If your next home depends on selling the one you own, start with one move plan covering both properties. The campaign, purchase search, money and moving dates need to work together. Ray White Burnside can help organise the property conversations while your lawyer and lender advise on the commitments you can make.
Write down what the next home must offer and what can be flexible. You may want less garden work, another bedroom, a different layout or a more practical journey across Christchurch. Check the actual address and daily routine rather than assuming another home in the same suburb will work the same way.
Give your salesperson a clear outline of your timing, preparation needs and whether you have a particular property in mind. Keep an appraisal of your present home separate from an approved purchase budget: the eventual sale price, selling costs and timing still need to be resolved.
Selling first can provide clearer information about the proceeds available. The challenge is finding the right home within the agreed timetable. Consider what you would do if you needed temporary accommodation, storage or a second move.
Buying first gives you a chance to find a suitable home before committing to leave. Ask your lender what it would require if the sale took longer or achieved less than expected, including any period of overlapping property costs. Do not assume bridging finance or access to equity will be available.
A conditional purchase or coordinated dates may be worth discussing, but the other party must accept the proposed terms. Have your lawyer explain the conditions, deadlines and consequences for each agreement. Read Settled’s buy-first or sell-first comparison as background to that conversation.
Use one calendar for the sale, purchase and move. Alongside each date, record who needs to act and what must happen first. Include:
Mark a preferred date differently from a date agreed in a signed contract. When a plan changes, tell the people affected rather than assuming the other transaction changes with it. Your lawyer should advise on contractual changes before you rely on a new arrangement.
Ask when each payment is due and when funds will actually be available. Sale proceeds expected at settlement may not be available for an earlier purchase deposit. Your lender and lawyer can explain the funding arrangements and what evidence they need.
Request actual figures for commission and marketing, legal work, reports, removals and storage. Add any temporary accommodation and overlapping rates, insurance, utilities or lending costs. Our Selling Costs guide helps you frame the sale questions; your own advisers should assess the complete financial position.
A busy sale campaign can make the next decision feel urgent. Keep a short comparison sheet for prospective homes: must-haves met, compromises, documents received, costs to investigate and unanswered questions. Review the sheet before changing your budget or removing a protection from an offer.
For an established Christchurch home, allow time to investigate relevant title, council, repair and insurance information. A suitable layout does not settle the building-history questions. Our Buying a Home guide connects viewings, records, offers and settlement. If an auction is involved, use the auction preparation guide early.
Decide where you, essential belongings and any pets could go if access to the next home is delayed. Check movers’ change and cancellation arrangements before booking. Keep documents, chargers, medicines and first-night essentials accessible rather than packed into storage.
Ask your lawyer how funds and settlement confirmation will move between the transactions. Arrange keys through the salesperson after settlement is confirmed. A same-day plan still needs room for practical delays.
Use the contact form below or call 03 359 0384. Tell us the property you may sell, what you hope to find next, your broad timing and your preferred salesperson. You can explore the Burnside selling team or request an appraisal to begin. Read Preparing to Sell for the work you can organise while considering the next home.