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Someday....You May Be the Personal Representative.....

By
Real Estate Agent with EXP Realty 414-525-0563 57026-90 Broker

    There may come a time...or maybe it has happened already ...when you are the Personal Representative for your parents estate. It may be the house you grew up in...and it is sooo not "just another property"....it was a part of your life for a long time....from all the firsts....the first day of school...the first date...the first prom when you floated down the staircase to meet your date.  All the stockngs hung by the chimney ...the Easter baskets that were hidden in the same familiar places. Holiday dinners... birthday celebrations ...graduations...the most memorable times of your childhood were unforgettably experienced at what is now another address on MLS...it will never be that to you.  It was not for me...when my Mom said many times in her last months..."You and David will take care and sell or house." We  did ....the very hardest sale ever...with all those memories flooding back every time we showed the house.

   We have for some time worked with estates as an added niche in our practice which has grown considerably during this past year. The situations vary from well maintained to dated and everywhere in between. There are heirs who are able...and choose to do some updating...some to keep peace with siblings and/or other heirs minimize or eliminate what they put into the house before it is listed. But preparing an estate for sale is not why we wrote this post.

   This post is written for all those Selling agents who write offers on Estates. While to the Buyer...it may be just another house or in some cases  an investment to flip or rent.  It is not that to the Seller(s) ...be kind...know it is a piece of their hearts...a huge part of their life that is coming to an end and put away carefully in their memories. Respond promptly....be gentle...be considerate. Make the last memories...and the good bye as pain free as possible. Some day...you may be in that position and walk in those shoes...the ones you wore since childhood.

     This has been a post brought to you by Sally K. and David L.Hanson, Broker Associates with  EXP Realty honored to be of service in southeastern Wisconsin for all things real estate. #estaterealestate#kindnessinestaterealestate

Posted by

Sally K. & David L. Hanson, ABR, CDPE, CSS, e-Pro,ILHM, REDS


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James Dray
Fathom Realty - Bentonville, AR

Morning Sally.

I did have that happen, it was not a good day.  Enjoy your Sunday

Oct 20, 2019 02:01 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

I did do that, settled my mother's estate, and fixed up the house I grew up in.  A childhood friend's mother was the agent who sold it for us.

On the day of closing I went to a local sandwich shop we patronized a zillion times as kids, got a large steak, onion, and cheese sub and fries, and ate it while sitting on the floor of my old room.  It was indeed a sad day for me!

Oct 20, 2019 04:30 AM
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Good morning Sally. Been there, done that. Not an easy task especially if all involved are from out of town. A definite learning experience. Enjoy your day!

Oct 20, 2019 05:48 AM
Grant Schneider
Performance Development Strategies - Armonk, NY
Your Coach Helping You Create Successful Outcomes

Good morning Sally K. & David L. Hanson - I remember the emotion.  My father sold our house and moved into retirement housing.  But is was a house full of childhood memories.

Oct 20, 2019 05:56 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Been there and done that, Sally and David. It's a much bigger job than people often realize. At least selling my mother's coop in NYC was not all that emotional for me as she'd bought it when I was in my 30's... so it wasn't home for me. The packing up the home, which took many a weekend, was definitely emotional.

Oct 20, 2019 06:27 AM
Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

My Mom is that for her parent's estate and I am seeing first hand how much stress comes with that.

Oct 20, 2019 06:30 AM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hello Sally and David - this post is a good reminder that kindness belongs as part of real estate.  

Oct 20, 2019 06:42 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Sally, sadly, both my parents passed 35+ years ago.  The home I closed this week was two brothers selling their Dad's home.

Oct 20, 2019 07:42 AM
Sheri Sperry - MCNE®
Coldwell Banker Realty - Sedona, AZ
(928) 274-7355 ~ YOUR Solutions REALTOR®

Hi Sally K. & David L. Hanson,

I have had many estate listings dealing with more than one trustee and know the issues that come up especially with siblings who may still be grieving. 

I think it is important to know the attachment that a trustee may have on the estate they represent. 

Oct 20, 2019 12:26 PM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Sally and David I went through that with the house my mom and dad lived in for about 40 years.  Not easy when there are 5 siblings involved.

Oct 20, 2019 01:03 PM
Lise Howe
Keller Williams Capital Properties - Washington, DC
Assoc. Broker in DC, MD, VA and attorney in DC

This is such good advice for the buyers and agents representing them - Sellers letting go of homes with such family memories are in a hard place

Oct 22, 2019 05:13 AM
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