This month, I’m pleased to feature the expertise of my friend and Realtor, Renee Cohen. Renee and I started our businesses around the same time, and I’ve always enjoyed exchanging ideas about growing our firms, serving clients, and the state of the economy.
Recently, Renee added a certification to help divorcing clients with their real estate changes. Here is more insight into the transition that happens when couples split.
Kristi: After a long and successful career in real estate, you recently got a new certification for helping divorcing clients with selling and buying homes. What is the certification and why did you decide to pursue this extra education?
Renee: The designation I recently completed is the Residential Real Estate Divorce Specialist designation through the Residential Real Estate Council. I decided to pursue this additional specialty because of my psychology and social work education as well as my former career as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.
Real estate is a very emotional issue to begin with, and a divorce can add additional stress to the parties going through it. My background and skills lend themselves well to working with clients buying and selling homes as a result of a divorce.
Kristi: What are a few technical traps that divorcing couples can fall into when making real estate moves?
Renee: I think it’s easy to get caught up in the emotional aspects, especially if there is animosity on one part or the other. This makes it harder to focus on the big picture and the end goal of moving on to the next stage of their lives. Focusing on the big picture helps the parties get out of the emotional weeds and allows them to make better decisions for everyone involved.
Additionally, when it comes to selling real estate during a divorce, I think couples have to make sure that they are following the legal process and timelines to make sure they are actually permitted to sell their properties.
Kristi: If you could be blunt with your clients, what would you want them to know about selling or buying a home in the midst of divorce?
Renee: I would tell them to hire good experts – attorneys, financial advisors and realtors – to help them make good decisions in the midst of the emotional stress of a divorce. I would also tell them to take care of themselves – eating healthy, exercising and getting good sleep – as best they can to help manage the stress.
And, when the time comes to sell their houses, I would tell them to be realistic about the market and let go of the outcome – the market is the market, and the market is beyond anyone’s control.
Renee Cohen is a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Global Luxury Denver and a member of The Luxury Group team. She enjoys educating her clients about the Denver real estate market and helping them navigate the often emotional process of buying and selling real estate.
Contact Renee at The Luxury Group – Coldwell Banker Global Luxury Denver. 303-594-3137.
