Divorce, Renovations & the Family Home: What the Family Court Really Cares About
Release Date: 01/14/2026
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🎧 Listen to this episode if… You’re worried your custody or property case might end up eventually in court. You are preparing for Family Court or worried your case might escalate You want to avoid mistakes that judges hate seeing in parenting or property matters You’re dealing with a high-conflict ex or coercive control You’re self-represented and want to understand what the court looks for You want to protect your credibility and stay child-focused You feel overwhelmed and want to understand how to present better in court You want to understand how Family...
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Divorce, Renovations & the Family Home: What the Family Court Really Cares About
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🎧 Listen to this episode if… You’re selling the family home during divorce or de facto separation A real estate agent has told you to renovate or stage before selling Your ex wants to delay settlement until renovations are finished You’re stuck with a half-renovated or unfinished house You’ve already spent money on renovations and want to know if it “counts” Your ex is demanding reimbursement for renovations Parents or in-laws contributed money to renovations You’re deciding whether to keep the house, sell it, or buy your ex out Renovations feel...
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Listen to this episode if… You're feeling emotionally overloaded Everyone around you has an opinion and it’s stressing you out You're being pushed to make decisions faster than you’re ready for You’re not sure what’s a legal deadline vs. emotional urgency You’re feeling pressure from all sides to get things sorted You are overwhelmed 📌 Legal Disclaimer & Trigger Warning: This episode is for general information only and is not legal advice. Please seek your own legal support for your specific circumstances. This discussion is based in Australia....
info_outline🎧 Listen to this episode if…
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You’re selling the family home during divorce or de facto separation
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A real estate agent has told you to renovate or stage before selling
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Your ex wants to delay settlement until renovations are finished
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You’re stuck with a half-renovated or unfinished house
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You’ve already spent money on renovations and want to know if it “counts”
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Your ex is demanding reimbursement for renovations
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Parents or in-laws contributed money to renovations
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You’re deciding whether to keep the house, sell it, or buy your ex out
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Renovations feel emotionally or financially overwhelming right now
đź“Ś Legal Disclaimer: This episode is for education only and not legal advice. Please seek your own independent legal, financial, and real estate advice for your situation.
đź“Ś Trigger Warning: This episode discusses family violence and property damage. Support services are listed below.
đź“ť Episode Summary
Should you renovate or stage the house when you’re going through divorce or is it a costly mistake that keeps you stuck longer than you need to be?
In this episode, Mum and I break down renovations, staging, and selling the family home during separation, and what actually matters in property settlements. We talk honestly about when spending money might make sense, when it won’t, and how renovations are often used intentionally or not as a delay tactic or control mechanism.
We cover staging versus maintenance, half-finished renovations, DIY disasters, family contributions, damage to property, and how the court really views all of it. Most importantly, we talk about how to decide whether renovations are worth the financial and emotional cost, and how to avoid getting trapped in a house or a settlement that never seems to move forward.
đź“Ś Trigger Warning: This episode discusses family violence and property damage. Support services are listed below.
⏱️ Episode Timeline
00:00 Should You Renovate Before Selling During Divorce?
00:40 Renovations During Divorce: Common Questions Answered
01:09 Legal and Financial Rules Around Renovations
02:03 Staging vs Renovations: What Actually Adds Value?
05:52 Renovation Traps: Delays, Control and Emotional Attachment
08:41 Half-Finished Renovations and Unsellable Homes
13:32 Renovations as Non-Financial Contributions Explained
16:49 Family Loans, Gifts and Renovation Contributions
23:14 Property Damage, Wastage and How Courts Value Homes
23:47 Keep, Sell or Buy Out the Family Home?
24:51 Renovation Reimbursements: Do You Have to Pay Them Back?
26:34 Renovating During Separation: What to Do and What to Avoid
28:51 How Family Law Courts Determine Property Value
30:02 Renovations and Consent Orders: What Courts Will and Won’t Enforce
35:22 Property Valuations in Divorce: What Courts Accept
40:04 Final Thoughts: Avoiding Renovation Mistakes in Divorce
đź”— Links & Resources
Support Services (Australia)
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1800 RESPECT – 1800 737 732
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Lifeline – 13 11 14
Related Episodes
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Selling Your House During Divorce
https://open.spotify.com/episode/6YUc34CVu6aCmunjQT1Sp6?si=Aks8s1YMTguzG-wyYO33Xw
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Property Settlement Explained
https://open.spotify.com/episode/5WcJwbOkw7UcCdla48EpXj?si=JRrkI8pZRdu6EUn0h8gncw
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Financial Abuse After Separation
https://open.spotify.com/episode/4wxVtk6TOSCgqCJikfk6LD?si=Uxr0alr8TeKwX-WvzKx6Cg
🚨 Support Services (Australia)
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1800 RESPECT – 1800 737 732
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Lifeline – 13 11 14
đź“Ś Legal Disclaimer
This episode is for education only and not legal advice. Please seek your own independent legal, financial, and real estate advice for your situation.
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