Buying and selling

Buying and selling at the same time

Many movers sell one home and buy another on the same day. Here’s how the two sides fit together and where they usually get stuck.

  1. 01

    Sell first or buy first?

    What happens here?

    Most people agree their sale before offering, which makes them a stronger buyer.

    What should you be thinking about?

    • Sellers prefer buyers with a sale agreed
    • Know what you can spend using your equity
    Properfy can help withMortgages
  2. 02

    Value your home and check your budget

    What happens here?

    Combine your likely equity with a mortgage in principle to see what you can buy.

    What should you be thinking about?

    • Include costs on both sides
    • Allow for early repayment charges
    Properfy can help withMortgages
  3. 03

    Use one solicitor for both sides

    What happens here?

    Having the same firm handle your sale and purchase can make coordinating them simpler.

    What should you be thinking about?

    • Instruct them as early as you can
    • Ask how they manage linked transactions
    Properfy can help withConveyancing
  4. 04

    Agree your sale and your purchase

    What happens here?

    Once both are agreed you’re part of a chain: your buyer, you and your seller all depend on each other.

    What should you be thinking about?

    • Find out how long the chain is
    • Share realistic timings early
  5. 05

    Mortgage timing

    What happens here?

    You may port your current mortgage or take a new one. Either way, the offer has to line up with your dates.

    What should you be thinking about?

    • Check how long your offer is valid
    • Talk to a broker about porting versus a new deal
    Properfy can help withMortgages
  6. 06

    Moving your deposit

    What happens here?

    The deposit for your purchase often comes from your sale, moved by your solicitor at exchange.

    What should you be thinking about?

    • Confirm this with your solicitor early
    • Some sellers ask for a set percentage
    Properfy can help withConveyancing
  7. 07

    Exchange both together

    What happens here?

    Your sale and purchase normally exchange at the same moment, so you’re never committed to one without the other.

    What should you be thinking about?

    • Every link in the chain must be ready
    • Agree one completion date for all
    Properfy can help withConveyancing
  8. 08

    Completion day

    What happens here?

    Your buyer’s money arrives, your mortgage is paid off and your purchase money is sent on, usually all on the same day.

    What should you be thinking about?

    • Keys often arrive in the afternoon
    • Plan your removal around both properties
    Properfy can help withRemovals
  9. 09

    If dates don’t line up

    What happens here?

    Delays happen. Storage, temporary accommodation or bridging finance can cover the gap.

    What should you be thinking about?

    • Get storage quotes as a backup
    • Bridging is specialist: take advice
    Properfy can help withUtilities, insurance & moreSpecialist finance
  10. 10

    Removals and moving

    What happens here?

    One-day moves need careful planning, especially with keys arriving late.

    What should you be thinking about?

    • Book removers who handle chain moves
    • Pack an essentials box
    Properfy can help withRemovals

Common questions

What happens if I’m in a property chain?A chain is a line of linked sales and purchases that depend on each other. What if completion dates don’t match?If you have to leave before you can move in, short-term storage and temporary accommodation bridge the gap. How long does conveyancing take?A straightforward transaction can sometimes complete within several weeks, but there’s no fixed timeframe. What happens to my mortgage when I sell?Your solicitor gets a redemption statement from your lender and pays off the mortgage from the sale money on completion. What happens at exchange of contracts?At exchange, both solicitors swap signed contracts and fix the completion date.

Tell us about your move

Buying, selling, remortgaging or simply not sure where to start? Tell us what you’re trying to do and we’ll help you work out what you need.