A guide to buying and selling a home at the same time

Step-by-step process to buying and selling at the same time

Here’s the journey you may experience:

1. Get a valuation
2. Review your finances
3. Prepare your home for sale
4. Sort your paperwork
5. List your property
6. Receive offers
7. Place your own offer
8. Begin conveyancing
9. Complete both transactions

Step 1: Getting your property valued

A clear valuation can provide a useful starting point, helping you understand what your current home is worth and what you can budget for next.

You can use local estate agents or online estimation tools to get an initial idea of your property’s value, but online tools provide guide prices only. An in-person valuation from an agent may be more accurate – you can gather a few to compare.

Read our guide for more information about selling your home.

Step 2: Understanding your finances

Once you know what your current home is worth, you can work out how much equity you have and what you can afford next. This may also be a good time to check your existing mortgage balance and any terms or fees that may apply.

We’ve outlined some of the key costs to factor in below.

When buying:

• Stamp Duty

• Property survey fees

• Local authority searches

• Mortgage fees (e.g., arrangement or valuation fees)

When selling:

• Estate agent fees (typically 1–3% of the sale price)

• Solicitor fees

• Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) requirements

Learn more about the costs of buying a home in our guide.

Step 3: Preparing your home for sale

The way you present your home can influence how prospective buyers view it. Some improvements that can help make a strong first impression include:

• Fixing small issues like loose handles, scuffed skirting boards or dripping taps

• Repainting in neutral tones

• Maximising natural light by opening blinds, trimming outdoor greenery and using lighter curtains

• Removing odours

• Managing pets during viewings

• Decluttering and clearing surfaces

• Refreshing kerb appeal by tidying the garden, driveway or entryway

For more information, explore our helpful hacks to attract buyers.

Step 4: Gathering all required paperwork

Having the key documents ready early can help keep both your sale and purchase moving.

Essential paperwork when selling can include:

• Title deeds

• Property Information Form (TA6)

• Fittings and Contents Form (TA10)

• Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)

Essential paperwork when buying can include:

• Mortgage deed

• Home insurance details

• Survey report

• Stamp Duty documentation (if applicable)

Step 5: Putting your home on the market

Once you’re ready to sell, your estate agent can guide you through listing your home. Sale time can vary based on factors like local market conditions, legal processes and mortgage approvals.

Some things that could help your home stand out include:

• Clear, high-quality photography

• Accurate property details

• An agent who can market your home effectively

If you come across unfamiliar terms during this stage, our house-moving glossary can help you understand the technical language.

Step 6: Managing offers and negotiating

Once offers start coming in, it can help to compare more than just the price being offered. Looking at a buyer’s position and any conditions attached can make it easier to judge how likely the sale is to progress smoothly. You might look out for:

• Chain status – whether your buyer needs to sell their own home first, and how this can affect timelines

• Offer conditions – such as requests for repairs, inclusions or specific dates

• Expected timelines – when they’re aiming to complete, and whether this aligns with your onward purchase

Step 7: Making an offer on your next home

When you’re ready to offer on your new home, having a Decision in Principle (DIP) from your lender and a solicitor ready to act can help strengthen your position and show you’re ready to move.

Once your offer is submitted, you can ask the seller to take the property off the market to reduce the risk of being ‘gazumped’ – where a verbally accepted offer is later overtaken by a higher one. However, sellers don’t have to agree to this.

Step 8: Coordinating conveyancing and surveys

Once your offer is accepted, your solicitor can handle the legal work for your purchase and sale. Staying organised and responsive at this stage can help keep everything moving.

Key tasks might include:

• Instructing your solicitor so they can begin the legal checks

• Tracking and responding to enquiries raised during the process

• Arranging your property survey to understand the home’s condition

• Monitoring your mortgage offer timeline to ensure your lender issues your formal offer on time

Step 9: Completing both sales

Simultaneous completion means selling your current home and buying your new one on the same day. This can streamline the process by avoiding temporary housing and reducing the need for short‑term finance, but it requires careful coordination between all parties.

Many people in this position prepare by:

• Ensuring funds are ready, including deposit, mortgage funds and completion monies

• Aligning removal arrangements so moving day runs smoothly

• Staying in close contact with solicitors and estate agents in case timings shift

Compare your moving options

There’s more than one way to move home, and the right option depends on your finances, timing and appetite for risk. This comparison shows how the main approaches differ, so you can choose what works best for you.

Expert insight: managing delays in a property chain

‘Property chains often slow down because someone isn’t quite ready. Common delays include missing paperwork, unanswered enquiries or waiting too long to provide information. Having documents prepared early and responding quickly when questions come in can really help. Clear communication between all parties also makes a big difference in keeping things on track.’