One of the reasons a home goes on the market for sale is when a family, couple, etc. are getting a divorce or separating.  These “displaced families”  often let the heat and anger of the relationship interfere with the business decision of  having to sell their home.  And, in most cases, they do not want to sell the home so that adds to the equation. In my 25 years I have had my share of these listings. I love the challenge of turning a negative situation into a positive one.  Again, communication is key.  Sometimes these people aren’t talking to each other so I become the middle person for negotiations.

I had a couple a number of years ago going through a divorce.  They were so angry with each other but on the advice of their attorney were told that neither of them should leave the house.  This was before cell phones so he had his room and his own phone line, and she had her room with her own phone line.  I had to call him to talk then I had to call her in the next room to repeat the same thing.  They were so angry, the kitchen even had a dividing line with his stuff on one side and hers on another!  Quite a challenge. I constantly had to reassure each of them that there was a light at the end of the tunnel and today I still keep in touch with them both and they have moved on and are very happy (separately of course).

Often these people have different attorneys giving them different advice.  When there is money involved all bets are off. It is important for a realtor to keep focused and advise their clients with the utmost sensitivity and consideration.  Sometimes the clients cannot agree on one realtor.  He wants the one he chooses, she wants he one she chooses.  They CAN have two Realtors who can share the listing to appease the clients.  If the clientsagree it is helpful for the realtor to be able to also communicate with the attorneys. Sometimes the clients keep information from you.  The last divorce listing I had the husband stopped paying the mortgage six months before the sale and didn’t tell anyone. This resulted in a lein on the property from the town for non payment of taxes, sewer, etc as well as the start of foreclosure proceedings by the lender. A tax search and a little due diligence on my part uncovered this and although the closing was delayed, it did finally close.

This can be a painful time but with time and patience a realtor can make this experience as painless as possible to help the clients get to the next stage of their lives.