Am I being unreasonable to want to line up next home before marketing current one?

onwards&upwards

elsien said:

I would only move for the right house otherwise I would stay put. 

I tend to think that once you've made a decision to move to the point that you want to start viewings, you aren't going to be staying put, whatever you might think!

So in a way you are better off selling fast and going into rented so that when your perfect house comes up you are ready to go. 

getmore4less

Best to work both sides at the same time.

If there is nothing you could consider you can suppress you side by pricing at top end but be ready to become very competitive when you find somewhere.

Have a read of this posters threads they are stuck on an open chain. 
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/profile/Scythi

elsien

onwards&upwards said:

elsien said:

I would only move for the right house otherwise I would stay put. 

I tend to think that once you've made a decision to move to the point that you want to start viewings, you aren't going to be staying put, whatever you might think!

So in a way you are better off selling fast and going into rented so that when your perfect house comes up you are ready to go. 

My options are very limited because of what I can afford.
I haven't decided I'm definitely going to move, I've decided I'd like to start looking and if there is something that ticks the boxes that I can afford then I'll move. If not I'll stay put.
There are some things it would be very nice to have but that I can live without. So there's no way I'd be selling up and going into rented, potentially for months or longer on the off chance that something that is better and still affordable comes along.

blue_max_3

If you're a fussy buyer, but have a standard, easy sellable property, find your property first. Not great to have a buyer and be pressured to move.
But everyone finds a way eventually. Some are easier paths than others though.

dramaticat

I am in the same position. I've been looking to downsize for the last three years but in the same village. Up until the beginning of this year the market has been sluggish with few properties coming on the market. I was lucky to be able to persuade agents (who were looking to get my house to sell!) to let me view the few that did come on, but none of them were quite right. This year saw more activity after Brexit was finally settled. I viewed six properties in February and imagined more would come up for sale around Easter, when I was planning to market mine. Since the stamp duty holiday announcement, there seem to be quite a few properties coming on the market so I have put mine up for sale to see what happens. If I can't find anything I like, I'll just take mine off the market and stay put.

Either you need to be prepared to sell your property and move into rented, or wait until there are a number of things on the market you think you might be interested in, then put yours on the market while you start to look around. I have considered selling and going into rented, but am afraid that after this initial flurry the market will slow down again and I could be stuck renting for years or feel forced to buy a house that really isn't right for me. I would consider buying before I sold, but I don't think my savings and the money I could borrow would be enough to enable me to do that.

anna_mcgrail

We just made an offer and were accepted because we were the only ones who were proceedable. It was a very highly sought after property with four non-proceedable offers already made at asking price, so it paid off having already secured a buyer for our flat.

gingerdad

You are being unreasonable.

I'd put the flat on the market if it sells before you've found the house, rent for 6-12 months - which also puts you in a better position.

eidand

I think you are unreasonable as well, but then I am not involved in your process. You can, of course try to put offers in, without having sold first, but in my experience estate agents will definitely ask if you are proceedable and will want to see proof of funds if you say you are. Thing is, you can put your property on the market and you have until exchange to change your mind. It's not fair to your buyer, but it's not an easy position to be in. You could make it clear that you're looking for something suitable and won't exchange until you find it. That way at least everyone knows where they stand and do't have to spend anything until you're ready.

Scotbot

You don't  have a choice, thanks to covid some vendors won't even let you view if you are not proceedable

Ozzuk

As above, people are less open to risk so more likely to refuse you.  We allowed 1 or 2 people who weren't in a position to proceed view but when interest picked up we were more selective.  However, we then had an offer out of the blue during lockdown from one of those couples who loved the house so much they decided to rent out their current house so they could proceed with ours.
Virtually no chance anyone would entertain an offer from you though.