Best move when you need to sell before buying?

Insight
When selling before buying, most people see one move as essential: start the search early and get pre-approved. It’s not just a financial step, it’s a mental one. The earlier you engage, the more control you feel, and the more confidently you can move when your current home goes under contract.

Notably, few people choose options like rent-backs or short-term rentals, solutions that can offer strong strategic advantages but are often overlooked or misunderstood. In a fast-paced market like South Florida, where timing can make or break a deal, preparation needs to go hand-in-hand with flexibility.

Interestingly, more complex strategies like rent-backs or bridge loans got minimal support. That doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t effective but it suggests that most people either don’t understand these options well or don’t consider them practical.

What Most People Miss

Getting pre-approved is a smart move but it's only part of the preparation. Too often, buyers don’t take the extra step to truly understand what’s realistic in their price range before listing their current home. That lack of clarity can create pressure, indecision, or wasted time looking at the wrong options.

If you're someone who needs a sense of control, consider lining up a bridge rental early in the process. It removes the urgency from having to find the perfect place immediately, giving you room to breathe, and negotiate from a position of strength.

Added benefits? It’s the perfect excuse to start decluttering early and with intention. This underrated step simplifies the move, improves your home’s presentation, and makes everything more manageable, emotionally and logistically.

Header image courtesy of Tyler Tuchow. 1730 SE 13th St Fort Lauderdale FL. View property here.

^{Poll conducted across Fortune Christie’s social media platforms in 2025. Responses include buyers, sellers, and agents.}