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Executors & Administrators of Probate Decision Making

In the past few months I’ve spoken with several Executors and administrators who are responsible for a property in probate and they were confused about whether the best decision is to sell the estate home directly to a cash investor or not.

Part of the probate process is for notice to be placed in a local newspaper. This gives notice to interested parties (such as creditors). Because it is a public notice, the investors and real estate agents now know that a probate is in process. Those investors and real estate agents will research if the estate has a property. Then, their marketing begins!

Executors and Administrators tell me that they receive a lot of mail and phone calls from people wanting to purchase or list the property. They tell me that it is very overwhelming. Many of the mail pieces they receive will offer a purchase price for the estate property. This can prove to be problematic because the interior of the property has not been viewed, and experience shows once the investor views the interior, the price is adjusted. And, I’m not telling you it gets adjusted higher.

In my experienced opinion, selling a piece of property to an investor is not the best idea. And these are the top three reasons why:

1. There are many people in the market ready to buy real estate and willing to pay much more than a cash investor.

2. It’s very important that the California Association of REALTOR documents that need to be part of the transaction to protect the financial and legal rights of the estate and you as the Executor or Administrator need to be completed accurately. All the t’s need to be crossed and all the i’s dotted.

3. The person that is purchasing the probate property is naturally looking out for their best interest, not the best interest of the estate.

Before you decide to sell the real estate, call me. We can discuss your exact circumstances so you can make an informed decision.

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.