What does it mean to hire the “right” agent in this situation, though? To give you an idea, we’ll share a few examples of the service we provide our clients if they’re going through the exact same thing.
First, we always promise to communicate with both parties at the same time. Divorces can sometimes be very litigious, and if both spouses aren’t getting along, they won’t want to have conversations with their real estate agent separately—they’ll want to ensure we’ll always be able to have conversations at the same time. My transaction coordinator will always facilitate the conference call, get both spouses on the line at the same time, present all the information, and come to a decision. This has helped move the process forward without anyone feeling like the other is getting preferential treatment.
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Having a real estate agent with administrative staff in place that implements the right processes is key to achieving this communication.
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Another thing to consider is the fact that divorce attorneys sometimes have very high hourly fees. In the past, we’ve heard of clients whose previous agents met directly with the judge or attorney, but they would be the ones who had to pay the bills for those meetings. That’s why we always come to you directly—we’ll never meet with a judge or attorney without your permission.
Also, if the divorce decree isn’t final, the divorce attorneys will want an estimate of what the home is worth so they can divide the assets. This means they’ll usually want an appraisal done, which can cost upwards of $1,200 to $1,500.
How can we save you this extra cost? My real estate attorney has prepared a form that enables me to do a current market analysis on your house and present it to the judge so they can accept it in lieu of an actual appraisal.
The bottom line is that communication is key, so you need to work with an agent who has administrative staff in place to implement the necessary processes.
If you have any more questions about dealing with this type of situation or you have any other real estate needs I can take care of, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d love to help you.
