Selling your home during a divorce involves a lot of big decisions. However, one of the most important choices that come with this process is how both parties would like to approach working with a real estate agent and more specifically, whether you’d like to work with one agent or two.
If you and your former spouse are unsure of which path to take, it’s important to consider the pros and cons of each option and how they may suit your ideal outcomes.
Selling your home during a divorce is a lot more complicated than a traditional home sale. Click here to read my Ultimate Guide to Selling Your Home After a Divorce.
Why Work With an Agent in the First Place?
In any type of home sale, working with a real estate professional is extremely important. Not only is it their job to help you sell your home for a great price, but they’re also there to take the stress out of selling, ensure you feel informed, and keep your interests protected from a financial and legal standpoint.
So, when it comes to selling your home during a divorce, working with an agent should be a given. However, you and your former spouse will need to decide if you would like to work together with the same agent, or if you would prefer to each have your own professional assistance.
Looking for more clarity on the process of selling your home after a divorce? You may find these other blogs helpful.
- Buying vs. Renting After a Divorce
- Everything You Need to Know About Disclosures & Divorce
- Understanding Partner Buyouts
Working With 2 Separate Agents
The Pros: Choosing to hire separate agents is usually a decision based on trust and comfort. If you (or your former spouse) feel skeptical that a shared agent will be able to play an unbiased role in the sale and look out for each person’s interests fairly, hiring two agents may put you at ease. Both parties feeling protected and supported can make the selling process smoother and less daunting.
Having two agents working on your home sale also means having the power of two industry professionals. Their combined knowledge, resources, and experience could potentially lead to a better result.
The Cons: As a home seller, one of the biggest costs that you’ll face is agent fees or commissions. On that note, if you and your former spouse are working with separate agents it’s fairly likely that you’ll both face full costs individually, meaning you both get to keep less of your returns.
Working with two professionals also leaves room for disagreements or conflicts between the agents themselves. This tension could lead to delays, stress, and other setbacks.
Working With the Same Agent
The Pros: One of the best perks of using the same agent to sell your home after a divorce is that it makes communication much simpler. Maintaining regular and open communication will be an important part of navigating your sale. So, when you work with just one professional instead of two, you’re automatically making things easier and more efficient. Not only can this take a whole lot of stress away from the listing process but it can also help you get the home on the market and sold a lot sooner.
The Cons: Divorce is an emotional process – and not just for you and your former spouse. Given the circumstances, some agents could find it hard to keep their emotions and professionalism separate. This could lead to a conflict of interest if your agent can’t represent both parties equally.
On top of that, if your agent is not experienced with these types of sales, managing the expectations and emotions of everyone involved can place stress on them which might affect their performance.
Already thinking about where you’ll be living next? Check out these other blogs for helpful advice on buying a home.
- Should I Buy a Home in Etobicoke if I Work Downtown?
- Should You Buy the First Home You See?
- Is Now a Good Time to Buy a Home in South Etobicoke?
The Bottom Line
At the end of the day, choosing between working with one agent or working with two agents is all about your comfort levels. Divorce is complicated for a lot of reasons, including how emotionally overwhelming it can be. While some partners are able to process the divorce fairly amicably, it’s not always a smooth experience for everyone – and that’s okay.
Finding the Best Agent For You
Whether you’re working with one agent or two, hiring the right professional for the job is a key part of selling during a divorce. With that in mind, you’ll want to specifically look for a real estate agent who has direct experience in divorce sales.
Whatever option you choose, an agent who specializes in these types of transactions will help you maximize the pros and minimize the cons. They’ll also understand the unique legal and logistical elements of selling after a divorce and can help keep everything on track to ensure a smooth sale.
Looking for a local, unbiased real estate agent to guide you through your home sale following a divorce? I can help! Call or text me at 647-239-7587 or send me an email at melissa@southetobicoke.com to get started.
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