Selling your home during a divorce is stressful enough without adding fuel to the fire.
And yet… divorce has a funny way of turning even the calmest, most reasonable people into mystery novels with plot twists no one saw coming.
From refusing to sign paperwork to staging sabotage, Halifax REALTORS® see the same red-flag behaviours over and over. The good news?
Most of these issues can be managed — and your sale can stay on track — if you know what you’re dealing with.
Let’s name the behaviours honestly (because sugar-coating helps no one) and talk about how sellers can protect their equity even when things get messy.
Red Flag #1: One Spouse Refuses to Cooperate — Out of Spite, Not Strategy
You know the behaviour.
Silent treatment. Slow responses. Signing paperwork “later.” Blocking showings. Ignoring pricing recommendations.
The refusal usually isn’t about real estate — it’s about control.
How to Protect the Sale
• Put all agreements in writing before listing.
• Use structured communication: email, lawyers, or a neutral third party.
• Tie-breaker decisions should be based on data, not personal preference.
• If necessary, your lawyer can require cooperation or seek orders to proceed.
Halifax real estate won’t wait for feelings to settle — and neither should your strategy.
Red Flag #2: Sabotaging Showings or Staging (Yes, It Happens)
Dirty dishes.
Unmade beds.
Doors locked.
Strong scents.
“Accidentally” refusing to leave during showings.
When one person doesn’t want the home to sell — or wants to look like the “easy” spouse — they sometimes sabotage the presentation.
How to Protect the Sale
• Use professional cleaners and stagers to reduce reliance on either spouse.
• Set a showing schedule that requires minimal daily prep.
• Use a lockbox and clear access instructions.
• If sabotage continues, document the behaviour for your lawyer.
Presentation is money — protect it fiercely.
Red Flag #3: Emotional Pricing That Ignores the Halifax Market
One spouse wants “top dollar because we deserve it.”
The other wants to list low “just to get it over with.”
Neither is looking at actual comparables.
Divorce clouds valuation. But buyers don’t care about the circumstances — they care about market data.
How to Protect the Sale
• Use objective pricing tools: CMA, appraisals, and neighbourhood comps.
• Set a predetermined timeline for price adjustments.
• Remove emotion by using market performance as the decision-maker.
Pricing should be a math equation, not a negotiation tactic.
Red Flag #4: Withholding or Delaying Information
One spouse hides maintenance issues, unpaid bills, needed repairs, or updates that might affect the sale.
Sometimes intentionally. Sometimes out of embarrassment. Sometimes out of spite.
How to Protect the Sale
• Request written disclosure early — not halfway through.
• Do a pre-inspection to eliminate surprises.
• Store all documentation centrally so both spouses and professionals have access.
• Never rely on verbal updates alone.
Hidden issues have a way of showing up on inspection day — and that’s the most expensive possible time.
Red Flag #5: One Spouse Tries to Control the Entire Process
Dictating showing times, overriding decisions, speaking for the other spouse, or treating the sale like their personal project.
This power imbalance often leads to resentment, delays, and last-minute blowups.
How to Protect the Sale
• Establish equal decision-making authority (unless legally defined otherwise).
• Use structured updates so both sellers receive identical information.
• Keep negotiations transparent.
• If conflict increases, shift communication to professional-only channels.
The sale runs smoother when no one is “in charge” — except the documented plan.
Red Flag #6: Weaponizing Deadlines
Dragging out signatures.
Refusing to approve offers until the last hour.
Changing minds at the eleventh minute.
These behaviours create unnecessary risk — buyers walk, deals terminate, and both spouses lose money.
How to Protect the Sale
• Put clear response deadlines into the separation agreement or listing contract.
• Use electronic signatures with tracking.
• Allow lawyers to step in when delays affect the transaction.
Time kills deals in Halifax — consistency keeps them alive.
Red Flag #7: Using the Sale as Leverage in Other Divorce Issues
“If you want me to sign the offer, then I want X in the agreement.”
“When we settle custody, then I’ll deal with the house.”
“If you push me, I’ll pull the listing.”
Emotions are understandable — but mixing legal matters is a recipe for chaos.
How to Protect the Sale
• Keep home-sale decisions separate from family law negotiations.
• Store funds in trust so neither spouse feels financially vulnerable.
• Remind both parties that the asset suffers when used as leverage.
Protect the equity — it will support both of your next chapters.
Bottom Line: Divorce Brings Out Red Flags — But Red Flags Don’t Have to Derail Your Sale
Every one of these behaviours is manageable when you:
• set clear rules upfront,
• rely on professionals to buffer the conflict,
• document everything,
• and remove emotion from decision-making.
You can’t control the other spouse’s behaviour — but you can control the system around it.
And with the right structure, even the rockiest divorce can still result in a clean, successful Halifax home sale.
Disclaimer
I am not a lawyer. This article is based on publicly available information and general experience in Halifax real estate. Always consult with your legal and financial professionals for advice specific to your situation.
Authorship
Written by Sandra Pike, Real Estate Divorce Specialist, Halifax & Surrounding Areas.
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