What If I Sell and Can’t Find Anywhere to Buy?
This fear stops more moves than almost anything else in today’s market. “What if I sell… and then I’m stuck?” It’s the thought that wakes people at 2am: When you’ve emotionally left your current home. When you’ve committed to change. When everything feels uncertain.
For many homeowners, this fear becomes the reason they stay somewhere that no longer truly fits their life.
Why This Fear Feels So Heavy
Homes aren’t just assets.
They are shelter, routine, identity and safety.
So the idea of:
- Not knowing where you’ll live
- Feeling temporarily “in between”
- Losing something before gaining something new can feel deeply uncomfortable.
But here is the truth most people don’t tell you:
Selling doesn’t trap you.
Selling gives you power.
Why Selling First Actually Strengthens Your Buying Position
In the eyes of the market, once you are sold subject to contract, you become:
Chain-ready
Trusted
Taken seriously
Prioritised
You are now what every seller wants:
A proceedable buyer.
Suddenly:
- Your offers carry weight
- Sellers become flexible
- Opportunities appear that weren’t visible before
- Agents ring you about homes not yet launched
You move from “interested” to “ready”.
And that changes everything.
Why Being Unproceedable Limits Your Freedom
If you try to buy before selling:
- Your offers are conditional
- You can be bypassed
- You are considered “high risk”
- You get told to “come back once you’ve sold”
It’s frustrating, disempowering and stressful.
By selling first, you remove that barrier completely.
How No. 86 Plans Your Sale Around Your Next Move
We never treat selling as an isolated event.
We always plan:
- Your exit
- Your timeline
- Your buying goals
- Your financial comfort
- Your emotional comfort
Because property isn’t transactional — it’s transitional.
We discuss:
- What happens if you find somewhere quickly
- What happens if you don’t
- Short-term rental options if needed
- Family bridging solutions
- Timing flexibility
- Chain management
There is always a plan.
Why Proceedable Also Means Less Pressure
One of the biggest emotional surprises for sellers is this:
Once you’re sold, the panic decreases.
Because now:
- You know you have a buyer
- You know your equity position
- You know your budget
- You know your strength
Instead of chasing homes nervously, you choose calmly.
You Don’t Need Certainty — You Need a Strategy
Life rarely gives us 100% certainty.
But it does give us choices.
Selling first doesn’t mean jumping without a net.
It means building the net before you step forward.
And we build it with you.
