Probate and Trust Sales
When dealing with complex family property matters, it takes both expertise and empathy.
All personal home sales are emotional, but when dealing with the passing of a loved one it is especially imperative that the sale of what in most cases is the largest family asset it’s key to have someone on your side who understands the intricacies of the probate sales process and the care and communication required to help move the estate forward.
Victor Currie is certified as a Probate and Trust Specialist by the California Association of Realtors as well as a Seniors Real Estate Specialist by the National Association of Realtors, two areas that overlap in the many issues that arise in situations where a family’s wealth is moving generations.
As in all our transactions, we take a strategic approach to the sale, taking into account the timeline and court issues that make Probate and Trust transactions unique. While any agent can legally handle these types of transactions, understanding the issues that can arise and complicate matters may be the difference between a home closing on time or a transaction falling apart and delaying the settlement of an estate.
We know it isn’t easy. We’ve been there too.
Creating the best possible situation for the sale.
Advising on Preparing the Home to Sell
Properties being sold in trust or probate are often perceived as older and in disrepair. When these homes go on the market, they naturally attract lower offers. With some advance pre-market preparation and cleanup, within the Trustee's budgetary guidelines, a property's appearance can be transformed from teardown to showplace. If needed and if it fits within the estate’s time frame, we have access to contracting services that can perform updating and rehabilitation of the property with the costs paid out of escrow at closing (limitations apply).
Strategic Marketing
Experience shows that a high-exposure advance marketing period maximizes marketing results. This period may, of course, differ based on the needs of the Trustee. It may be as short as one broker open house and one public open house, or extend up to 21 days on the market before reviewing offers. This ensures the property receives maximum exposure to the marketplace and all interested parties are given enough time to visit the property and conduct due diligence, if desired, before making offers. Using a dynamic combination of high-impact traditional marketing and state-of-the-art technology, we will aggressively promote your property to the widest possible audience of buyers and real estate agents both nationally and internationally. This process offers protection to the fiduciary by demonstrating full market exposure and optimal sales results. It includes presenting the fiduciary with a detailed report of market activity, advertising, and the number of buyers and agents who previewed the home property.
Keeping Transactions Clean
We conduct a seller-controlled marketing and sale process, clearly stating our expectations to potential buyers in an offer instruction sheet setting forth the expressed desires of the Trustee. While for most parties, price is most important, sometimes a faster closing or a leaseback from buyer to seller are critical issues. By providing an instruction sheet to all interested parties, buyers will understand the seller's "wish list" and write offers accordingly.
Limiting Negotiation Issues
By presenting a Buyer’s Package up front including, but not limited to a Buyer Instruction Sheet, Preliminary Title Report, Zone Disclosures, Statutory Disclosures, and, in some cases, an independent pre-inspection report, we limit or negate the need for Buyer Contingencies.
Note: Some transactions may require court approval. The timeframe for that process may vary and is beyond the control of Douglas Elliman Real Estate.
Douglas Elliman Real Estate is a real estate brokerage firm and, accordingly, does not provide legal or tax advice. Before making any decision regarding the information provided, you should consult with your own accounting, tax, and legal advisors.
Seniors Real Estate Specialist
