Selling in Cedar Hill to Buy a New Home in Redden Farms, Midlothian

What did these clients want in their next home?

They wanted a new home, and they found a specific four-bedroom home in Redden Farms in Midlothian that felt right for their family.

They were leaving Cedar Hill and chose a move-in-ready spec home built by Risewell in Midlothian. They liked that everything was new, along with the backyard and its view of a creek. The home was already finished, so construction delays were not the issue I needed to work around. The challenge was getting their existing home sold and coordinating the two closings.

Why did the sale need to happen before the purchase?

The family needed the net proceeds from their Cedar Hill home to close on the new home.

The owner had no mortgage to pay off, but the amount she would receive after selling costs still mattered. I reviewed a net sheet and helped my clients understand the numbers and the closing timeline.

The closings were scheduled two days apart. They also had a one-week leaseback on the Cedar Hill home, giving them time to complete their purchase and move after the sale closed.

What made the two transactions difficult?

Communication on the sale had broken down, and one of my clients could not leave home to sign closing documents.

A different agent was handling the Cedar Hill sale to an investor off market. My clients no longer wanted to communicate directly with that agent. I was representing them on their new home purchase, but their ability to buy depended on completing the sale.

I became the point of contact between my clients and their listing agent. Communication and coordination for the sale went through me so the transactions could continue moving forward.

At that stage, backing out was no longer an option for my clients. We needed to work through the issues and complete the closings.

What did I personally do to keep things moving?

I helped my clients understand the contract details, reviewed their net sheet, coordinated communication, and helped organize the documents and signing arrangements needed for closing.

That included helping them complete their seller’s disclosure and gather needed closing documents. I also worked through the timing of the sale and the new construction purchase with them.

The signing arrangements required extra attention. One client had been injured and could not leave home. Her license was also expired, and she could not leave to renew it. Scheduling a mobile notary alone did not resolve everything.

I coordinated with the title companies on the arrangements they required for these particular closings. Her CPA, who had known her for years, helped confirm her identity for the sale and served as the mobile notary for the purchase. Finding and coordinating that help took persistence.

I also met with my clients and the mobile notary for the sale signing to help make sure it went through.

How did the sale and purchase turn out?

Both homes closed on their scheduled dates, two days apart, and the family completed their move within the one-week leaseback.

They sold the Cedar Hill home and purchased the four-bedroom Risewell home they had chosen in Redden Farms. The communication problems and signing challenges required extra coordination, but neither closing date had to change.

What would I tell someone buying and selling at the same time?

Know your net proceeds, and make sure you are comfortable communicating with your agent.

In this transaction, the sale price alone was not the number that mattered. My clients needed to understand what they would receive after selling costs because that money was needed for their purchase. If you want to see how that works, read how much money you could make selling your house.

This experience also reinforced the importance of communication and patience. My work included reviewing details with my clients, keeping communication moving between the parties, and finding a workable signing arrangement when a routine appointment was not enough.