Selling the House
Once the right person has authority (the personal representative, the successor trustee or the new owner), the house can be sold much like any other, with a few differences in timing, disclosures and paperwork.
With nonintervention powers, a probate sale needs no court order and does not have to wait for the creditor period to end.
Your steps, in order
- Probate Real Estate Sales in WashingtonHow an estate sale of real estate differs from an ordinary one.
- Can You Sell a House During Probate?Timing, court approval and the creditor period.
- How Long Does It Take to Sell a Probate Property?From appointment to closing, and what speeds it up or slows it down.
- What Repairs Should Be Made Before Selling a Probate Home?Cleanout, repairs and what buyers expect.
- Estate LiquidationClearing the contents before the house is listed.
- How the Process WorksThe steps of an estate property sale, in order.
Watch out for
Property taxes keep coming due.
The October 31 second half arrives with no new bill, so it is the payment families miss.
Inheriting is free of excise tax; selling is not.
The real estate excise tax applies to the sale to a buyer, as with any sale. Washington's capital gains tax does not apply to real estate.
Price from a value you can defend.
Heirs and beneficiaries question prices. A date-of-death appraisal and a current market analysis answer most of those questions.
Looking for a figure or a rule? See Deadlines & key rules or the glossary. General information, not legal advice; Real Property Planning does not refer clients to attorneys.