when my own property will be sold, it could be many many months, then
I could have the disappointment of losing the property I had wanted. What is the best plan?

[rockyracoon]

To be honest if I was selling I wouldn't accept an offer from soneone who hadn't recieved one themselves. There's no harm in looking at properties though, you'll be able to weed out the unsuitable ones so you don't bother with them when you eventually get an offer.

Good luck

[Old_Geezer]

Never sold so never in this position but I'd have thought getting to know the present market was invaluable. And anyway someone in the chain has to find somewhere first.

[CheekyChops]

I would look via RightMove etc but I wouldn't go and view any.

My mum has her house up for sale at the moment and will insist on viewing other properties that she likes then gets very disappointed when she falls in love with it but can't have it as she hasn't sold hers and someone else buys it. I'm trying to tell her not to view until she has an offer on her own house but she doesn't always listen!

In my mum's case hers has been for sale for 12 months so I can't imagine anyone waiting that length of time for her to find a buyer!

[ToraToraTora]

Never start looking until you have a buyer.

[dancecaller]

When we bought our present property 40 years ago things were a bit different. It was easy to borrow and easy to sell, and we were looking for something specific so we didn't put our house on the market till we'd found it. Then we had a bridging loan to cover the gap in completion dates. But we both exchanged contracts on the same day, couldn't afford to risk losing our buyer.
I suppose it depends why you are moving and what you are looking for, but I would be looking round. Get to know the market in the area you want to buy. If you see something you would like, let the seller know your position, then at least they might come back to you to check how your sale is going if they get a lower offer.

[BlueToffee]

Our house has been on the market for 18 months, we have yet to start looking, although this morning we've had an offer!

Looks as though it'll be all hands to the pump just as soon as I get home on Friday!

[Prudie]

This is the age old problem when trying to move and getting involved in a chain. I'd try to guage how easily it will be to sell your own house, how long has it been on the market, how many viewings have you had, how's other property in your area moving? If it's all a bit sluggish then it's pot luck whether you'd find the owner of a house you like willing to wait for you to sell. I'd keep an eye open on the market but widen your options ie don't fall in love with somewhere that you're not then in a position to buy.

[ummmm]

I suppose it depends where you live. The houses round here are not up for sale for very long.

[Peter Pedant]

Oh I see.... a house sells if it is marketed at the right price and if it isnt then you wait really for armagedddon....

I have always waited almost for the evil day ( completion ) but you must be ready to move into rented accommodation, in order to please your buyer.

two thirds of offers fall through - so EVEN if you get an offer there is only a chance of one in three that it will go to completion....

[boxtops]

It really depends on the market where you live - how quickly they are selling, how desirable your own house is. I would look but not actually offer for anything until I knew mine was sold. You could be in the awful bridging loan situation otherwise, which is not a happy place to be.