Practical Advice on Property and Separation from Buying Experts
James Greenwood
At Stacks, we work with a multitude of clients to help them find the right property for them. Our clients come to us at different points in their lives when they need the stress of finding and buying a property to be minimised, and that is exactly what we do for them.
Sometimes this can happen during a separation or divorce; as the relationship breaks down, there is the practicality of selling the existing home and hunting for somewhere new. Home hunting is stressful enough at any point in your life; if you are also dealing with a relationship breakdown, the stress can seem too much to cope with. We work closely with our clients and help to take the stress away from them as much as possible.
Property and Separation – Top Tips
During our time helping our clients, we have put together some practical advice for newly separated property purchasers:
Remember that this is probably not how it will be forever. The chances are that new relationships will flourish, new opportunities will arise, so in the short term:
1. Don’t flee from your current location
Location is almost certainly your main priority and, whilst the initial temptation may be to have a clean break and move further afield, friends and family will be important to you, to make sure you don’t feel isolated. You need people and places that make you feel better close by. If you have children, they too will appreciate the comfort of familiar faces on the doorstep and some continuity in terms of schools, and friends will give them emotional stability at a challenging time. Because of this, we would recommend considering at least a six-month rental close to your old family home while you take stock and find a new routine. At Stacks, we can help you find your rental, so contact our team to discuss your situation.
2. Think Property Resale Value and Ease
If renting really isn’t an option, concentrate on resale issues when buying. There is a chance you may want to move again if things don’t work out, so try to buy a property that will sell easily and won’t lose money in the short term. For instance, don’t buy a new build as you will be paying a dividend difficult to recoup in the short term, and don’t buy a DIY project property that may prove difficult to sell. Our buying agents can help to find the perfect property that will suit you for the long or short term, but be easy to sell if required. Contact us today for more information.
3. Aim for a Property that Offers “much the same, but much easier”
Try to make the logistics of your life easier rather than more difficult – so look carefully at commuting runs/school runs. You will have less support, so your life needs to run as smoothly as possible. If you’ve been living in a remote area, consider the benefits of a property within a community. You will find you need more help, and neighbours are generally happy to help with the logistics of running a house single-handedly, accepting deliveries and letting the dog out, for instance. You will also find it easier to find help with the children, e.g. babysitting and school runs. Consider safety and security of the property as well at this point – will it be empty more frequently?
4. Quantity over Quality
When you come to buy, concentrate on getting plenty of space for your money – this may be at the expense of aesthetics, but space will be the thing you miss most when downsizing. It’s worth considering the possibility of buying a larger house than you need, or looking at the finances of hanging onto the family home, and gaining from it financially, for example, renting out a room or offering bed and breakfast.
5. Streamline
Finally, consider one of the small benefits – this is a great opportunity to get rid of unwanted possessions. Rent a skip and take some small solace from hurling junk into it. Start your new life surrounded by things you love. (P.S. It reduces removal costs too!)
Separation and Property – Stacks are Here for You
If all this is helping you begin to formulate your property plan following your separation, there is more guidance here, including thinking about selling your Property after a Split.
When you are ready to commit to buying somewhere new, consider the advantages of using Property Finder to represent your interests at this trying time.
And don’t hesitate to give us a call.
