SELLING A HOME DURING DIVORCE: HOW TO AVOID KILLING THE SALE
Selling a Home During Divorce: How Not to Kill a Sale
Selling a home is stressful.
Selling a home during a divorce is something else entirely.
Emotions run high. Communication can break down. And if you’re not careful, the home often the most valuable marital asset — becomes collateral damage in the conflict.
The truth is, a divorce can easily derail a home sale. Deals fall apart over small disagreements, delayed decisions, or lack of coordination. But with the right approach, you can protect your equity, attract strong buyers, and get the home sold smoothly.
Here’s how to keep the process on track and avoid killing the sale.
Agree on Shared Goals Before You List
Many divorcing couples jump straight into the sale without aligning on what they actually want.
This creates problems like:
• Arguing about pricing
• Disagreeing on repairs
• Sabotaging showings
• Delayed response times
Before listing, establish:
• The target price range
• The minimum acceptable offer
• Who handles communication with the agent
• How decisions will be made and documented
A shared plan reduces conflict and keeps emotions from undermining the deal.
Choose a Neutral Third-Party Decision Maker
In divorce sales, decisions can get stuck fast.
If communication is strained, consider:
• A mutually agreed-upon agent
• A mediator
• A lawyer acting as tie-breaker
• Referring decisions back to the separation agreement
This prevents gridlock, which is one of the biggest reasons divorce home sales fall apart.
Avoid Using the Home as a Battlefield
Buyers pick up on tension and tension hurts your leverage.
Common sabotaging behaviours include:
• Refusing showings
• Leaving the home messy
• Withholding signatures
• Nitpicking small inspection requests
• Making it difficult for the agent to communicate
These actions don’t punish your ex they reduce your net proceeds.
Treat the home sale like a business transaction.
Emotions can be handled elsewhere.
Keep the Home Show-Ready (Even If You’re Not Living There)
Divorce often means one or both spouses have already moved out.
A half-empty or neglected home can:
• Look cold
• Show flaws more easily
• Signal distress to buyers
• Lower perceived value
Solutions:
• Professional staging
• Cleaning services
• Soft lighting and scent for showings
• Ensuring the lawn and exterior remain maintained
Small investments here protect your equity.
Respond Quickly to Offers
Divorce adds layers of approvals and conversations.
If responses take too long, buyers move on.
To prevent delays:
• Agree upfront on response timeframes
• Let your agent coordinate both sides simultaneously
• Pre-approve negotiation parameters (ex: “We will not counter below X”)
Speed builds buyer confidence hesitation kills it.
Don’t Make the Buyer Feel the Divorce
Buyers don’t want to walk into a messy breakup.
Avoid:
• Leaving divorce documents visible
• Letting tension show during showings
• Mentioning the divorce in the listing
• Giving the impression the sale is “forced”
This reduces lowball offers and protects your negotiating position.
Clarify How Proceeds Will Be Split
Uncertainty creates conflict and conflict delays closing.
Before accepting an offer:
• Confirm the division outlined in your separation agreement
• Discuss payout structure with lawyers
• Agree on what happens with closing costs, repairs, and adjustments
If the money split is unclear, one spouse may stall the entire process.
Selling a home during divorce is emotionally heavy but it doesn’t have to be financially damaging.
The key is to treat the sale like a joint business transaction, even if the relationship between you is strained. When both parties stay focused on the bigger picture protecting equity, selling efficiently, and moving forward the process becomes smoother, faster, and far more profitable.
Your home is a major asset.
Don’t let conflict kill the sale.