Selling an Inherited Home in Georgia
I’m sorry for your loss. Settling an estate is a lot, and the house can feel like one more heavy thing. I can help with the house, at your pace, alongside your estate attorney.
This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Probate rules depend on the will and the court. Please work with a Georgia estate attorney, and ask a CPA about taxes.
There’s no rush
You don’t have to decide anything today. When you’re ready, here’s a simple way to think about it.
First steps for the house
- Secure it. Lock up, check the windows, and consider changing the locks.
- Check insurance. Let the insurance company know the owner has passed, and ask whether a vacant home is still covered.
- Keep the basics on. Decide which utilities to keep on to protect the house (power, water, and heat in winter).
- Find the paperwork. Deed, any mortgage statements, property tax bills, and the will, if there is one.
- Talk to an estate attorney. They’ll explain who can sign and what the probate court needs.
How probate works, in plain terms
In Georgia, estates are handled by the probate court in the county where the person lived. The court gives the personal representative (the executor or administrator) legal authority to act for the estate, usually through documents called “letters.” The personal representative typically publishes a notice to the estate’s creditors in the county’s legal newspaper.
Local probate courts include Bartow (Cartersville), Gordon (Calhoun), Floyd (Rome), Polk (Cedartown), Cobb (Marietta), Cherokee (Canton), Paulding (Dallas), and Chattooga (Summerville). Your attorney will guide you through the steps.
Your two options for the house
Option 1: List it. I’ll give you my estimate of what the home could sell for, plus prep tips. If you’d like help with the cleanout or repairs, I can also share names of local cleanout crews, estate-sale companies, and repair folks.
Option 2: Sell as-is. Depending on the home, I can give you an as-is cash price through my homeBgone brand. No repairs, and you can leave behind what you don’t want. I’ll explain my role up front, and it’s spelled out in the Georgia paperwork.
Depending on the home, you may get one option or both. Either way, I’ll coordinate with your attorney.
Questions
Who has the right to sell an inherited house?
Usually the personal representative of the estate (an executor named in a will, or an administrator appointed by the probate court), or in some cases all of the heirs together. Your estate attorney can confirm who has authority and whether court permission is needed.
Can we sell before probate is finished?
Sometimes. It depends on the will, the court’s orders, and the estate. Your attorney can tell you what applies. I’m happy to prepare your options in the meantime so you’re ready.
Do we have to clean out the house first?
Not necessarily. If you list, a cleanout usually helps. If you’d rather not, an as-is sale may let you leave behind what you don’t want, depending on the home.
What about taxes?
Taxes on inherited property can be different from a regular sale. Please ask a CPA or tax advisor about your situation.