Trade-up · 5 states · Reviewed April 2026

Orchard Move First

Concierge-style trade-up with home prep, photography, and a backup-offer guarantee baked in. The service is strong; the 6% + 2.75% fee stack is the steepest in the category.

5.9
Overall rating
Narrow market fit. Makes sense when the concierge experience is worth the premium and the departing home will move quickly.
~90%Line amount
8.75%Total fee stack
5States
ConciergeService model

Summary

Orchard's Move First turns the trade-up product into a managed service: Orchard extends a line of credit against your departing-home equity, funds the new purchase, and — uniquely — takes over home prep, professional staging, and photography for the departing-home listing. If the departing home doesn't sell within 90 days, Orchard makes a backup offer at a stated floor price.

The cost is real. Orchard's listing commission is 6% (3% to each side), on top of a 2.75% trade-up fee. Together, that's 8.75% of the departing-home sale price — a hefty premium to Knock's 1.25% + bridge interest. The concierge experience justifies the premium for sellers who value not managing the sale themselves. For sellers willing to run their own listing, the math usually favors Knock or a direct Cash Offer Plus product.

How it works

Qualify, get a line commitment, make the cash offer on the new home, Orchard funds the purchase, you move in. Orchard's team handles staging and professional photography on the departing home at no additional cost; the listing goes live with your Orchard-affiliated agent. At second close, the line is repaid plus fees.

Pros

  • Concierge service including staging and photography
  • Backup-offer floor if the departing home doesn't sell
  • Line of credit sized to full down payment
  • Best-in-class mobile app and seller dashboard

Cons

  • 8.75% fee stack is the steepest in trade-up category
  • Only 5 states (TX, CO, GA, NC, FL)
  • Requires Orchard-affiliated listing agent
  • Backup floor is typically 5–8% below appraised value

Verdict

5.9 / 10. A well-executed premium product in a category where price usually wins. The right answer for sellers who want the trade-up mechanic without touching the listing logistics — and only in the five states it operates. In every other scenario, a Knock bridge plus a Zoom Casa Cash Offer + on the departing home is cleaner and cheaper.

Alternatives

Concierge vs. price: which wins for you?

We'll run the full net-proceeds math with your home's days-on-market and listing complexity.

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