01

The SOP Condition, Defined

If you've listed your home in London this year, there's a good chance you've already seen it: an offer that reads well on price, but comes in "conditional upon the sale of the buyer's property." Under Ontario real estate practice, this is known as a Sale of Property (SOP) condition — it means the buyer's ability to close on your home depends entirely on them first finding a buyer for their own.

A few years ago, in a market moving as fast as it was, sellers rarely had to entertain these offers at all. That's changed. With more balanced conditions across London and Middlesex County, SOP offers are back on the table — and for many sellers, saying an automatic "no" means walking away from a legitimate, motivated buyer.

The problem isn't the condition itself. It's accepting one without doing the homework on what's actually behind it.

02

The Escape Clause: Your Pressure Valve

This is the piece that makes an SOP condition workable for a seller: the escape clause. A properly structured escape clause lets you keep actively marketing your home to backup buyers even after you've accepted the conditional offer. If a stronger, firm offer comes in, you're not stuck waiting on someone else's sale — you have a clear, time-bound mechanism to move forward.

Without an escape clause, an SOP condition is a one-way door. With one, it's a safety net that protects your momentum while still giving the original buyer a fair shot.

03

Vetting the Competing Listing

Before you agree to tie your home to someone else's sale, your realtor should be asking hard questions about that other property — because your timeline now depends on it.

04

The Notice Clock

Once you trigger your escape clause — because a firm backup offer has come in — the original buyer doesn't lose their chance immediately. They're given a set notice period, typically 24 to 48 hours, to either waive the SOP condition and commit firmly, or step aside and let your backup offer proceed.

That window needs to be spelled out precisely in the agreement, down to the hour, with a clear understanding of how and when notice is delivered. Vague language here is where sellers lose leverage — not in the negotiation itself, but in the fine print nobody read closely enough.

05

The Bottom Line for London Sellers

An SOP condition isn't automatically a bad offer — it's an offer that requires more diligence than a firm one. Done right, with a tight escape clause and real vetting of the buyer's situation, it can be a smart way to secure a serious buyer without giving up your negotiating position. Done carelessly, it can quietly cost you weeks of market time and a firmer offer that walked away.

Whether you're buying your first home, selling your current property, relocating to London, or investing in the local market, the details in clauses like these are exactly where an experienced realtor earns their fee.