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An Ultimate Guide on How to Sell Your House During Probate

Selling a house in Pennsylvania during the probate process is tricky. Probate is what happens after someone dies and involves sharing their things and paying off any debts. Selling a house during this time might seem tough, but with the right information and help, it can be done. In this guide, we’ll show you how to sell a house step by step during probate.

It’s essential to know this process well, whether you’re in charge of the will, an heir, or someone getting something from the deceased. We’ll explain everything from getting the legal right to sell the property to deciding its price and finally selling it.

Can you sell a house before it goes through Probate?

Usually, you can’t sell a house before probate because the person in charge (called the Personal Representative or PR) doesn’t have the right to. If they try, they might face legal problems. But there are some exceptions. If a wife or husband who is still alive owns part of the house, they might sell it without waiting for probate. Also, if the person who died had set up a special kind of legal tool called a trust for the property, it might be sold without probate.

Handling everything after someone dies, especially if a house is involved, can be complicated. It’s a good idea to get help from someone who knows about probate, especially if you’re thinking of selling a house in the process.

What is the Probate Process?

Before selling a house during probate, you need to understand probate itself. Probate rules can be different in each state, so you should talk to a lawyer or someone who knows the local rules. Generally, probate involves:

•    Asking the court to start the probate process.
•    Naming someone (an executor or administrator) to handle the deceased’s things.
•    Finding out what the deceased owned, including the house, and what it’s worth.
•    Letting people, the deceased owe money to know and paying them off.
•    Giving out the deceased’s things to those who should get them, either as written in the will or as the law says.

Choosing the Executor

In Pennsylvania, during the probate process, you need to pick a main person, often called an executor. This person helps handle all the stuff the deceased person left behind, including selling houses. It’s important to know what this person is supposed to do.

Figuring Out How Much the Property Is Worth

Before you sell the property, find out its current worth. Get a property expert or a local real estate agent to help decide this price. Knowing this will help set a good selling price.

Getting All the Needed Papers

Start the selling process by collecting all the important papers linked to the property and the probate. This might include things like the death certificate, the will, and some legal papers. Keep these papers organized; you’ll need them during the sale.

Putting the Property Up for Sale

To get buyers interested, make a good advertisement for the property. Talk about what makes the property special, its location, and any recent work done on it. Get a photographer to take good pictures since great photos can draw in buyers.

Marketing the Property

Use different ways to tell people about the property. Websites and social media are good places to show it off. Also, think about old-school ways like newspaper ads or having an open house to get people interested.

Handling Offers

When people start making offers, look at each one closely. If you have a real estate agent, they can help with this. Check the details, how they’ll pay, and any special requests they have. Talk with the buyers to get the best deal for the property.

Getting Court Permission

In Pennsylvania, if you want to sell a house during probate, the court has to agree. After getting a buyer’s offer, tell the court about the sale. The court checks if the sale is good for the estate. If they say yes, you can move forward with the sale.

Closing the Deal

When the sale is about to be completed, everyone involved, like the buyer, the seller (which is the estate), and their lawyers or agents, come together. After signing all the needed papers, the money from the sale is given out as the court has directed.

Why Choose Cross Town Home Buyers

Cross Town Home Buyers is a trusted name in Pennsylvania for selling houses during probate. They know a lot about the probate process and have helped many people successfully sell their houses. At Cross Town Home Buyers, we understand all the legal rules and steps in probate.

Our experienced team guides clients at every step, making sure everything goes smoothly. We help with checking the property’s value, handling all the paperwork, and selling the property effectively. Our goal is to make selling a house during probate in Pennsylvania easy and worry-free for our clients.