Selling your home after a separation doesn't need to create another dispute.
There are already enough decisions to make when a relationship ends.
Choosing an agent, determining the value of the property, agreeing on a sales method, approving marketing, managing access, considering offers and deciding when to sell can become difficult when communication between owners has changed.
That's where having a clear process matters.
At Calder & Co, we approach separation property sales with a strong emphasis on transparency, documentation and consistent communication.
Where both owners are clients, material information about the property campaign is communicated clearly to both parties so everyone understands what is happening throughout the sale.
We don't take sides in the relationship.
Our responsibility is the property sale.
CORE VALUE PROPOSITION
A property sale process designed for separation
01. Evidence-Based Market Appraisal
We begin with a detailed current market appraisal supported by relevant comparable sales and current Christchurch market conditions.
The same property evidence provides a common starting point for discussions around value.
02. Clear Communication
At the beginning of the process we establish how communication will work.
Important campaign information, buyer feedback, offers and recommendations are communicated consistently to the vendor clients, subject to agreed instructions and our professional obligations.
03. Agreed Sales Strategy
Auction, deadline sale, negotiation or advertised price?
We explain the advantages and considerations of each method and recommend a strategy based on the property, current market conditions and the circumstances of the sale.
04. Transparent Marketing
Marketing costs and the proposed campaign are agreed before launch.
Both owners can clearly see where the property is being advertised, how buyers are responding and how the campaign is progressing.
05. Documented Buyer Feedback
Open-home attendance, enquiry, buyer comments, online activity and relevant market feedback can be reported throughout the campaign.
This helps keep decisions centred on current market evidence rather than assumptions.
06. Professional Negotiation
When offers arrive, our job is to negotiate firmly for the best result available from the market while keeping the sales process clear and properly documented.
Two owners. One property. One clear process.
A separation property sale can involve two people with very different circumstances.
One owner may have already moved out.
One may still be living in the property.
There may be children involved.
One party may want to sell quickly while the other wants to wait.
There may be lawyers, mortgage advisers or other professionals assisting behind the scenes.
Our job is not to resolve those differences.
Our job is to create a professional real estate process around the property so that decisions about its sale can be based on evidence, buyer feedback and market conditions.
Arrange a Confidential ConversationHOW THE PROCESS WORKS
How a separation property sale works
Confidential Initial Conversation
We discuss the property, ownership situation and what needs to happen from a real estate perspective.
There is no obligation to list the property.
Current Market Appraisal
Michael prepares a detailed market appraisal supported by relevant comparable Christchurch sales and current market conditions.
Authority & Communication
Before carrying out agency work, the appropriate owners provide the required authority and agency documentation.
We also establish a clear communication process for the campaign.
Agree the Sales Strategy
We recommend the most appropriate method of sale, marketing campaign, timeline and presentation strategy for the property.
Launch to Market
Professional photography, digital marketing, online property portals, database marketing, social media and other appropriate channels are used to expose the property to the market.
Reporting & Offers
Buyer enquiry, open-home attendance, market feedback and offers are reported clearly throughout the campaign.
Sold
Once an acceptable agreement is reached, we work with the owners and their respective solicitors where authorised to help keep the property transaction progressing through to settlement.
Important Differentiator
Consistent communication with both owners
When a jointly owned property is being sold following a separation, poor communication can quickly create unnecessary problems.
Our process is designed to minimise that risk.
Depending on the agreed communication arrangements, this can include:
- both vendor clients receiving campaign reports
- both receiving relevant buyer feedback
- both being advised of written offers
- clear written recommendations around price and strategy
- documented marketing and campaign expenditure
- shared sales statistics
- agreed arrangements around open homes and property access
- communication with solicitors where authorised
The objective is simple:
Everyone should understand what is happening with the property sale.
WHY CALDER & CO
Experience matters when the circumstances aren't straightforward.
Michael Calder has been selling residential property throughout Canterbury for 15 years and has been involved in more than 300 residential sales.
Before establishing independent Christchurch agency Calder & Co, Michael spent time selling property with both Ray White and Bayleys.
That experience includes everything from first homes and investment properties through to family homes, developments and high-value residential property.
Calder & Co was established around a simple idea:
Good real estate should combine honest advice, strong marketing, hard negotiation and a fairer way of doing business.
When a property sale follows a separation, those fundamentals become even more important.
Speak With MichaelPROFESSIONAL REFERRAL SECTION
For family lawyers, mediators & professional advisers
Calder & Co welcomes referrals from family lawyers, relationship property specialists, mediators, accountants, mortgage advisers and other professionals assisting clients through separation.
Our role is limited to the real estate transaction.
We do not provide relationship property or legal advice.
Where appropriate and authorised, we can provide:
- a current residential market appraisal
- comparable sales evidence
- recommended methods of sale
- proposed marketing and sales timelines
- regular written campaign reporting
- buyer feedback
- documentation of offers received
- communication with both vendor clients
- liaison with each party's solicitor where authorised
If you have clients who may need to sell a Christchurch or Canterbury property, Michael is happy to have a confidential preliminary conversation before any decision is made to list.
Refer a Client / Contact MichaelProfessional enquiries are welcome
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you provide an appraisal before we decide whether to sell?
Yes.
We can provide a current market appraisal to help the owners understand what the property may achieve in the present Christchurch market.
There is no obligation to list the property with Calder & Co following an appraisal.
Do both owners need to agree to the sale?
Where a property has multiple legal owners, the appropriate authority must be in place before we can act on behalf of the vendors.
If there is disagreement regarding ownership, authority to sell or how the property should be dealt with, independent legal advice should be obtained.
What happens if we disagree about what the property is worth?
Our role is to provide market evidence rather than take sides.
The appraisal considers relevant comparable sales, the property's characteristics and current market conditions.
Once the property is on the market, actual buyer enquiry, feedback and offers provide further evidence of how the market is responding.
If a formal registered valuation is required for legal or relationship property purposes, your solicitor may recommend engaging a registered valuer.
What happens if we disagree about an offer?
We will explain the offer, conditions, buyer position and our professional assessment of it to the vendor clients.
The decision to accept, reject or counter an offer remains with the people who have authority to make that decision.
We remain focused on providing clear market information and negotiating the strongest achievable terms.
Will buyers be told that we have separated?
The marketing campaign should focus on the property rather than the owners' personal circumstances.
Personal information regarding the reason for sale is not something we use as a marketing angle unless there is an appropriate reason and instruction to do so.
Can you communicate with us separately?
Yes, practical communication can be structured to suit the circumstances.
However, where both owners are our vendor clients, our process is designed to ensure that material information relating to the sale is communicated consistently and appropriately.
Can our lawyers deal directly with you?
Yes.
With the appropriate authority, we are happy to communicate with each party's solicitor regarding matters relevant to the property transaction.
What if one of us wants to keep the house?
A market appraisal can provide useful information about the property's likely market value.
However, an appraisal prepared by a real estate salesperson is not the same as a registered valuation.
Where property value is being relied on for a relationship property agreement, buyout or legal proceeding, you should ask your solicitor whether a registered valuation is required.
Do we need to have completed our relationship property agreement before selling?
Not necessarily.
The timing will depend on your individual circumstances.
Your lawyers can advise you about the relationship property and legal implications, while Calder & Co can advise you about the real estate process, likely value, method of sale and current market conditions.
How much does it cost to sell?
Before any agency agreement is signed, we provide a clear written explanation of the proposed commission, marketing costs and recommended sales campaign.
There is no charge or obligation for an initial conversation or market appraisal.