I toured a property recently with a Buyer who had real interest. They submitted an offer. There were a few rounds of negotiation. In the end, no agreement.

Later that weekend I spoke with the listing agent. They mentioned another offer had come in — conditional on the Buyer selling their own home.

That stopped me for a moment.

It has been years since I’ve seen a property actually firm up with a home sale condition attached. Which raises the obvious question: why choose this strategy today?

If we think back to the 2020–2022 market, conditions practically vanished. Financing and inspection clauses were routinely waived. Multiple offers were standard. If you wanted the house, you removed obstacles.

Today, most firm sales include financing and inspection conditions lasting about a week. That’s reasonable. Lenders need time. Inspectors need access.

A home sale condition is different.

Instead of 5–7 days, the timeline is typically 30–60 days. During that period, the Buyer must successfully sell their own property. Many Buyers also stack financing and inspection conditions alongside it. From a Seller’s perspective, that’s a lot of uncertainty bundled into one agreement.

Because of that, Sellers often expect compensation. In plain terms, Buyers usually pay more for the privilege of waiting.

When a Seller accepts this type of offer, the agreement almost always includes an escape clause. That clause allows the Seller to continue marketing the home. If another acceptable offer comes along, the first Buyer is given a short window — often 24 to 72 hours — to remove all conditions and firm up. If they can’t, the second Buyer moves forward.

It sounds simple. In reality, it creates pressure.

I once represented a Seller who accepted an offer conditional on the Buyer selling their home. A second offer came in — substantial higher in price, firm and clean. We issued notice to the first Buyer. Quietly, we hoped they might walk so we could accept the second higher offer.

They didn’t.

They firmed up, and the Seller closed at the original conditional price. The first Buyer effectively held a first right of refusal at the price they had negotiated.

That is the balancing act.

Offers conditional on selling tend to reappear when markets soften and selling becomes less predictable. In stronger markets, Sellers rarely entertain them. In slower markets, they become tools.

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For Sellers

Pros:
You can often negotiate stronger pricing in exchange for the longer conditional period. You control timelines and protect yourself with an escape clause.

Cons:
Momentum slows. New Buyers hesitate knowing they may have to wait 24–72 hours for another party to decide. Activity can stall, and sometimes that pause affects perception of demand.

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For Buyers

Pros:
You reduce financial risk. If your home doesn’t sell, your deposit is returned. You avoid carrying two properties or relying on bridge financing.

Cons:
You may pay a premium for the home. You can lose it if another offer triggers the escape clause. And as your conditional deadline approaches, you may feel pressure to adjust the price of your own home just to make everything work.

That last point is often underestimated. The condition protects you — until the calendar starts applying pressure.

Conditions are not good or bad on their own. They are risk-management tools. The right approach depends on your financial position, your tolerance for uncertainty, and the current market conditions.

There isn’t a universal answer. There is only the strategy that fits your situation.

If you’re planning a move and wondering whether to sell first, buy first, or structure a conditional offer, the smartest step is mapping out the risks before you’re in the middle of negotiations.

That’s where experience makes the difference.I would be happy to sit with you and created a marketing strategy to help you move as stress free as possible. I can be reached at lindsay@buyselllove.ca or 905-743-5555

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