ORI Realty planning guides
A clearer start to your next move.
Practical checklists for conversations about buying and selling in San Jose and the South Bay. Use them to organize your priorities and the questions you want answered.
For buyers
What should I prepare before searching for a home?
Start with your preferred location, a comfortable budget, your timing, and the features you need. These give your broker a useful starting point for a focused search.
Explore buyer representation →Separate needs from preferences
Write down the features you need, the ones you would like, and the compromises you could accept. Compare properties against the same list.
Build a complete budget
Discuss financing with your lender and consider the ongoing costs of ownership alongside the purchase price. Bring questions about costs that are still uncertain.
Explain your timeline
Share lease dates, moving constraints, or a property you need to sell. Identify which dates are fixed and where you have flexibility.
Make room for due diligence
Keep a list of questions about condition, disclosures, inspections, and the property. Ask your broker which professionals can help you investigate them.
For sellers
How should I prepare for a conversation about selling?
Bring the property location, your target timing, any known condition concerns, and your plans after the sale. Discuss the preparation and pricing strategy before committing to improvements.
Explore seller representation →Describe the property as it is
Gather information about updates, known issues, and available property records. Note anything you would like help organizing or understanding.
Choose preparation deliberately
List potential repairs or presentation improvements. Discuss their purpose, cost, and timing before deciding what to take on.
Ask for current market context
Discuss comparable properties and current competition with your broker. An online estimate is a starting point for a conversation, not a sale-price promise.
Plan the move after the sale
Think through showings, packing, housing arrangements, and any purchase you need to coordinate. Bring these constraints into the plan early.
Buying and selling
What if I need to sell and buy at the same time?
Map both transactions together. Your current home, financing, moving dates, and tolerance for temporary housing all affect which sequence is practical.
Discuss your move with the broker →Map the dependencies
Identify what needs to happen before you can make the next commitment, and discuss those dependencies with your broker and lender.
Compare more than one sequence
Discuss selling first, buying first, and coordinating the two. Ask what each approach would mean for your timing, costs, and flexibility.
Plan for a change in timing
Consider what you would do if one transaction moved faster or slower than expected. A backup plan makes the tradeoffs easier to evaluate.
Make the plan your own
What does your next move need to solve?
Bring your questions, timing, and priorities. We will help you identify the next useful step.