One of the biggest trade-up mistakes? Thinking its easy

I asked Perplexity.AI the other day:

“What’s the most common real estate question among people trading up to a larger home?”

It spit out kind of what I expected.

“Should I sell before I buy?”

It’s a fair question.

It’s also the reason most people end up stuck, stressed, or riding two mortgages at once.

Because trading up isn’t just buying a bigger house.

It’s selling one and buying another at the same time, and trying not to get run over by timing, financing, or fear.

Add some emotion in there, or maybe one or more of the family that doesn’t really want to move and and you’re probably wearing some real stress now.

Now here’s where it could get worse.

Some agents will pitch you:

“If I handle both sides of either of these transactions, I’ll give you a discount. (I’ll do it for x%).”

That’s not helpful. That’s a red flag.

What they’re actually telling you if you’re listening, is that their priority is closing either both ends of one deal, or both ends of both deals… and not protecting your position and equity.

Not getting you the best sale price.

Not negotiating you the best buy.

Not thinking through the risk.

Just trying to get paid twice.

That’s not representation. That’s exposure.

I’ve been a fiduciary since my first job on Wall Street.

Which means: I act in your best interest. Period. Not sometimes. Not if it’s convenient. Not if it pays more.

That’s not marketing. That’s wiring. Some of us out here actually have our own code of ethics.

Some of us out here are not transactional, and for me I have never been.

I build relationships. And through those, I do transactions. Big difference.

I tell you what might go wrong before it does. I lay out “If this happens, watch out for that.”

I overcommunicate. I warn. I prep. Sometimes my clients get sick of hearing from me.

But when the unexpected happens, and you’d be surprised how often it does, they’re ready.

They move forward. They don’t flinch. Because they’ve already seen it coming.

The last thing I want is you calling me, before I call you. After the fact, and you asking me what went wrong.

Because by then? It might be too late.

Has this ever happened to someone you know? To you? If it has, you know it sucks being unprepared for a wrinkle in the transaction.

There are a dozen people involved in your two transactions-buyers, sellers, agents, lenders, title companies, inspectors. And every single one of them has a different agenda.

Hire someone who understands the whole board.

Let’s get a plan in place before the market or the timing makes the decision for you.

I hear you; “good god gebby, it’s only real estate, youre not that smart”. And truthfully, I may even agree with you. We aren’t sending rockets into space or re wiring brains. We are only selling homes.

But I’ve seen enough property transactions go facoct; and sometimes that really hoses some of the parties in that transaction.

Let’s avoid that.

I’ll walk you through the real options, and let you know what’s happening today, in your zip code. Reply here or hit me with a text to talk about any of this.

Because what’s happening in your zip code, today, is what’s relevant to you.

Peace.