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Selling Your Home During a Divorce? Here are 3 Tips to Sell Quickly

Written by Souki Fournier | Nov 9, 2021 12:30:00 PM

Going through a divorce is hard for anyone. Not only do you have to separate from a person you’ve been sharing your life with, but you also have to separate your property—including your house.

For most married couples, the home is their largest shared asset, which means deciding what to do with it is often the largest focus. There are a few options, but sometimes the best solution is to sell the house. There are even some instances where it may be required for the settlement.

If you’re going through a divorce and need to sell your house quickly, keep reading. This article will tell you everything you need to know.

 

3 Tips to Sell Your Home Quickly During a Divorce

Getting a divorce finalized is often a lengthy process, especially when a property is involved. You’ll need to decide what route to take, and there may be a few options to choose from, including:

  • One spouse buys out the other partner’s legal interest and keeps the property.
  • One spouse occupies the house for a determined amount of time—typically until the youngest child turns 18. After this, the property can be sold.
  • The house is sold during the divorce, and the equity is split between both parties.

You might choose to sell your home based on financial, legal, and personal reasons, but that doesn’t make it any less stressful than other options. Selling a house, in general, can be a costly, time-consuming process. Combining this with the divorce process will only amplify the stress that comes with selling your property.

To make things easier, follow these three tips to sell your home as soon as possible during a divorce.

Tip 1: Sort out all of the details

In a divorce, neither person can make decisions on their own. Both individuals are responsible for the mortgage, so you’ll need to decide together whether selling your house is the right option.

To make the decision easier, it’s recommended to consult a lawyer or tax specialist to oversee the process.

However, deciding on whether to sell or not isn’t the only thing you need to consider. Each party needs to review any financial issues surrounding the property before listing it. It’s crucial to sort these problems out before listing your home on the market.

As quickly as you want to sell, attracting buyers before you’re ready can just add more stress to the situation.

Tip 2: Know your property’s value

Time is a critical factor for selling your home during a divorce, but that doesn’t mean you should rush the process. In addition to working out the details prior to listing, you also need to know your property’s value.

Knowing what your home is worth ensures that you’re both getting a fair amount of equity out of the home. To find out the value, work with a realtor, get an appraisal, or get an estimate on Zillow.

There are several factors that affect the value of your home, including:

  • The current condition: The as-is condition of your home is a huge factor in determining the value. Even if you live in an affluent neighborhood, you’re not guaranteed a higher value. If your home is outdated or needs extensive repairs, the value will be affected.
  • The square footage: A home’s estimated value is calculated by the price per square foot, which is why this is such a huge factor. However, it’s the square footage of the usable space that matters most. Unfinished basements, attics, and garages are not usually included when determining the value.
  • The location: Your home’s location has a huge impact on its value, but that doesn’t mean you have to be in a trendy neighborhood. Realtors and investors also consider the quality of nearby schools, the number of job opportunities, and the proximity to shopping and entertainment.


Tip 3: Plan your offer strategy

The last thing you want is for negotiations to last forever once your house is on the market. That’s why both parties need to agree on the price and how much you’re willing to settle for prior to listing.

This step shouldn’t be too complicated since the escrow company will distribute the payments, but the amount of money each person receives can vary. Sometimes it’s not as simple as splitting it down the middle. For example, if one spouse has been paying the mortgage during separation, the distribution will need to be adjusted in the settlement.


Save yourself the headache and sell your home as-is

Selling a house on an open market is already stressful enough, but adding divorce to the process only amplifies this. Fortunately, this isn’t your only option for selling. Instead, sell it as-is by getting a cash offer from Simply.

If you want to know what you can get for your home, talk to Simply.

Get your offer now!