Do you wonder how you’d handle a home in probate if it were suddenly dropped in your lap? Taking care of a home in probate can be an emotionally draining process, particularly if the deceased owner was a close family member or friend. Here are a few steps that will help you to work through the probate process while still taking time to mourn and heal.
Attend Probate Court
One of the most lengthy and difficult parts of caring for a home in probate is going to probate court. Since the home hasn’t been legally passed down to you, you don’t have ownership of it, and need to go through some legal procedures to gain said ownership. Even though this process might seem intimidating, there will be teams of lawyers and judges in your probate court that will be prepared to help you. They’ll walk you through the process that is ahead of you. Even though it may take months, it will be worth it if you truly want to gain ownership of the home.
Keep Up with the Home
While you’re working through the legal processes, you will need to keep up with the maintenance of the home in probate. If the home is clean and well maintained during the probate court process, it will help to maintain the value of the property. Additionally, it will add protection to the property. For example, if you leave the home in probate without utilities and don’t visit often, it will look run down and unoccupied. A robber will be more likely to break in if a home is in this state. So, make sure that you pay for utilities and keep the house cleaned and organized. This can be a healing and cathartic part of the probate home process as you’re mourning the passing of the previous homeowner.
Sell to a Home Buying Business
Finally, if you don’t want to gain ownership of the property, or if you’re tired of going through all of the lengthy processes, you might want to sell to a home buying business. Home buying businesses will buy your house as-is, which means that you won’t have to worry about any lengthy inspections or repairs. You won’t have to list the home or advertise traditionally; a home buying business will give you a quote with just a little bit of information about the property. Additionally, they’ll buy the home for cash. This will save you a lot of time and money since you won’t have to pay any fees to real estate agents or wait for the buyer’s loan approval.
Remember the steps described in this article if you ever end up with a home in probate that you need to care for. You should pay a visit to probate court, keep up with the home’s maintenance, and consider selling to a home buying business. If you decide to sell to a home buying business, you’ll walk away with a cash payment and a significantly lightened load.
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