On its own, selling a home can be a big process. In the case of selling your parents’ home after they’ve passed away, it can be an even more complex and emotional experience.
If you’re currently taking on this responsibility, just knowing where to start can feel incredibly overwhelming. As a real estate professional who’s helped plenty of people in your shoes, I’m here to help.
In this blog post, I’ll touch on some of the important aspects of selling a deceased person’s home and how working with the right real estate agent can make the process much easier.
In need of advice on selling for parents who have not yet passed away? I’ve got advice for that too. Click here to read.
Work With a Real Estate Agent
The best place to start when selling your parents’ home is with an experienced and local (to their area) real estate agent.
There are a lot of moving parts in any home sale – let alone one where you’re selling on behalf of a parent who has passed away. With that in mind, you’ll want to hire an agent who has direct experience with these types of sales.
Speaking as a real estate agent who has helped countless individuals and families sell on behalf of someone who has died, it’s important to have someone by your side who understands the various complications involved and how to best prepare for them.
An experienced agent will also be equipped to answer any of the tough questions you may have, provide a reliable outside perspective during an emotional time, and help you get through the steps of selling without being overwhelmed.
Selling From Out of Town
Another way selling your parents’ home may differ from a regular sale is distance. If you don’t live in the same area, city, or even province, trying to coordinate an entire home sale can get overwhelming in a hurry. Once again, working with the right agent can make all the difference.
An experienced agent who has direct expertise with these types of sales (like myself) will have easy-to-follow systems in place to help families who are selling a loved one’s home from a distance. No matter where you’re located, I can help you coordinate every part of the sale from start to finish.
Searching for general home selling advice? I’ve got resources for that too! Explore these other posts from my blog.
- How to Get Your South Etobicoke Home Ready For Sale
- Mistakes to Avoid When Selling Your South Etobicoke Home
- Tips For Organizing a Family Move
Understanding Probate
First things first. In order to sell your parents’ home, you’ll need legal permission to do so.
Power of Attorney and Probate are often confused. While they can both grant someone permission to sell a home on behalf of a loved one (among other rights), they’re two separate processes.
In this instance, since the owner(s) of the home has passed away, you will be required to pursue executorship through probate. Even if you’ve directly been named as an executor in the Will, you’ll still need to follow probate in order to get formal confirmation from the province that you may act on your parents’ estate.
Start the Process Early
One thing to keep in mind as you prepare to sell your parents’ home is that the probate process doesn’t happen overnight. Because this step involves working with the Courts, it can take a few weeks or even months before probate is granted. With that in mind, it’s best to reach out to a lawyer and/or real estate agent sooner rather than later. They’ll help you prepare the necessary documents and get the ball rolling.
Selling a loved one’s home after they’ve passed isn’t easy. If you’re preparing to take care of an estate in the near future, consider some of these posts from my blog – they may come in handy.
- How to Help Your Parents’ Sell Their Home
- Can Homes That Are Modified to be More Accessible be Harder to Sell?
Navigating the Market
With the completion of probate, you’ll be able to legally proceed with the selling process. That said, even in a hot or busy market, getting a great result from the sale of your parents’ home isn’t guaranteed. Once again, it’s all about the real estate agent that you choose to work with.
As an experienced local Etobicoke real estate agent, I have the knowledge, marketing strategies, connections, and remote-selling expertise to ensure you receive the best possible return from the sale while reducing the stress involved.
Selling your parents’ home? As a real estate agent who specializes in these unique types of sales, I can help. To get started, call or text me at 647-239-7587 or you can send me an email at: melissa@southetobicoke.com.
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