\u201cThey\u2019re obviously going through what typically is a messy or tough situation, and there is a lot of charged emotion,\u201d said Wyatt, who regularly works with divorcing clients on their real estate needs. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of stuff going on behind the scenes I may not be aware of, such as battles over kids. It all comes into play.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are 673,989 divorces and annulments nationwide<\/a> on a yearly basis. At a rate of 2.4 divorces every 1,000 people<\/a>, chances are, you or someone you know may have to sell your house under these circumstances.<\/p>\n However, there are ways to sell a home in a divorce without jeopardizing the deal so you and your former spouse can start fresh. We\u2019ve rounded up some common pitfalls for separated and divorced couples that savvy agents like Wyatt have experienced and how to avoid them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n A great real estate agent can help you navigate the complexities of selling a home in a divorce and lighten your load. HomeLight\u00a0can connect you with a Certified Divorce Real Estate Expert in your area or a top agent with valuable experience helping couples successfully sell their homes due to divorce.<\/p>\n \n Wyatt asks for the divorce decree\u2019s<\/a> details about the real estate sale before even listing the property. \u201cThey do have some specific stipulations in there,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n These often involve which spouse the court has appointed to act on behalf of the couple \u2014 typically, the spouse still living in the home \u2014 the listing price, and when to reduce the price to a certain point. Other decrees can discuss who is responsible for any home repairs<\/a> and how to get approval for those costs.<\/p>\n \u201cThe worst thing that could happen is you think that the one spouse has full authority. They\u2019ve signed a listing agreement<\/a>, and you get an offer. Then, all of a sudden, you realize you have to have both spouses\u2019 signatures, or it has to meet a certain net to accept an offer. I need to know that upfront, or else we\u2019re wasting a lot of time and energy.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n \u201cIf you\u2019ve not been through enough transactions, which already can get sticky, you\u2019re going to get an eye opener in a divorce,\u201d said Wyatt. \u201c[Clients need to] know that I\u2019m strictly there to extract the top dollar for their house and make it as easy of a situation for them as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n In addition to sheer real estate experience, an agent who\u2019s worked with divorcing clients in the past will be best positioned to serve your needs, period. Some agents even go through special training to become a real estate divorce specialist<\/a>. Most importantly, you need to trust that your agent can represent you as a neutral voice of reason with expertise on matters such as pricing<\/a>, marketing<\/a>, and home improvements<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"homelight](\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/ccprototypev5\/images\/logo-small-cta.png\"){kind=logo}
\n <\/div>\n \n Find an Agent Experienced in Divorce Sales<\/h3>\n
Mistake #1: Not sharing relevant portions of the divorce decree with your real estate agent.<\/h2>\n
Mistake #2: Hiring a real estate agent who\u2019s never served divorcing clients.<\/h2>\n