Selling a House in a Divorce
James Greenwood
Stacks have a great deal of experience with houses being sold because of divorce. We fully understand the hardship of selling a house in a divorce and moving as a result of a split.
Whilst there are many parties out there who can give you sound advice on your legal position when it comes to selling a house in a divorce, as property consultants, we know how you should go about this process, during what can be a difficult time. We can educate you avoiding the pitfalls that can derail your sale and make everything harder.
Tips on Selling a House in a Divorce From a Property Expert
At Stacks, our property consultants have worked with many types of clients including those selling a house in a divorce. although we don’t sell the properties (we buy them!) we’re here to give you tips on how to portray your situation so that your property sells for a good price and in a timely manner.
To sell your property successfully, we suggest 2 steps that everyone selling a house in a divorce should follow.
Step 1 – Think calmly and give yourself room to acclimatise.
Whilst it is undoubtedly difficult to sell a house during a divorce, clarity on what is happening with your property can be the most beneficial pillar of support, and clearing the way for your new life to go forward. To achieve this, you need first to make a thorough, calm assessment of the avenues open to you. This will allow timely decisions to be made and the sale of the current home to progress smoothly, if that is the route you choose.
Further advice is available to help your thought processes here. N.B. Do not dismiss the idea of hanging onto the family home. Can you gain from it financially, for example, renting out a room or offering bed and breakfast. See also Making your Property Work for You for other creative ways on getting an income from your property.
Buying a property from a divorcing couple can be one of the most challenging processes, with an agreed purchase more likely to fall apart than in any other scenario. Being clear and consistent about the plan, the timescales and who has input into what decision will be your best ‘face’ to show the estate agents and any potential buyers, demonstrating that they don’t have to worry or have doubts.
Step 2 – Do your level best to avoid being ‘that acrimonious couple’.
At the most basic, regardless of your need for revenge, fouling up your house-sale will hurt you both, and of little worth in the long-run.
Whilst it might be the last thing on your mind, presenting a house as a desirable place to live is still valuable when selling a house during divorce. It demonstrates to buyers that your impending split will not be an added complication for their chain.
This is particularly important if there are other houses at a similar price-point in your area – think Phil Spencer’s “Secret Agent” treatment – ensure that the house doesn’t look ‘stripped out’, rearrange your furniture, touch up paintwork where photos have been taken down, etc etc.
Remember: Buyers can be easily put off of a property purchase if they sense it is going to be handled any way other than quickly and carefully.
Tips For If You Are Buying From a Divorcing Couple
If you are buying from a divorcing couple, Stacks’ advice regarding potential pitfalls and warning signals is available here.
In this piece – we tell you all there is to know about buying from a couple who are divorcing and how to ensure you don’t get caught up in any drama.
Working with Stacks
If you are floundering wondering where to start planning for your property future, these pages here and here may help clarify your thinking. Or to work with Stacks, just give us a call.
Be realistic about the pressure you are under, and if possible, consider delegating some of that to others. Learn more about how a Property Finder can support and help.
