Every estate is different. Before making major decisions about the property, determine who has legal authority to act on behalf of the estate.
Depending upon how the property was titled and the estate plan, this may involve a:
- Personal Representative appointed by the probate court
- Trustee
- Surviving joint owner
- Beneficiary or heir
- Attorney representing the estate
Important: A real estate professional does not provide legal, tax or probate advice. Families should consult the appropriate attorney, CPA or other professional regarding those matters.
My role is to help with the real estate and property-related responsibilities and to work alongside your other professional advisors.
What Needs to Be Done With the Property?
Sometimes the hardest part is simply knowing where to begin.
I can help you evaluate and coordinate many of the practical matters surrounding the property, including:
Securing & Maintaining the Property
- Confirming the property is secure
- Arranging locksmith services when appropriate
- Monitoring a vacant property
- Lawn, landscaping and pool maintenance (if necessary)
- Cleaning and housekeeping
- Pest control
- Air-conditioning and other maintenance
- Helping coordinate utilities and property access
Families may need assistance with:
- Estate sales
- Appraisers
- Donation services
- Movers
- Storage
- Junk removal and clean-outs
- Specialty services for valuable items
You decide what happens to personal belongings. My job is to help connect you with resources when you need them.
Should We Repair It or Sell It As-Is?
This is one of the most important decisions an estate can make.
Not every property should be renovated before it is sold.
Before spending money, I can prepare a market analysis and help the family understand:
- The property's probable market value in its current condition
- Which improvements may increase marketability or value
- Which improvements probably will not provide an adequate return
- The difference between selling As-Is and preparing the property for the retail market
- Whether the property's highest value may be in the land itself, rather than the existing structure
- Current competing properties
- The likely buyer for the property
- Estimated selling expenses and potential net proceeds
Sometimes a deep cleaning, fresh paint and minor repairs make an enormous difference.
Other times, the best financial decision may be to do very little and sell the property As-Is.
The goal is not to make the property perfect.
The goal is to protect the estate's equity and help the family make informed, financially sound decisions.
You Don't Have to Find Everyone Yourself
One Call Can Connect You With an Entire Team
Through Signature Real Estate Companies, I have access to a network of well-vetted professionals who can help with virtually every aspect of preparing an estate property for sale.
Depending upon the property's needs, these may include:
- Estate-sale professionals
- Movers and storage companies
- Clean-out services
- Professional cleaners
- Handymen
- Painters
- General contractors
- Electricians
- Plumbers
- HVAC professionals
- Roofers
- Impact-window professionals
- Landscapers and pool companies
- Home inspectors
- Appraisers
- Title professionals
- Photographers and videographers
- Staging and design professionals
- Property-management resources
I can help coordinate these services so that the family doesn't have to make dozens of calls or travel to South Florida every time something needs attention.
The family remains in control. I simply help make the process easier.
Inherited a Florida Property but Live Somewhere Else?
Handling a Florida property from hundreds or thousands of miles away can be particularly stressful.
That is where having an experienced local real estate professional can make a significant difference.
I can be your eyes and ears in South Florida.
With the family's authorization, I can help:
- Meet vendors at the property
- Obtain estimates
- Provide photographs and video updates
- Coordinate access
- Check on work being performed
- Communicate with the condominium or homeowners association
- Help gather property information
- Prepare the property for photography, video, drone photography and showings
- Coordinate inspections, appraisal and other appointments once under contract
Help coordinate access when family members live out of state
You should not have to fly to Florida every time someone needs access to the property.
Before We Price It, We Need to Understand It
Before recommending a listing strategy, I want to understand the property completely.
Depending upon the property, this can include researching:
- Current ownership and public records
- Comparable sales
- Current competition
- Condominium or HOA requirements
- Maintenance fees and assessments
- Special assessments
- Milestone Inspection and Structural Integrity Reserve Study information, when applicable
- Dockage and boating considerations
- Seawall condition
- Flood zone information
- Permits and improvements
- Property taxes
- Current market conditions
In South Florida, especially with waterfront homes, condominiums and cooperatives, issues involving reserves, assessments, inspections, seawalls, dockage and flood exposure can materially affect value and a buyer's willingness to proceed.
Selling an Estate Property Requires More Than Putting It in the MLS
Once the estate is ready to sell, I can develop a marketing strategy appropriate for the property.
Depending upon the home and target buyer, this may include:
- Professional photography
- Video
- Drone photography when appropriate
- Virtual staging
- Property-specific marketing
- MLS exposure
- Internet syndication
- Social-media marketing
- YouTube video
- Broker and agent networking
- Targeted buyer outreach
- Open houses when appropriate
- International marketing opportunities
- Luxury and waterfront positioning
The objective is not simply to put the property in the MLS. It is to position the property correctly, expose it to the right buyers and protect the estate's financial interests throughout the transaction
From Offer to Closing
When an offer arrives, I will help the authorized decision-maker evaluate more than just the purchase price.
We will evaluate the strength of each offer, including:
- Financing versus cash
- Deposits
- Inspection periods
- Closing date
- Contingencies
- Requested credits
- Personal property
- Association approval requirements
- Probability of the transaction actually closing
Once under contract, I help coordinate the real estate transaction through closing and work closely with the estate's attorney, title company and other professionals as appropriate.
Before You Spend Money — Let's Talk
One of the most valuable things I can do may happen before you hire anyone or spend anything on the property.
I am happy to walk through the property with the family or Personal Representative and give you my opinion about:
What should be done.
What could be done.
And, just as importantly, what I would NOT spend money doing.
There is no obligation to list the property simply because we have this conversation.
Sometimes families just need a knowledgeable local person to help them understand their options.
A Helping Hand When Your Family Needs One
Selling a loved one's property is different from an ordinary real estate transaction.
There are memories attached to the home, family members may live in different states, decisions can be emotional, and there are often legal and financial matters occurring at the same time.
My goal is to make the real estate portion of the process as straightforward and manageable as possible.
Not Sure What to Do With the Property? Start With a Conversation.
Before you clean it out, renovate it, repair it or put it on the market, let's talk!
I offer families and Personal Representatives a Complimentary Estate Property Consultation to help determine:
- What the property may be worth today
- What should — and should not — be repaired
- Whether selling As-Is makes more sense
- What services may be needed
- What the family's next real estate steps should be
No obligation. Just experienced, local guidance when you need it most.
Karen Foster. Broker Associate | Luxury Waterfront Property Specialist
Signature International Real Estate, LLC
561-212-7769
Karen.Foster@SignatureFlorida.com
Serving Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, Hillsboro Beach and surrounding South Florida communities.
Important Notice
This guide is intended to provide general real estate information and is not legal, tax, accounting or probate advice. Estate circumstances vary. Personal Representatives, trustees, beneficiaries and family members should consult qualified legal and tax professionals regarding their particular circumstance.
