Choose your main priority
Would you rather know your sale outcome before shopping, or secure the next home before leaving the current one? There is no single right sequence. Consider the availability of suitable homes, how flexible your moving dates are, and whether you could manage a period between properties.
Map the dependencies
On one page, list the events that depend on something else: preparing the current home, going to market, accepting an offer, arranging financing, finding a replacement, and moving. Add a backup for a delayed sale or purchase. Discuss available financing with your lender before relying on sale proceeds or assuming you can carry both homes.
Understand the actual agreements
A preferred schedule is not the same as a contractual right. Ask your agent to explain how any sale-related condition, closing date, or occupancy arrangement would work in the specific offers you are considering. Have the relevant professionals review the terms before you rely on them.
Plan the unglamorous part
Storage, pets, work calls, packing, and a short-term place to stay can affect the experience as much as the dates on a calendar. Get practical estimates and identify which arrangements can be changed if the schedule moves. Keep essential documents and everyday items accessible.
Start with the timeline conversation
Bring Sarah your ideal moving date, any fixed commitments, and what would feel hardest about the transition. Then compare possible sequences with the appropriate lender and transaction professionals. A useful plan makes the dependencies visible and leaves room for real life.