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Probate real estate is DRAMATICALLY different than “regular” real estate. With probate real estate there are MANY more variables that will impact the outcome of a transaction.
Probate properties usually require more thought and action to get them market-ready. They often have condition issues. In the majority of cases, they need updating by the estate or by the potential buyer (which means that the marketing of these homes is more involved).
Adding to the complexity, there are often multiple stakeholders whose consensus is required. And there are generally more raw emotions involved due to the backdrop of the passing of a loved one.
These unique factors of probate real estate can trip up an agent who isn’t trained in selling probate real estate and can result in transactions unraveling (or worse yet – lawsuits initiated by an heir).
That’s why we say that “Probate Homes Need a Probate Agent.”
When a run-of-the-mill agent takes a new listing, their “marketing plan” typically goes like this – 1.) Put the property on the MLS. 2.) Put a sign in the yard. 3.) Hold open houses. 4.) Hope and pray that a buyer comes along. And it’s the same uninspired “plan” regardless of the specific property.
We do things differently. We assess the ideal market positioning for each specific property we represent. We then identify the target buyer avatar and we tailor the property marketing to that avatar. Our property photos are of the highest quality and strategically selected. The properties we’re privileged to represent don’t have lackluster descriptions that feature “new roof” or “new water heater” (as if those phrases ignite an intense desire in potential buyers!).
We go deeper into marketing than most agents. Much, much deeper. All designed to get the estates that we team with the maximum return.
One of the biggest variables in probate real estate is that the estate representatives generally don’t live in the home. They’re often out of the area or even out-of-state.
In pretty much every probate sale we’ve worked on we’ve been the “boots on the ground” for the distant representatives and heirs. We’ve pulled permits for work to be done, overseen contractors at the property, applied for continuing certificates of occupancy and OPRA requests, sourced and installed the items needed for inspections, and on and on. And on.
We try to make the representative’s life easier by saving them countless trips to the property and we strive to keep things on track.
We’ve got your back.
“We care”. At first, that phrase sounds a bit trite, doesn’t it? After all, is anyone that you’re considering working with going to tell you that they DON’T care?
But when we say “we care”, we mean that we’re 100% invested in your success. If there are issues, we come up with solutions. We try to look over the hill to see the next obstacle on the horizon and form a plan to deal with it. We literally sometimes lose sleep over the properties we represent.
The bottom line is that we don’t look at our relationship with an estate as a “job”, a “task”, or a “transaction”. Instead, we take things to heart and we treat each property we represent as if it were our own.
We’re in this together.