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Are Personal Representatives Prepared for the Flood of Calls and Mail?

Personal representatives are often surprised by the deluge of phone calls and mail related to the estate for which they are responsible. While probate professionals understand the legal notice requirement, personal representatives are often overwhelmed. Some courts include a full list of creditors and beneficiaries, making expected private information very public.

There are people who watch for these notices and then contact the personal representatives. Before they can take a breath and learn the estate’s value, investors pop up offering to buy the property; perhaps looking to take advantage of a highly emotional situation.

One example is Marie, whose out-of-state grandmother died. An investor made contact with an offer that naturally was much more than the original purchase price for the home, but much less than current fair market value. As the only beneficiary, fast and easy was very enticing to Marie. She flew in to meet the investor at the property where he then told her all the things that were wrong with it and reduced his offer.

Marie’s attorney prepared her well and put her in touch with a Certified Probate Real Estate Advisor. She quickly realized that the investor’s offer was much lower than the open market. In fact upon closing, her net was $50,000 higher. Marie appreciated her attorney and Certified Probate Real Estate Advisor working together to guide and protect her.

Personal representatives are also contacted by real estate agents who often have little, if any, experience with probate. Key considerations when choosing a real estate professional:

Inexperience = “Unintentional Problems”

Knowledge = “Problem Solver”

Experience = “Problem Avoider”

There are options for personal representatives and their choices can make a considerable difference in the process. Choosing to work with a Certified Probate Real Estate Advisor means the personal representative gets an experienced “problem avoider” to lead, guide and protect them.

Charlotte Volsch

What’s the right way to handle an inherited property—renovate, list, or sell it as-is? I am Charlotte Volsch, an Estate Property Advisor and Probate & Trust Real Estate Specialist helping attorneys, executors, and families make clear, confident decisions when selling inherited homes. I help attorneys, executors, and families navigate inherited property decisions throughout the Inland Empire and High Desert of Southern California, including Apple Valley, Victorville, Hesperia, Rancho Cucamonga, Redlands, Loma Linda, Fontana, and surrounding communities. Over the course of my career, I have completed 774+ real estate transactions across 24 years, including more than 230 probate and trust property sales. For the past 16+ years, I have focused specifically on estate property situations, working alongside probate and trust attorneys, fiduciaries, and their clients to guide each case from evaluation through sale. Many families are unsure what to do with an inherited home—whether to invest in repairs, list it traditionally, or sell it as-is. Without a clear strategy, estates can make costly mistakes such as over-improving a property, underpricing it, selecting the wrong sale method, or facing delays that impact timelines and estate objectives. I help evaluate those decisions early, so attorneys and their clients can move forward with clarity, avoid unnecessary risk, and choose the most appropriate path based on the property and the situation. I work directly with attorneys and their clients to determine the best path forward, whether that involves preparing a property for the retail market or facilitating a direct sale through a network of qualified investors. For properties that require repairs, may not qualify for traditional financing, or are best suited for as-is sale, I provide access to a network of more than 50 active real estate investors. Over the past 12 months, I have closed 68 transactions, reflecting consistent production and experience navigating changing market conditions. I guide each case using the C.A.L.M. Method: C — Clarify We identify what matters now versus what can wait. A — Align We define priorities—legal, financial, and personal. L — Lead I guide each step in the proper order to avoid delays and unnecessary complications. M — Move Forward Clients proceed with clarity and confidence. I am the Broker Owner of The Volsch Team at Volsch Enterprises, Inc., and hold certifications in Probate Real Estate through the National Association of Realtors (NAR) as well as Certified Probate Real Estate Advisor (Probate Biz). If you are an attorney handling probate or trust matters—or assisting a client with an inherited property—I’m available as a resource to help evaluate the best path forward.