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Lisa Dunn, SRES®, CSA®, CSREC · RE/MAX Results, Edina
Selling a house after a parent dies in Minnesota
After a parent dies, a Minnesota home usually can't be sold until someone has legal authority, through probate, a trust or a transfer-on-death deed. I'm Lisa Dunn, SRES®, CSA®, CSREC, with RE/MAX Results. I work alongside your attorney on the house itself, including timing, pricing and an as-is or fix-up decision, across Hennepin County and the Twin Cities.
What can wait, and what can't?
Securing the house, keeping insurance and utilities in place, and keeping up with the mail usually can't wait. Big decisions about the house, its contents and the sale can usually wait until the family has had some time and legal authority is sorted out.
Do we need probate to sell?
It depends on how the home was owned: by your parent alone, in a trust, jointly, or with a transfer-on-death deed. An attorney can tell you which applies. This is general information, not legal advice. I'm glad to refer you to attorneys.
Sell as-is or fix it up?
We walk through the house and compare the two: what the work would cost and how long it would take, against what it might add. Sometimes a few small things are worth it; sometimes as-is is the better path.
When siblings don't agree, where do we start?
Start with the facts everyone can share: who has authority, what the house might sell for, and what it costs to hold. I can provide the real estate facts so the family decides from the same information. Professionals can see For professionals, and there are more answers in the FAQ.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Talk with a Minnesota attorney about your situation.
Your homework
Ask your attorney who has legal authority to sell, and when. Then we can plan the house around it.
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What's your next right step?
Whether a move is a year or two out or a few weeks away, I'll help you sort out what comes first. No cost and no pressure.