MIL downsizing - buy then sell or both together?

[Snowsquonk]

I wondered if anyone had any experience of helping an elderly relative downsize? My MIL wants to move from her small cottage to a flat or bungalow without stairs. She has sufficient funds (probably) to buy first and then sell but has put her house on the market already.

However, despite lots of first viewings she is not getting any second viewings and no offers - she lives in a popular area but we think that the appearance inside the house is putting people off (think lots and lots of pictures and objects in what is a very small house). It is also not as clean as it could be (we are trying, tactfully, to get her to agree to having a cleaner - it would make her life easier!)

Do you think it would be better to get her moved out, and then spend some time making the house more attractive? She is finding this all rather stressful and I wonder whether making things more simple would be better for her?

It's going to be easier if she moves out but she will be paying two lots of council tax, bills, insurance will almost double if the cottage is left empty plus if she moves she may well end up paying stamp duty, estate agents fees, it all mounts up and she doesn't want to be left with an empty property for too long. Would she be better off moving out and renting somewhere short term, or putting some of her things into storage, she doesn't want to end up buying somewhere she doesn't really like.