How We Helped Divorcing Homeowners Sell a Home With Deferred Maintenance — Without Leaving Money on the Table
💬 When “As-Is” Could Mean Less for Everyone
In today’s market, selling a home that needs work is no longer just about pricing it low enough to attract investors. It's about navigating emotional dynamics, deferred maintenance, and the reality that buyers now have more choices—and higher expectations.
If you're in the middle of a divorce, this can get even trickier. One spouse may want to clean and update the home. The other might not lift a finger.
In this real example, we worked with divorcing spouses in North Phoenix whose home had serious deferred maintenance—but neither party could agree on what to fix, who should pay, or even if the home should be improved at all.
🏡 The Home: Outdated, Worn Down, and Under Pressure to Sell
The property was a 4-bedroom home in an established community. It had great bones and a good layout, but years of deferred maintenance were showing:
Carpets were worn and stained
Paint was faded and chipped
The backyard was overgrown and uninviting
The A/C was old (but still functioning)
The kitchen and bathrooms were dated
The wife had already moved out. The husband remained in the home but wasn’t inclined to make any changes. Both attorneys agreed the property needed to be listed—but neither spouse agreed on what to do next.
🤝 The Neutral Plan: No Fights, Just Progress
As a Certified Divorce Real Estate Expert (CDRE), my role is neutral. I’m not there to take sides—just to protect equity and guide everyone toward a fair, market-ready outcome.
In this case, we:
Did a side-by-side market analysis of similar homes with and without updates
Focused on minor, high-impact improvements only: fresh paint, deep cleaning, and light landscaping
Arranged for repairs and cleanup to be paid at close (so no upfront costs)
Drafted an addendum to the listing agreement that clarified how decisions would be made if disagreements arose during the process
This helped reduce tension, prevent attorney back-and-forth, and create a path forward.
📸 Strategic Prep That Didn’t Break the Bank
We didn’t do a full renovation. We didn’t even replace the flooring or the kitchen.
What we did do was:
Freshen the interior with neutral paint
Deep-clean the carpets
Remove debris from the yard and trim the bushes
Hire a professional cleaner
Stage key living spaces with simple, rented furnishings
This gave the home a clean, move-in-ready feel that made it stand out in a slow market—especially among other homes that hadn’t been prepped at all.
📉 What the Market Was Really Like
At the time of listing:
The neighborhood had several active listings
Buyers were submitting low offers or asking for concessions
Many homes had been on the market for 60+ days
Interest rates were up, and buyer urgency was low
We listed this home competitively—not aggressively high, but not rock-bottom either. Our goal wasn’t to start a bidding war… it was to attract the one buyer who would see the home’s value and make a clean offer.
🔑 The Result: One Solid Offer. No Drama. Deal Closed.
After a few weeks of consistent showings and strategic follow-ups with buyer agents, we received:
A well-qualified buyer
Willing to pay near asking
No nit-picking or long repair list
Timeline that worked for both spouses
Was it over asking? No.
Was it a bidding war? No.
But it was a clean, fair offer that got both parties to the closing table.
🎯 And in a buyer’s market like this one, that’s the win.
📍Why This Strategy Works in Phoenix & Scottsdale Right Now
Today’s buyers expect homes to be clean, well-presented, and functional.
They have options—and they’re not overpaying.
In Phoenix, Scottsdale, Chandler, and Paradise Valley, homes with deferred maintenance:
Get passed over
Receive lowball offers
Linger on the market
But the homes that stand out?
They’re the ones where just enough has been done to feel welcoming—and the price reflects the rest.
That’s why we focus on high-ROI updates, neutral presentation, and conflict-free prep.
⚖️ FAQs: Selling a Home with Deferred Maintenance During Divorce
“Do we have to do a full remodel?”
No. We identify key items that matter to buyers—and skip the rest.
“We don’t agree on what to fix—can we still move forward?”
Yes. We use listing agreement addendums to set clear guidelines and decision triggers.
“We don’t have the money to fix anything.”
No problem. We often use vendors who allow us to pay at closing out of proceeds.
“What if the market is slow?”
That’s exactly when a clean, well-priced home stands out. And when having the right strategy matters most.
👩⚖️ Attorneys: When Your Clients Can’t Agree, We Can Help
When one spouse wants to fix and the other doesn’t, and neither wants to spend money or time…
You need a neutral professional with:
A clear game plan
Experience navigating court orders
Pay-at-close vendor options
Legal-ready listing agreement language
The ability to get things done—without extra litigation
That’s what we do for family law attorneys across the Phoenix and Scottsdale area.
💬 Final Thought: One Offer Is Enough—When It’s the Right One
Don’t let deferred maintenance turn into a deferred sale.
If you're navigating a divorce and the home isn’t perfect—that’s okay.
But the strategy for how it’s presented and sold matters more than ever in this market.
📩 If you’d like a neutral, experienced real estate partner who can guide both spouses and protect the equity in your property, I’d be honored to help.
Let’s talk about how to make the most of the current market—without making the divorce more difficult.