Selling an inherited or probate house in Metro Atlanta

Can you sell before probate is finished?

In Georgia, the executor (if there’s a will) or administrator (if there isn’t) needs authority from the probate court — the “letters” — before signing a sales contract on behalf of the estate. In many cases you can list the house or accept an offer while probate is still open and close once the court permits. If the will grants the executor power to sell, the process is usually faster; if not, the court may need to approve the sale. We coordinate with your probate attorney so the timing is right the first time.

Who has to sign

When several heirs share the house, everyone with an interest typically has to agree to the sale. Out-of-state heirs, disagreements over price, and “we’ll get to it next month” are the three things that stall estate sales. A written cash offer with a flexible closing date gives the family one concrete number to say yes or no to — and the listing plan shows what waiting might be worth.

Taxes: the stepped-up basis most heirs don’t know about

Inherited property generally receives a “stepped-up” cost basis to its value at the date of death, which often means little or no capital-gains tax if you sell soon after. Confirm the specifics with a CPA — but don’t let fear of taxes keep an empty house sitting while it costs you insurance, utilities, and upkeep every month.

Sell as-is or fix it first?

This is where being both an investor and an agent matters. For a 1970s ranch in Tucker or Stone Mountain with original everything, a cash sale and a fix-and-list can differ by tens of thousands — or by almost nothing once holding costs, repairs, and family time are counted. We show you both numbers side by side.

What we handle for estates

• Buy the house with everything still in it — we clear it out at no charge
• Coordinate with your probate attorney on timing and paperwork
• Close when the court allows, not before
• Or list it, with staging and updates we fund up front
• Keep every heir informed with one point of contact

Two offers from one walkthrough

Whatever your situation, the process is the same: tell us the address, we pull FMLS comps, do a 15-minute walkthrough, and hand you a written cash offer and a listing plan within 24 hours. The cash offer has zero commission and we cover closing costs. The listing plan shows what the open market would likely net after costs. You pick — or keep the analysis and do nothing.

Are you the probate attorney or administrator? See how we work with probate attorneys and executors.

This page is general information, not legal or tax advice. We work alongside your attorney and CPA, and can refer you to ones we trust.