commissions to be paid, and understand that remaining proceeds will be divided as agreed. • Spending earnest money — if the sale falls through, what happens to the money? Avoid stress and hassle by working out these details ahead of time. • Befriending potential buyers — if you confide that you are divorcing, they may assume you are desperate to sell, and that can affect the sale of your home. Make sure you and your real estate agent agree to both keep an eye out to avoid this pitfall! • Stress of showings, home inspection items, phone calls. Let your agent handle the bulk of the responsibilities of selling your home. • Low appraisals — you have options if this happens. Sometimes, judges will determine the value of a home, but most appraisals done by professionals are reasonable, so have a plan with your real estate agent for how to respond if you get a low appraisal. • Inspection requirements — know what is expected for your home to pass a home inspection. Consider getting a pre-listing home inspection so you can know up front the true condition of the home and do strategic maintenance and repairs, or price it accordingly. • Prepare for closing — your agent and lawyer will — or at least should — inform you of what to expect. • Flexibility and readiness to show the home — Try and accommodate all showings. Get your home in show- ready condition, and keep it that way so that unexpected showings don’t send you into a panic. • Leave during showings — buyers prefer to view homes without the seller present. Your agent can be there if
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