Inherited a house in Virginia Beach? Here’s where to start
Inheriting a house usually comes at a hard time. Whether the house is in Virginia Beach or anywhere else in Hampton Roads, you don’t have to figure it all out at once. Here’s what to do first, how probate fits in, and your honest options for selling an inherited house, including the ones that don’t involve us.
What to do first with an inherited house
Unless there’s a real deadline, it’s okay to slow down. Grief, family and a house full of memories are a lot to carry at once, and the house can wait while you catch your breath.
- Keep the house secure
- Keep the utilities and insurance in place
- Make a list of the questions you’ll need answered
- Ask an estate or probate attorney who has the authority to sign
Does the house have to go through probate before you sell?
Before a house can be sold, it has to be clear who has the authority to sell it. That depends on things like whether there was a will and how the house was titled. An estate or probate attorney is the right person to answer this, and it’s worth asking early. We’re glad to work alongside your attorney, or, if you don’t have one, you can work with the experienced local attorney we use. A local closing company or attorney handles the title work.
In Virginia, probate runs through the circuit court. Virginia’s court system publishes a guide called Probate in Virginia.
How long does probate take in Virginia?
It depends on the estate: whether there’s a will, how the house was titled, how many people inherited it and whether everyone agrees. There isn’t one number that fits every family, so we won’t guess. Your attorney, or ours, can tell you what to expect for yours, and we’re patient when the timeline runs longer.
“After my grandmother passed away without a will, there were 14 heirs involved making the sale of the property highly complex… He offered a fair and transparent price and remained fully committed despite the extended timeline and complications in this type of sale.”
Keep it, rent it, list it or sell it as-is
Some families keep the house, some rent it out, and some sell it. There’s no wrong answer, only the one that fits your family. If you do sell, there are three honest paths:
- Fix the house up and list it with an agent
- List it as it is
- Sell it as-is to a direct buyer, like us
If the house is in good shape and you have the time to prepare it and wait for the right buyer, listing with an agent may leave you with more. We’ll walk through each one with you, and if listing makes more sense, we’ll tell you. Our guide on how to decide walks through each one.
Selling a parent’s house with brothers, sisters and a lifetime of things
If several people inherited the house, everyone will need to agree on a plan. We’re patient when there are several family members or a longer timeline, and we’ll work toward a closing date that works for everyone involved. If some of you live somewhere else, that’s okay: we can close with sellers anywhere in the United States. Tell us where everyone is, and we’ll talk through the timing with you.
Take your time with the things that matter to you. When it comes to the rest, you have choices: a cleanout company, donating, or selling the house as-is with the belongings still inside. When we buy a house, you can leave behind anything you don’t want to keep.
“I sold my mother’s home… They were honest with me in each step of the process in selling my mother’s home. They made sure that I was comfortable and there was no pressure in the entire process.”
How selling an inherited house to us works
- Talk it through. Tell us about the house and what’s going on. We’ll ask about your timeline and what you’re hoping for. About 5 to 15 minutes.
- We visit the house. No cleaning, no repairs. We want to see it exactly as it is. About 20 to 30 minutes.
- See your options. We explain our offer and how we got there, plus any option that might serve you better. No pressure to decide.
- Close on your date. A local closing company handles the paperwork, and you pick the date that works for your family.
We’re the actual buyer, and we close on the contracts we sign. We never assign your contract to another investor, and the price in your contract is the price you get.
Inherited houses: straight answers
01Can I sell an inherited house before probate is finished?
It depends on the estate and on who has the authority to sign, so that’s a question for an estate or probate attorney. We’re glad to work alongside your attorney, or you can work with the experienced local attorney we use, and we’ll wait until the timing is right.
02Do I have to clean out the house before I sell it to you?
No. You don’t need to clean, make repairs or prepare the house for us. When we buy a house, you can leave behind anything you don’t want to keep.
03What if my family can’t agree on what to do with the house?
If several people inherited the house, everyone will need to agree on a plan. We’re patient when there are several family members or a longer timeline, and we’ll walk through every option with all of you, including the ones that don’t involve us.
04Do you buy inherited houses outside Virginia Beach?
Yes. We buy houses all over Hampton Roads, in any condition. Tell us where the house is and what’s going on, and we’ll let you know quickly.
This page is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. For advice about your situation, please talk with a qualified attorney, lender or housing counselor.
More reading: Selling an inherited house: where to start · People we personally recommend
Tell us about the house
You’ll hear from Mike directly, and there’s never any pressure to sell.