Saying Goodbye: How to Sell Your Deceased Parent’s Home

It’s important to understand how houses, in general, are selling quickly. Below are seven expert tips that can help you sell your parent’s house, regardless of if the house is in a fast or slow market.

1. Create a positive first impression

Focusing on how the house appears to buyers can help you sell your parent’s house faster. You might consider the following to add curb appeal to your parent’s home, as noted by Alida Crudo, a California realtor with almost 20 years of experience:

• Add flowers
• Make landscaping improvements
• Add a fresh coat of paint to the inside and outside of the house ^[01]

2. Declutter and depersonalize the house

Buyers don’t want to stroll through a messy house packed with personalized decor, as explained by Crudo.^[01] She encourages sellers to depersonalize the house and shoot for the more generic feel of a hotel. It’s important for buyers to really see themselves as the future homeowners.

While you may have fond memories of the curtains your mom picked out in the kitchen or the deer antlers your dad had mounted in the den, a buyer might feel like the house is already “taken” instead of being a space for them to create their own memories.

Similarly, it may not be a good idea to be at the house during showings, as it places the focus on what was instead of what could be. It can also be awkward for buyers, especially if they know your parent has passed away and they don’t know what to say to someone who is grieving.

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3. Tackle deep cleaning

Putting in a little elbow grease prior to listing your parent’s home can pay off. If you have the time, you can tackle the cleaning yourself or you can hire a licensed professional cleaning service to do a deep clean of the property.

Make sure to dust baseboards, light fixtures, fans, and any vents in the house, as noted by Kaelyn Blaser, a realtor in the Sacramento, CA, metro.^[02]

It’s not always just the visuals. Take notice of any lingering smells in the house. Pet odors and cigarette smoke residue may turn off potential buyers. Take appropriate steps to address or eliminate unwanted smells in your parent’s house.

4. Address things that need repairs

If your parent didn’t have time to address issues in the house or didn’t keep close track of routine maintenance, you’ll need to closely examine what may need attention in the house prior to listing. In real estate terms, your parent’s home may be viewed as a fixer upper house by prospective buyers.

Unrepaired or damaged items, such as faulty windows or electrical issues, in the house can raise red flags for buyers, as explained by Crudo.^[01]

It’s important to correct and address the issues that you can. For some buyers, a house with small improvement needs is more enticing than a house that needs everything done upon taking possession.

5. Consider calling in an expert

It’s normal to experience a variety of emotions when selling a family home. It can feel overwhelming to try to sell your parent’s house on your own after their passing. It’s OK to acknowledge that you need help.

Working with a realtor or real estate agent can take the load off of you and potentially make your parent’s house sell faster. You should consider asking friends and family in the area for recommendations for a real estate agent. You may also take into account online reviews for agents in your area.

It’s also common for relators and real estate agents to have social media profiles on Facebook, TikTok, Youtube, and more. These can give you an insight into an agent’s communication style and specific expertise. You may also be able to access additional free home selling advice through these social media profiles.

Note: It’s important to work with a real estate agent who you trust and feel comfortable working alongside. You may need to speak with multiple prospective real estate agents before selecting one to work with to sell your parent’s home.

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6. Utilize professional photography and videography

In today’s post-pandemic era, many buyers want to see photos and video walkthrough tours prior to even visiting a house for sale.

It’s important that the online listing for your parent’s home has high-quality images. Using a professional real estate photography and videography can help sell a house faster, as noted by Jamie Eklund, an owner at P23 Realty in Greeley, CO.^[03]

If you are working with a real estate agent, they may be able to recommend a professional that they work with on a regular basis.

7. Be thoughtful with pricing

Your parent’s home feels priceless to you, but it’s important that your parent’s home is priced appropriately compared to other similar houses in their local area or neighborhood.

Keep in mind that housing market prices can vary from town to town, or even neighborhood to neighborhood. It may be helpful to work with an agent who is familiar with the area that your parent’s home is located in. They may be able to provide guidance on how to price your parent’s house to sell it quickly based upon their local knowledge.

Having the house be priced “right” can potentially help it sell more quickly, as explained by Zach Wessolleck, a realtor in Northern Virginia.^[04]