Email ElizabethSelling Probate Real Estate
So, You Want To Be A Probate Specialist Selling Real Estate?
So, you want to be a probate specialist selling real estate? There is always some sort of issues with title and or the heirs. These matters can take months to get straightened out. Meanwhile, you are talking with the attorney and the seller regularly moving toward having keys made and meeting the locksmith, that is once you have the court orders.
Next, you hope you can get in to evaluate the property, except when squatters are living in the property as per the photo below. This is a real photograph after calling 911 at one of my new probate properties. The Sacramento Police department showed up, and they were so very caring and helpful. Do not ever go inside with squatters as you do not know if they have weapons or are on dangerous narcotics. Always call the men and women in blue as this needs to be handled by the professionals.
Call The Police
Let’s assume you have been able to obtain a listing agreement, now the appointments with various vendors are the next phase. The heirs often need to come and take whatever mementos they want, and this can be a recipe for disaster. Things are often stolen or somehow missing, so now the fun starts. There may be items that need to be sold, items that need to be donated, or things that need to be dumped. This phase can be very time-consuming. Many probates are hoarder houses. Also, rat infestation is often prominent. Baiting and trapping is a process. The clock is ticking. The hours invested grows each day.
Squatters
Utilities are often turned off, or squatters have utility services on. There is never a shortage of items on the probate checklist. This is only the tip of the iceberg, as it can take months and months to get the property ready. There are dozens of vendors to be scheduled. Then later that you are inching closer to putting the property on the MLS. This is not a race, as your patience will be tested time and time again. There are often abandoned vehicles as well.
You can’t make this stuff up
I could talk for days on this subject with hundreds of crazy stories, but I think the photos give you a general idea. If you have questions about your Probate or Trust property, please call Weintraub and Wallace Realtors with RE/MAX Gold real estate. We can be reached at 916-233-6759.
—–JaCi Wallace
When Selling Probate, Real Estate Mama Says: Take Your Coat
When selling probate, real estate mama says: take your coat. I should have listened to her. I was booked yesterday to do a presentation on selling probate real estate in Placer County. When I left Sacramento County, the weather was fine. Upon arrival to the Auburn Holiday Inn, the weather was very chilly and windy.
When the presentation was complete, I had to drive to Colfax to check on a probate listing. We had hired a new vendor to steam clean the interior and wanted to check the quality of the work. Sometimes, when senior people live in a home for many years, they are not really able to take care of things. These type of properties can be shocking for buyers to see as they are often beyond a typical fixer upper. Our usual clean-up crew went to Colfax to bid the job two weeks ago. They immediately left and refused to do it. This lets your imagination run wild, just envision how bad it looked.
Needless to say, when I pulled into Colfax the snowflakes were gently coming down. It was so cold. All I could think about was when I’m out selling probate real estate, I should have listened to my mama. Her wise advice, suggesting I take a coat, had fallen on deaf ears. I was wearing a white crisp starched shirt with a thin decorative vest. It was freezing cold and the winds had picked up force that about knocked me down.
My mama’s words were certainly coming back to haunt me. I call her “Mamasita.” Actually, it’s my term of endearment for her, as her parents were from Mexico. We should listen to our mothers as they are usually spot on. Mamasita is staying at my house staying over the Thanksgiving holiday. My sister, Cathy, lives right next door so she watches over her when I’m working. Mamasita has severe asthma and an upper respiratory infection so we are keeping a close eye on her.
I’m out running around dressed like it’s spring in winter weather conditions so let’s hope I don’t come down with a bug, too. Yesterday, across the U.S. were horrendous early winter storms. The winds caused heavy damage as well as another fire in northern California and in the Santa Barbara area. The ski slopes in Lake Tahoe were opening yesterday as this storm is bringing a white Thanksgiving to happy skiers and snow boarders. I’m happy to be back home selling Sacramento Real Estate.
When selling Probate Real Estate listen to your mama; when selling Probate Real Estate, call Weintraub & Wallace Realtors, with RE/MAX Gold. We are your probate and trust sales, expert team. We can be reached at 916-233-6759.
— JaCi Wallace
