Selling a Probate Property in Los Angeles: What Executors Should Know
A probate or trust sale is a normal home sale wrapped in a legal process. The executor, administrator or trustee is responsible for the property, but the court, the estate attorney, escrow and title all have a role, and the timing is set by the process rather than by the seller alone.
The first step is confirming who has authority to sign and whether the sale needs court confirmation. Your attorney answers that question; my job is to coordinate the real estate side around the answer so nothing is listed, marketed or accepted out of order.
Preparation matters more in probate sales than in most others. Many of these homes have not been updated or cleaned out in years. Our team handles repairs, clean-outs, landscaping and staging so the property shows well and the estate is not leaving money on the table.
Pricing a probate home uses the same comparable sales as any other, adjusted for condition and for any disclosures that come with an estate sale. I present the strategy in writing so every family member and the attorney can see the reasoning.
If you are handling an estate in Los Angeles County and are not sure where to start, call me. I will walk you through the real estate steps and coordinate directly with your attorney, escrow and title.
