Mid Michigan Real Estate Blog

When people get married, the last thing they plan for is a divorce. Most couples begin their married life with a happy and positive outlook. While many married couples do end up being happy, there are others who are not so lucky. Divorce often becomes inevitable for them, and the reality of alimony, child custody, property division, etc. hits them when this happens.

Many married couples own a house together. When they are married, there is no issue about ownership, but when a couple splits up, property division can become challenging. Consulting a real estate agent can be a good idea in such cases as they have the necessary skills and the expertise to help you sell the house in question. This is especially true for couples whose marital home is one of their biggest assets.

Most couples do not even think about seeking the services of a realtor when they are in the process of selling a house during divorce. But that is where they could be making a mistake. Going through a divorce can be quite emotional for most people. Finding a professional to handle the sale of your marital home can help ease some of the stress and burden that you're going through at this point in time.

Here are some tips on how to choose the right real estate agent during divorce:

Find A Realtor With the Right Experience

Your primary goal is to find a real estate agent who can handle the sale of your marital home. It is thus important that you find someone who has experience in dealing with divorced couples and property division related to divorce. The agent should also be familiar with the divorce process in your region. Your goal is to make the process of property sale easier, and you should choose an agent who has the experience necessary to achieve just that.

Find A Realtor Who Can Handle Conflict And Remain Neutral

Let's be real. Divorces can sometimes be messy and the couple involved can be quite aggressive with each other. You need a realtor who is aware of this fact and who knows how to handle conflict and still remain neutral. After all, your goal is to find someone who can handle the business-end of things. On many occasions, the sale of the marital home will involve people who are not even on speaking terms. There is a big difference in dealing with a happily married couple buying a home together and a divorcing couple whose interests are no longer aligned with each other. When you choose a realtor during a divorce, you need someone who is strong enough to handle this kind of situation.

Find A Realtor Who Knows The Market And The Neighborhood

There are several things that you have to deal with when you are in the process of selling a house during a divorce. As far as the resale of your home is concerned, you need someone who is quick on their feet and who knows the ins-and-outs of your neighborhood and the real estate market there. They should be aware of the market values of properties similar to yours and should know how to negotiate with potential buyers, how to list and market the property, how to deal with repairs, how to manage the home inspection and how to ensure the property sells quickly and at a good price.

Find A Realtor Who Has A Good Reputation

People often choose a real estate agent one of their friends recommended. While there is no harm in getting referrals, you should make it a point to check the realtor's reputation, level of experience and success rate before you hire them. Keep in mind that you are going through a divorce. You need someone smart and knowledgeable and someone who has the necessary expertise handling your situation in the best possible manner. You don't want somebody who sold your Aunt's home in three days. You want somebody who enjoys a good reputation, who has the right references and who, when you check those references, is clearly someone who has a satisfied list of clients. This is extremely important. It is also very important that the realtor you hire has the ability and the intelligence to keep your personal situation confidential. There is no need for buyers to know that the couple is getting divorced etc. You don't want gossip. You want your home to be sold at a good price.

Find A Realtor Who Has Good Listening Skills And A Sense Of Humor

You might think this is not important, but that's where you're wrong. You are going through a divorce. You are about to lose your home. There is a very high probability that you will open up with your realtor, even if you're not the type. Therefore, you need somebody who will listen to you, be compassionate and yet offer you the right advice and look out for your interests. Also, you will be spending quite a bit of time with this realtor. You want someone who is not just a salesman but someone who you can relate to and who has a sense of humor. You want to be comfortable with the person, and you want to be able to share and even laugh together once in a while.

Most couples are very attached to their marital home. Some end up co-owning the property while in other cases, one spouse buys out the other. But if such an agreement is not possible and if you have to sell your home, you need to find someone who can do it right. If you are in the midst of a divorce and need someone who can trust and who you can be confident will look after your interests, please contact Jennifer Lasco Real Estate. We are here to help you, and we have the necessary experience that you need to ensure your marital home is resold quickly and at the best possible price. Call our real estate agents, and they will be happy to assist you.