How I Sold an Inherited House in One Day (And Why Most People Need Help)
How I Sold an Inherited House in One Day (And Why Most People Need Help)
A real story about helping someone who "didn't like realtors" sell his inherited property faster than he ever imagined
TL;DR - Saturday Success Story
Listed an inherited house on Saturday morning, had three different responses by afternoon: lowball flipper (declined), game-playing buyer (ignored), and the Goldilocks offer (accepted). Seller initially balked at paying buyer's agent but realized she was "completing our quest" with a qualified buyer. Sometimes the best deals happen in hours, not days.
So last week I got a house under contract in one day. Which is pretty sweet, especially since this wasn't even in my usual price range.
Here's how the whole thing started...
It All Began With a Different House
I had this client who wanted to buy an inherited property. Her neighbor mentioned there was one for sale on the same street where Uber Realty got its very first listing years ago. Talk about coming full circle.
So we drive over to take a look. Same situation as our first listing - inherited property, house packed with a lifetime's worth of stuff. I mean PACKED. You couldn't even walk through some rooms.
The owner starts the conversation by telling me he doesn't like realtors.
I'm like, "OK. I don't like all of them either."
That seemed to catch him off guard.
When Clients Get Carried Away
My buyer was getting excited, already talking about tearing the place down and building her dream home. I had to be the voice of reason here.
"Look," I told her, "you're gonna get carried away and build an $800,000 house in a neighborhood where that doesn't make sense. You'll be way over-building."
She thought about it and decided to pass. Smart move, honestly.
But here's the thing - I looked at that house and thought, "You know what? I actually like this place. It's got good bones. Lot of life left in it."
Then I went on my merry way and forgot all about it.
The Phone Call That Changed Everything
About a month later, my phone rings. It's the guy who "doesn't like realtors."
"Would you help me sell the house?"
Now, I'm a sucker if you're nice and ask for help. But if you start by telling me you're not sure you need a realtor, blah blah blah... I'm thinking, then why did you call me?
This guy was different though. He was in Colorado, dealing with his family's property from 1,500 miles away, and he genuinely needed help.
The Title Says It All: Most People Need Help
And that's the truth - most people need help. That's what we do. We help.
I thought this might be a quick deal, but boy was I wrong.
The Long Road to Listing
After the estate sale people cleared most of the stuff out, the house got turned over to me. I started doing my homework - looking around the neighborhood, checking recent sales, trying to figure out the best approach.
I actually tried to get it sold before we even listed it. Went through about four or five close calls with potential buyers. Each time I thought we had a deal, something would fall through.
Finally got tired of messing around.
"Let's do a good cleaning, slap some paint on it, disclose everything we know about it, and put it in the MLS," I told him.
The Magic of Proper Preparation
Sometimes the old-school approach works best. We:
Got it professionally cleaned
Put fresh paint on the walls
Fixed the obvious stuff
Made full disclosures about everything we knew
Priced it honestly based on condition and location
Listed it properly in the MLS
No fancy staging. No trying to hide problems. Just a clean, honest house at the right price.
Saturday Morning to Saturday Afternoon
Listed it on a Saturday morning. By the time I was out on my daily walk - maybe two hours later - my phone's buzzing with an offer.
First one was from one of those big-time home renovation teams. Way low. Like insulting low.
I called the guy back. "Thanks, but no thanks."
Then I get a text from some buyer asking, "How motivated is the seller?"
I texted back, "How motivated are you?"
Never heard from them again. Hate it when people play games like that.
But then - the Goldilocks offer. Almost perfect. Good price, reasonable terms, solid financing. Only issue was they wanted the seller to pay the buyer's agent commission.
Now, my seller had told me from day one he didn't want to do that.
"I know," I told him, "but this is the way most transactions are going these days. She's providing the last piece of the puzzle - a prepared buyer who's ready to close."
I could hear him thinking on the other end of the line.
"Look, if you're OK with the price, let's just add her commission to the counter and move forward."
He reluctantly agreed. "She's gonna make more than you on this deal," he said.
"I know, and that's perfectly fine," I told him. "She's earning her commission. She's completing our quest. Let's pay her and move on to closing."
Two and a half weeks to closing. Done deal.
Why This Worked When Everything Else Failed
Multiple offers create urgency: Even the lowball flipper offer showed there was interest. The good buyers saw they needed to act fast.
Saturday listings get attention: Weekend warriors looking for houses were online and ready to move.
The Goldilocks principle: When you price it right, the right offer comes along - not too high, not too low, but just right.
Smart negotiation on buyer agent commission: Instead of digging in his heels, my seller understood that paying the buyer's agent was the final piece of getting the deal done.
Buyer agent earned her money: She brought a qualified buyer, handled the negotiations professionally, and got us to closing in 2.5 weeks.
The Lesson Here
This whole experience reminded me why I love this job. Started with trying to help one client buy a house, ended up helping someone else sell theirs.
The guy who "didn't like realtors"? He was over the moon. Got exactly what he needed - a fair price, a quick sale, and someone to handle all the details from 1,500 miles away.
Everybody won.
What I Learned (Again)
People really do need help. Even the ones who start by saying they don't trust realtors usually come around when they realize how complicated this stuff gets.
Sometimes simple is better. After months of trying to get fancy with private sales and special deals, the straightforward approach worked perfectly.
Honesty sells. Buyers appreciate knowing what they're getting into upfront.
The right price trumps everything. You can stage and market all you want, but if the price isn't right, it's not gonna sell.
Relationships matter. This whole deal happened because people talked to their neighbors, made referrals, and trusted recommendations.
Why Inherited Properties Are Different
Dealing with inherited houses is its own animal. Usually involves:
Family members in different states
Emotional attachment to stuff that may not have much value
Properties that haven't been updated in decades
Sellers who just want it handled without drama
The key is understanding that the seller's main goal isn't always maximum profit - sometimes it's just getting a fair deal without complications.
The Real Success Story
Sure, getting a house under contract on the same day you list it is pretty cool. But the real success here was helping my seller understand how today's market actually works.
When he said, "She's gonna make more than you on this deal," he wasn't wrong. The buyer's agent was getting more and I was getting less. But so what? If I were just in it for the money I would charge just like all the rest. It is about apply the correct principle at the right time.
"She's earning her commission," I told him. "She's completing our quest."
And that's exactly what happened. She brought a qualified buyer, negotiated professionally, and got us to closing in 2.5 weeks without any drama.
My seller got the price he wanted, plus enough extra to cover the buyer's agent. The buyers got a great house they could move into quickly. The agent earned her commission by doing her job well.
Everybody won.
For Anyone Dealing With Inherited Property
If you're in a similar situation:
Don't try to do it alone. Especially if you're dealing with it from out of state.
Find someone you trust. Ask neighbors, friends, family for referrals.
Be honest about the condition. Trying to hide problems just creates bigger problems later.
Price it for what it is, not what it was. Sentimental value doesn't show up on appraisals.
Get professional help with cleaning and minor repairs. Small investment, big difference in presentation.
Most importantly - it's OK to admit you need help. That's literally what we're here for.
The Bottom Line
Sometimes the best deals happen when you're just trying to help people solve their problems.
Sometimes the person who says they don't like realtors ends up being your biggest advocate.
And sometimes, when you stop overthinking and just do the work right, houses sell in one day.
Twenty years in this business, and I still love stories like this. Reminds me why I chose real estate over trying to be a pastry chef.
Questions About Inherited Properties
Q: What's the biggest challenge with inherited houses? A: Usually it's family dynamics and emotional attachment. Plus, if the house hasn't been maintained, there can be a lot of deferred maintenance issues. And if family members live in different states, coordination gets complicated fast.
Q: Should I clean out the house before listing it? A: Absolutely. Buyers can't see past clutter and personal belongings. Either hire an estate sale company or rent a dumpster. Empty houses show so much better than packed ones.
Q: What about pricing an inherited house? A: Base it on current condition and market reality, not what it was worth when your family member bought it or what you think it should be worth. Get a professional opinion from someone who knows your local market.
Q: Do I need to fix everything before selling? A: Not necessarily. Sometimes it's better to price it for the condition and let the buyer handle improvements. Depends on your budget, timeline, and local market expectations.
Q: How do I choose a realtor if I'm out of state? A: Ask for referrals from local friends, neighbors, or family. Look for someone with experience handling inherited properties and out-of-state sellers. Make sure they communicate well and understand your situation.
Q: What paperwork do I need for an inherited property? A: Usually the death certificate, will or probate documents, and any paperwork establishing your legal right to sell. Your realtor and closing attorney can help you figure out exactly what's needed.
Q: How long does it typically take to sell an inherited house? A: Depends on condition, price, and market. Could be days (like mine), could be months if it needs work or is overpriced. The key is realistic pricing and proper preparation.
Q: Should I rent it out instead of selling? A: Only if you want to become a long-distance landlord. Most people dealing with inherited property just want it handled and closed. Rental property management from out of state is a whole different challenge.
Dealing with an inherited property? Let's talk about how to turn this challenge into a success story. Most people really do need help - and that's exactly what we're here for.
Give me a call and let's get your inherited property sold the right way.
Equal Housing Opportunity | Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker
