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Welcome
My name is Adarsh Shah, and I am the Director here at Parkside Estates. I’ve been working in the property industry for a number of years and have helped many clients who are selling due to a divorce or separation.
Our experience at Parkside Estates means we know just how emotional, stressful, and draining this period can be. Selling a home during a divorce or separation is often a difficult thing to go through. However, there are specific steps you can take to help you embark on a fresh chapter of your life.
We aim to help and guide you during these times and to become your support partner for the property’s sale. We cover many aspects of selling due to divorce or separation in this guide. After reading it, you may find it beneficial to have a no-obligation, confidential chat with us about your situation. We’re experienced in giving people sensitive, discreet, and expert support when they are moving due to a divorce or separation.
Thank you for your time, and please get in touch with us if you have any questions whatsoever.
Adarsh Shah, Director, Parkside Estates
Preparing properly for a new start
There are many things to consider during a divorce. Whether it’s family finances, property or even pets, it pays to prepare properly. Addressing the points below will make the experience easier to navigate.
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First steps
When getting a divorce, it’s wise to contact a solicitor for legal advice. They should be able to advise you on any legal implications you need to consider. A good solicitor will also give you guidance on the financial aspect of any settlement.
If you have a mortgage, it’s worth making your provider aware of the situation to see if they can offer help and advice – for example, if you need to reduce the mortgage payments for a short period while the property is being sold.
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Agreement
Once you have instructed a solicitor, it’s time to contact an estate agent. Every agency is different, and even though legally we only need one signatory on our sales agreement, we always insist on having two. This helps a sale to be successful and far less stressful for both parties.
A good estate agent understands there needs to be a high level of agreement and transparency.
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Communication
The easiest way to pour fuel on an already highly emotional situation is to allow communication to break down. It’s so important to involve both parties once a property is up for sale, even if that is through mediators.
By keeping both sides fully updated on viewings, feedback, offers and progress, we reduce the risk of sales falling through and making an often stressful situation even more fraught. Having these foundations in place will help enormously when it comes to selling and moving on.
Five do’s and don’ts
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Do seek advice and help
We often see people who are dealing with selling a home for the first time, perhaps because their ex-partner dealt with it all in the past. The paperwork, processes, and preparations can seem daunting to the uninitiated, so don’t try to do it on your own.
We’re always happy to sit down and go through any issues or questions you have. Moving home is an emotional experience at the best of times, and we understand and empathise with what you’re going through.
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Don’t sell to quick home buying companies
Many companies offer a quick buy service, where they will under-offer on your property but do the deal quickly. This is the last resort rather than a first choice. You’ll get considerably less than if a good estate agency properly markets your property.
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Do your research
When putting your home up for sale, invite three estate agents to value it. You’ll be able to gauge who you have a rapport with and who you feel you can trust.
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Don’t be swayed by high numbers or cheap fees
Something we often see is people going through a divorce who end up instructing an agency that has overvalued their home to win the instruction. Usually, this leads to the property sticking on the market at a time when people want or need a swifter sale.
It’s also worth considering why some agencies’ fees are a lot cheaper than others. Often personal service and care – the very things you’ll need most during this chapter of your life – are sacrificed by the cheap agent.
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Do relationships
Look for an agent who values the relationship with you, rather than just the transaction. We’ve built our business on establishing long-term relationships with our clients, because of our focus on service, listening, empathising, and simply being there for them.
Your FAQs answered
If this is the case, it would be worth exploring your financial options. We can put you in contact with an independent mortgage broker.
This is often necessary, so there needs to be mutual agreement around the price and the marketing strategy applied to the property’s sale.
If the answer is yes, your estate agent would need to discuss the presentation of your property when it comes to viewings (who will do the tidying up?). We operate accompanied viewings as standard, meaning no one needs to be home when a potential buyer views.
Again, this is to do with viewings. It’s often a good idea to take them out while a viewing is happening.
We are always happy to use the method of communication our clients prefer, be that phone, text message, email or in person.
You may not feel comfortable meeting at your current property, so we can meet you and discuss anything regarding the sale away from it, if that suits you better.
Our advice is to be honest and open with any potential buyer should that question be asked. It is not likely to affect someone’s buying decision, and there will be plenty of other positive points to highlight about the home.
Usually the solicitor handling the divorce is skilled in that area of law and wouldn’t be as experienced handling the conveyancing. Our advice is to appoint a conveyancing solicitor who has experience in handling property sales, as they are likely to get the sale through quicker and with less stress. Compare prices, but also ask how long on average it is taking them to handle a property sale from start to finish – you should be looking for an answer of between 60 and 90 days.
Six tips on moving due to a divorce
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Finalise your divorce before moving out
The general advice given by most divorce solicitors is not to move out before your divorce is finalised. It can be a natural reaction to wish to leave as soon as you can, so it’s worth checking this with your legal expert.
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Take stock, not things
Once your divorce is agreed, list what items are yours and what you want to take with you. If you are unsure who owns what, discuss it with your ex-partner if possible and come to an agreement. Sometimes it’s better not to take sentimental things that will remind you of the relationship. The cleaner the break, the fresher the new start.
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Book your removal company
Good removal companies get booked up quickly, sometimes months in advance. So plan ahead and get quotes as early as possible. It’s usually a good idea to get recommendations, or quotes from three different removal firms.
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Packing starts now
Packing can be made easier if you give yourself plenty of time and start chipping away at it daily. Begin with items you don’t use much and leave the essential everyday things until last.
Keep essential items like keys, passports, and medicines in a bag which stays with you during the move. Don’t overpack boxes, try not to use bags as they can’t be stacked, and label everything to make your life easier when you get to your new place.
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Moving day
Remember you’ll probably be very emotional, so be kind to yourself and try to have a friend or family member with you. Make sure your mobile phone is charged and give the number to the removal people so they can contact you if necessary.
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Home sweet home
You’ve got the keys to your new place, and everything has been moved in. Treat yourself to a takeaway on the first evening in your new home, because you deserve a break and a chance to relax. The unpacking (cutlery, plates, and kettle excluded) can start tomorrow, when your new chapter really begins.
As with all the tips and pointers in this guide, the above doesn’t constitute legal advice. If you have any questions or things you’d like to discuss with us, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Why we can help you
Selecting the best agent to help you sell your property is a big decision, especially with so much already going on in your life. Here’s why we like to think we’re the best choice for you.
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Experience
I’ve been helping people buy and sell their property for a number of years, and our team have more than 80 years of experience between them.
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Independent
We are a family-run business providing an unparalleled level of personal service. We can make decisions quickly and always make ourselves available. You have the reassurance that you can contact us at any time to handle any queries.
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Always looking ahead
We have invested heavily in virtual viewings, video tours, and other new technologies. This means you know your property will be expertly marketed, which leads to achieving premium prices.
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You focused
We are focused on you. That means getting you the results you are looking for. And we don’t just talk the talk, we walk the walk. We will be with you every step of the way to advise, support, and celebrate with. We’ve built our reputation on the quality of our relationships rather than the number of transactions. This is testament to our approach and has led to most of our business coming from word of mouth.
Thanks for taking the time to read our guide. If you want to talk about anything contained in it or have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call us on 020 8445 6737.
General information, not legal, financial or tax advice — every situation is different, so speak to a solicitor or accountant about your own before you act on it.
