Going through a divorce can be an incredibly stressful time, with the house being one more thing to manage on top of working through the emotional upheavals and changes that you’re going through. But if you find yourself in a position where selling your home must be part of concluding your marriage settlement, then understanding how to sell your house in a California divorce is key. In this blog post, we’re going to explore exactly what you need to know when it comes to selling house during divorce in California, from navigating this difficult experience to getting past the sale process as quickly and as amicably as possible.
Decide on a path – Traditional Sale or Osborne Homes
The best place to start is by deciding in which way you will sell your home. You could sell the traditional way, where you hire a real estate agent and all of the things that entails, or you could go with the alternative route of selling your home to Osborne Homes. You might wonder what the difference is and we will go into all of it here.
Option #1: Quickly and Easily sell your house to Osborne Homes
Selling property before divorce settlement IS an option! So if you’re going through a divorce and looking to quickly and easily sell your home, Osborne Homes may be the perfect solution. As an investor with years of experience purchasing California properties in any condition – and paying all-cash – this could be an ideal situation for you. You won’t need to worry about paying any realtor commissions, staging, repairs or photography – all things that come with the traditional process. You don’t even have to worry about possible financing issues that can delay or complicate the sale. Because of all of this, we close FAST – much faster than listing and waiting on the open market. With Osborne Homes taking care of everything, including paperwork and escrow services, you can rest assured that your house will be sold without adding extra stress to the already difficult circumstances of a divorce.
Contact us with your questions!
If you want to know how to sell a house during a divorce the absolute quickest and easiest way, fill this form out or give us a call and we will go over everything with you.
Option #2: Go through a lengthy and costly traditional sale
The right choice for you may already be clear, because the last thing you want to worry about when you are faced with a court ordered sale of house in divorce California is any additional hassle, annoying delays or added expense. A traditional sale could be the culprit in those areas, with repairs, showings and negotiations to deal with. You would also have to worry about finding a buyer who is able to obtain financing, which can be difficult in and of itself in today’s market.
Instead of going through all of that hoopla, you could just sell your home to Osborne, avoid the stress and expense of a traditional sale, and you can close quickly and easily, getting cash in hand fast. However, just so it’s clear, we will go over the steps involved in a traditional sale process.
Cooperate with your spouse during the sale process
Hopefully the two of you are able to be civil with one another because before going through a traditional sale you will want to be sure you can communicate well together. While selling house in divorce, no doubt you will be faced with big decisions – ones where you will need to come to an agreement together. Because of this, it is important to approach the situation with a cooperative attitude between both parties. Here are some tips for doing so:
- Focus on keeping the lines of communication open at all times and strive for an amicable resolution that allows for mutual respect and fairness.
- Keep a positive mindset and prepare for negotiations beforehand by informing yourself about market values and prices so you can realistically decide on an agreeable asking rate.
- Work together as much as possible when finding real estate agents in order to lessen any potential complications that may arise.
Ultimately, cooperating when selling a home during divorce can help ensure not just the financial aspect of splitting up but also provide closure on this chapter in life.
Get organized and have all your paperwork ready to go
Getting a divorce and selling house can be a nightmare, so don’t make it any harder on yourself. Having organized documents ready to go during this process can help reduce the loss of time due to confusion and misunderstanding down the line. Potential buyers need proof that a property has been completely recorded in tax and land registry offices, as well as any other legal entity involved with the sale transaction.
Have your home inspected
As with all home sales, having a thorough home inspection is essential. Knowing what potential repairs are necessary can help the couple plan financially for any necessary expenditures, and help to ensure that the property will be presented in its best possible condition to prospective buyers. This can inspire confidence in buyers that they’re getting a solid property without any negative surprises, which should help expedite the sale of the home; an important consideration, especially during an already tumultuous time.
Make any and all pertinent repairs
When selling house in divorce, it’s important that any necessary fix ups are taken care of before listing the property. This will help ensure its value and make it more attractive on the housing market. The best decision for the divorcing parties could be to split the costs equally, however if one party has more disposable income than the other, it can be beneficial to allow them to cover the repair costs for a lump sum in return for a corresponding share of equity.
Work with a real estate agent to list your house at the right price
When you receive a court ordered sale of house in divorce California, it’s important to enlist help from an experienced real estate agent who not only understands the unique challenges home sellers face in times of transition. Even more important, an agent will be able to provide a realistic estimate of what your house is worth – this number will ensure you aren’t asking too much or too little for a quick sale. Working with an agent provides peace of mind as you navigate life-changing decisions like selling your house during a divorce.
Prepare your home for professional photography
When you are about to have a photographer out, it’s important to first declutter and make small upgrades that freshen up the space. When possible, consider hiring a staging company to give your home an extra edge — their expertise in making a home look like a model will be worth every penny!
Market your house to potential buyers
Getting a divorce and selling house is not complete without finding your perfect buyer. One way a divorcing couple can ensure they find the best buyer for their house quickly is to hold an open house. This allows potential buyers to visit your property and learn more about its features in detail. Your real estate agent will likely have several other avenues to discuss with you to find buyers. Lean on their expertise.
Final step – come to an agreement and go through escrow
Once you receive an offer, negotiate a fair price. The buyer will hopefully already be approved for financing of that amount and escrow can begin. Once the sale process is complete with confirmation of title transfer, you, the divorced couple, can officially close one chapter of your lives and begin a new one. And that wraps up getting a divorce and selling house the traditional way.
Save Yourself all the Trouble and Sell to Osborne Homes!
If you want to know how to sell a house during a divorce while keeping your sanity intact, contact us! At Osborne Homes, we take the hassle and headache out of selling your home during a divorce. You don’t have to make a single repair or update before we will buy your home. You don’t have to pay any real estate commissions, and you can close way sooner. So, if you’re going through a divorce and want the easy way out, fill this form out and one of our experts will be in touch.
