Can I put an offer on a house before selling mine?

So, can you put an offer on a house before selling your own? 

The simple answer is yes, you can offer on a house before selling your own. Estate agents are obliged to pass on all offers to the house sellers they represent. 

But they may not take your offer seriously if your own house isn’t under offer. In other words, you might be told, in the property market lingo, that you’re not a ‘proceedable buyer’.

Also, in a hot market - like summer 2021 - you may be prevented from putting in an offer for another reason: an agent may not even let you view the house in the first place. Renters and house-hunters who have already sold their own home could be given the first chance to buy.

But there are several things you can do to put yourself in as strong a position as possible to show that you are a reliable, organised and serious buyer, and make you more appealing in the eyes of the estate agent and seller.

These include having a grip on your budget, and how much you can afford, and proving it, by getting a mortgage agreement in principle.

You can also ensure you have a solicitor ready. That way you can hand over their details to the estate agent when you put in an offer. This is another sign you’ll be able to move quickly and are serious about buying the house.

If you do wait until your property is under offer, then you’ll be in a better position to make an offer and negotiate a good price. Better still, once you’ve sold, you’ll know exactly how much you can spend because you’ll have the money from your sale in the bank.