Probate is the legal process that occurs after someone has passed away and did not leave behind a living trust. It ensures that all property and assets are distributed correctly, such as inherited funds, final bills, and taxes. An executor or administrator is appointed to carry out and oversee these responsibilities and typically given to a direct family member.

We received an all cash offer, they said they will buy the property as-is and we won't even need to worry about cleaning or repairs. Why not just take that offer?

While these all cash offers can be tempting, keep in mind that many have stipulations that allow the "Buyer" to lower their offer price after an appraisal or other inspection. Many times, these "investors" resell the home before closing and assign the rights to a new buyer at a hefty profit. Either way, you could be leaving tens of thousands of dollars on the table. 

How soon can we sell the home?

Once the probate has been filed, the court will appoint an Administrator for the Estate. This process normally takes 6 to 8 weeks in LA County. Once the Court has named an Administrator, it will issue a Letter of Authority to the Administrator which will give them the authority to sign all documents related to the sale of the home.

The house needs a lot of work / cleaning up and we don't have the time or the money to do either. 

We work with a company to dispose of any unwanted items. We can even arrange to sell the items of value and that may be left and forward the proceeds to the Estate.

As for repairs, unless the home only needs a few minor repairs, we find it's more cost effective to leave those repairs to the new Buyer. There is NO shortage of Buyers looking to purchase a fixer-upper property.