Whether you are buying or selling, a written plan helps make your first professional conversation more useful. Start with your goals, your timing, and the information you already have.
Create your one-page brief.
Describe the move you want to make. Include your preferred location, property type, timing, and anything that could affect the decision. If you need to sell before buying, include both parts of the plan.
Gather the questions you cannot yet answer. It is more useful to identify an unknown than to build a plan around an assumption.
Prepare for the conversation.
If you are buying
- List the communities and property types you would consider.
- Identify your essential needs and flexible preferences.
- Discuss financing with a mortgage professional.
- Ask how property condition and sale terms will be reviewed.
If you are selling
- Describe your timeline and the outcome you are seeking.
- Collect the property documents you already have.
- Discuss preparation, marketing, and your questions about offers.
- Identify any connection between this sale and your next purchase.
Look beyond the headline price.
For sellers, RECO’s checklist highlights additional costs such as commissions, legal fees, and moving expenses. It also encourages sellers who are buying another home to consider how the two closing dates fit together.
For a purchase, ask your broker and lawyer to explain the costs and commitments that apply to the particular transaction. Keep a written list so each item can be confirmed by the appropriate professional.
A simple next step
Book a conversation, bring your brief, and choose the questions you most want to resolve. A clear starting point makes it easier to decide what to do next.