Orchard Review 2025

Orchard is a real estate brokerage that streamlines the process of buying and selling a house at the same time by helping homeowners unlock their equity before they sell.

• Orchard's signature Move First program advances homeowners the equity from their current house to make a non-contingent offer on a new one before they list. The equity advance can be used to cover the down payment and closing costs on a new house, as well as moving expenses and pre-listing home improvements such as new paint and flooring.

• Orchard also offers a cash offer program that enables customers to get up to 84% of their home value upfront, then receive any additional proceeds once the home sells on market later.

Orchard's programs are designed to make the process of buying and selling more convenient — you can avoid living in your home while it's being listed, and you only have to move once — even if the buy and sell dates don't match up. However, the costs of Orchard's services can add up.

You'll pay a 6% brokerage fee to cover your agents' commissions, plus program fees ranging from 2.4–7%.[1] Orchard also requires you to work with its in-house agents, rather than being free to select your own — which has earned the brokerage lower ratings than some of its competitors.

Bottom line: If you're looking for help lining up a home sale and purchase, Orchard may be worth considering. However, competitors like Knock and Homeward offer similar services and allow you to work with your own agent, so consider them as well before making a decision. Choosing an agent from a low commission brokerage can help offset the costs of a buy-before-you-sell program, saving you thousands on your home sale.

If you're serious about getting a cash offer, we recommend going directly to an iBuyer company, since brokerage fees are an unnecessary expense when selling for cash.

Is Orchard right for you?

Orchard’s services are ideal for homeowners who:

• Need to buy a new home before selling their old one
• Don’t want to worry about repairs on your current home
• Prefer to move out of your old home before showings start
• Live in a hot market and don’t want to risk waiting

However, Orchard's fees make it a pricier option than going with a realtor (especially a realtor offering low commission rates) or even an iBuyer. And if your home doesn't sell within a 120 day period, you stand to lose out on a lot of money by accepting Orchard's backup offer.

Orchard claims they match you with top local agents in your area, but this isn’t always true. Some recent customer reviews state that agents were hard to get in touch with and didn't put a lot of effort into getting their home sold.[2]

Additionally, Orchard is available in a limited area, and not all homes will qualify for their service. For instance, your property may not be eligible if you’re selling a home that needs major work because it won’t meet the company’s valuation requirements.[3]

How Orchard works

Orchard offers customers three distinct products — its flagship Move First program, a traditional listing option, or a Cash Offer option powered by partnering iBuyer companies.

Move First

Orchard's Move First program provides an equity loan allowing you to purchase a new home before selling your old one. Because the equity loan is based on your current home value, you can make a contingency-free offer backed by Orchard's cash. This is especially helpful when buying in a competitive market where sellers may want to avoid offers that are contingent on your current house selling.

Here’s what you can expect from Move First:

1. Complete a home assessment by submitting basic information about your property.
2. Unlock your equity through an interest-free loan you can use as a down payment on a new home.
3. Make an attractive, non-contingent offer on your new home.
4. Move into your new home while Orchard’s concierge service preps your old house for the market.
5. List your home and sell through an Orchard-appointed real estate agent.

To qualify for Orchard's Move First program, you must have:

• A minimum credit score of 620
• A single-family residence valued between $150,000 and $2,000,000, not currently listed

Costs include a brokerage fee equal to 6% of your home sale price, plus an additional 2.4% for the equity advance.

If your home doesn’t sell within 120 days, Orchard will purchase it at a previously agreed upon price and continue to list the property until it sells. While Orchard doesn't specify the exact amount of its backup offer, recent customer reviews indicate that it's below market value — sometimes by a significant amount. However, you'll receive any extra earnings if the final sale nets a profit above Orchard’s costs.

Cash Offer

With Orchard's Cash Offer option, you can explore offers from iBuyers like Offerpad and Opendoor, assisted by an Orchard agent. You can also look into Homeward's Cash Offer + Upside option, which gives you up to 84% of your home value upfront, with the opportunity to list it for additional upside.

To request cash offers through Orchard, you'll pay Orchard's brokerage fees (usually 3% to sell and 3% to buy) on top of the 5% program fees charged by Orchard's iBuying partners. Homeward's Cash Offer + Upside option will cost you an extra 7% in program fees, plus carrying costs (like taxes and utilities) while your old home sells.

It's worth noting that selling to an iBuyer doesn't actually require you to work with an agent. If you're considering the iBuyer route, you could save a lot of money requesting offers on your own.

List with Orchard

Orchard's listing services resemble that of a traditional brokerage. The only difference is that you'll be working with an assigned Orchard agent to facilitate your home sale.

Orchard Concierge service

When you sell a home with Orchard, you can also take advantage of its concierge service, which provides financing for pre-listing home improvements at no upfront cost. Instead of paying out of pocket, the costs are taken out of the proceeds from your home sale. Qualifying home improvements include:

• New flooring or carpet
• Interior and exterior paint
• Minor siding and trim repairs
• Pressure washing
• Odor remediation
• Pest control
• Junk removal

Orchard Title

Orchard Title partners with third-party vendors (including First American and Fidelity National Title Insurance) to provide customers with title insurance, property searches, and settlement and escrow services.

Orchard fees

Brokerage fee	6%
Move First program fee	2.4%
Cash Offer fees	5–7%, depending on the cash buyer
Concierge service*	Varies

*Separate, interest-free loan for pre-listing repairs and home improvements, paid back at closing

Orchard may offer a convenient selling and buying process with interest-free loans upfront, but you pay for the convenience on the backend.

The company’s brokerage is the same 6% you would expect to pay at most major real estate brokerages, but the Move First program adds an extra 2.4% when your home sells. According to the company's website, you can also expect to pay around 1% in closing costs, which is standard with most real estate transactions.[3]

To take advantage of the cash offer option, you'll pay additional service fees of 5% (if you sell to Opendoor or Offerpad) or 7%, if you use Homeward to get cash upfront, plus additional upside when you list.

These fees align with other buy-before-you-sell programs that offer similar pre-purchase loans. However, you can likely save thousands on realtor fees by working with a low-commission real estate brokerage that typically charges half the average commission.

Orchard reviews and complaints

Source	Average Rating	Review Count
BBB	3.5/5	35
Trustpilot	4.4/5	711
Weighted Average:	4.4/5	746

Orchard has generally positive feedback, with a 4.36 out of 5 rating from 746 reviews across TrustPilot and the Better Business Bureau. 

Most customers praise the company for a smooth and uncomplicated process when buying and selling at the same time. Customers also appreciate the dedication of certain agents.

However, a handful of reviews reflect disappointing experiences with Orchard agents, who failed to communicate proactively or get their homes sold as quickly or for as much money as they hoped.

✅ Orchard makes it easier to buy and sell at the same time

The most common positive theme from Orchard reviews is that the company makes the process of buying and selling easier, and a lot less stressful.

For instance, on March 12, 2025, a reviewer on Trustpilot wrote:

"They took away all the stress and uncertainty of trying to do back-to-back closings when having to sell your current house in order to buy your next. I'll definitely use them again."

On February 29, 2024, another Trustpilot reviewer wrote:

“Orchard relieved a lot of the stress with buying and selling a home. The greatest part was getting the equity advance which enabled us to purchase another home while our home was on the market. Our home sold above the initial offer and we received additional proceeds at closing. The Orchard team was fantastic and did everything they said they would do. I highly recommend Orchard to anyone looking to sell and buy another home.”

✅ Great experiences with certain agents

Customers also mention highly positive experiences with certain Orchard agents.

On March 5, 2025, this Trustpilot reviewer wrote:

"Working with Katie Brooks was the best experience ever! She's a true professional who listened to my needs and provided multiple solutions. She had my house sold in less than a week! She also did fantastic helping me through the process."

❌ Lackluster service from other agents

Some negative Orchard reviews focused on agents’ lack of communication and attention, resulting in difficulties with the buying or selling process, including cancelled contracts.

For example, these home sellers on Trustpilot complained that they watched their home sit on the market for months and found it difficult to get updates from their Orchard agent:

"The process started off well, but it felt like Travis (our listing agent) became disinterested or maybe he was overloaded? We felt like we were inconveniencing him by reaching out for an update. The follow-through of whether or not any offers were made or when offers were made left us wanting. It was stressful and inconsistent. Our first contract fell through and we barely heard from Travis…we were scared because so much time had been used of our 120 days which negatively impacted our listing because now it looks like it was on the market for 2 months which can cause a hesitation on why it’s been sitting so long."

Another reviewer on Trustpilot noted in April 2025 that he rarely heard from his agent and was charged excessive fees during the period that his home sat on the market. The homeowner also felt that there was a lack of commitment to get the home sold for top dollar:

There was very little communication during the listing, I have to contact the realtor every time to ask her what was going on, a lot of the fees were not explained correctly to me up front, I was overcharged for things like lawn maintenance and utility bills after I moved out…The only convenient part was that I was able to move out and purchase my other home before we listed my home but It ultimately cost me money. You're given a percentage to do that which is around 85% of the home's value with the agreement that they will try to sell it for the other 15% or higher to get full value or more but I don't believe they were proactive to do that. I would not use Orchard again. I will just do a traditional real estate agency.

❌ Unexpected changes to the "guaranteed offer"

Some reviewers were frustrated when the guaranteed offer was lowered after signing the contract. For instance, on December 7, 2023, one reviewer wrote that he initially received an offer based on Zillow but later was told he could only receive 85% of what was quoted.

On September 22, 2023, Steve L. wrote he was frustrated when his guaranteed offer was lowered. “My “guaranteed” offer was reduced by $20,000 two days after accepting their so-called guaranteed offer. They made me feel like a sucker.”

Orchard did reply stating they have a 5-day due diligence period. It was during that period that a home assessment walkthrough led to a reduction of the initial offer. But Steve L. expressed being unaware of that policy.

Orchard vs. alternatives

Orchard is a solid option if you're in a hurry to sell your home or need to unlock your current home’s equity to make a downpayment on a new home.

However, Orchard's service area is limited compared to other companies, so it might not be available in your region. You may also want to browse different options to see if you can find a better deal before settling on the Move First broker.

Orchard vs. Clever Offers 

Orchard works best for those who need to buy a house before selling. The company offers an equity advance to cover the down payment, provides a backup offer if your home doesn’t sell in 4 months, and can help you fix up your home before listing with no upfront cost. However, you must use Orchard's agents and pay relatively high fees (6% brokerage plus 2.4% loan fee).

Clever Offers provides more flexibility. It lets you compare multiple cash offer options without obligation, so you can choose the best deal. You can also explore a 7-Day MLS listing marketing your home as is. That way, you can test the waters and see how much you could get for your home right now, without the long-term commitment of listing the traditional way.

Orchard vs. Knock

Orchard’s Move First program is convenient for sellers to access their equity early, but it’s not the only buy-now-pay-later model on the market. Knock’s Bridge Loans give owners the same flexibility with more freedom and 6-months to sell their old home.

Knock customers can choose their mortgage lender and agent rather than lending through a brokerage and having agents assigned to them. Knock serves a broader area, covering 75 markets across 20 states.

The brokerage also charges less for its services. Knock’s convenience fee is only 2.25%, with average closing costs of $1,850.[4]

Orchard vs. Homeward

Orchard has recently teamed up with Homeward to offer a Cash Offer + Upside option to home sellers who need to sell fast. The program gives homeowners up to 84% of their home value upfront, However, it's one of the more expensive options available — costing 7% of your home's final sale price, plus brokerage fees (6% if you use Orchard) and closing costs.

In addition to its Cash Offer + Upside program, Homeward offers a competing buy-before-you-sell program costing 3.5%, compared to 2.4% for Orchard's Move First.

With Homeward, you're free to choose your own agent, which may save you significantly on realtor fees. You can also save on program fees when you bundle your mortgage and title services with Homeward — although, it's best to shop around to ensure you're getting the best rates and terms for your home loan.

Homeward doesn't offer a concierge service like Orchard does, so if you're interested in making pre-listing home improvements, you'll need to work with your agent to find a contractor willing to defer payment until closing.

Is Orchard legitimate?

Orchard was initially established as Perch in 2017 by real estate expert Court Cunningham and rebranded as Orchard in 2020.[5] Since its inception, the company has expanded its buy-before-you-sell services to major metros in Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington. Orchard can also help buyers purchase a home in 21 states.

According to a 2021 Bloomberg report, Orchard was valued at $1 billion after raising $100 million in capital through Accomplice.[6] However, this valuation happened at the height of a real estate boom, so the company’s current value may not be as high.

In 2025, Orchard announced its expansion into four new markets, including Nashville, Phoenix, San Diego, and Seattle.[5]

Orchard is BBB-accredited and maintains an A rating.[7] It also has 746 verified customer reviews on the BBB website and Trustpilot.

Eligibility criteria

To qualify for Orchard's Move First program, you must have a minimum credit score of 620 and be selling a single-family home valued between $150,000 and $2,000,000. The home cannot currently be listed for sale on the market.

To qualify for Orchard's cash offer program, you must meet the eligibility requirements of the partnering iBuyer.

Orchard locations

Orchard's services are available to home sellers in the following metros:

• Atlanta, GA
• Austin, TX
• Dallas-Fort Worth, TX
• Denver, CO
• Houston, TX
• Nashville, TN
• Phoenix, AZ
• San Antonio, TX
• San Diego, CA
• Seattle, WA

Orchard agents can assist home buyers in the following 21 states: AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, KS, LA, MI, NC, NM, OH, OR, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, WA.

Methodology 

We evaluate each buy-before-you-sell company based on five core criteria and create a weighted score:

• Customer reviews
• Service quality
• Fees and other costs
• Credibility

Customer reviews

Review analysis. We perform an in-depth analysis of all the available customer reviews to determine trends. We break down the reviews by theme and sentiment, and filter out spam reviews to determine our rating.

Company responsiveness. Negative reviews are part of doing business; however, we note whether a company is actively involved in resolving customer complaints.

Service quality

We rely on secret shopping and fact-checking interviews with company representatives to look for indicators that the company is professional, communicative, customer-focused, and ethical in its dealings with customers. We verify this information against customer reviews and interviews with past customers or professionals (realtors, former employees) who have had direct experience working with the brand. 

Fees and other costs

Competitiveness. We look at how the company's fees and other costs compare to competitors.

Value. We consider whether the fees are justified by the value offered.

Credibility

Trust signals. We look at how long the company has been in business, the number of verified customer reviews it has, how willing the company was to answer questions about their business model when we contacted them, and how easy it is to find detailed information on their website — including the names and contact details of specific team members. We also look at customer reviews indicating whether the company acts with honesty and integrity in their business dealings. 

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