How long should I wait to sell an inherited family home that is sitting vacant?

Linda, I think the big question here is what is the benefit of letting the property sit vacant and pay for carrying costs? If you are looking to sell to a family member, that is a different situation, but if you are just sitting on it until you decide what to do, capital is going out the window that won't be recovered. Keith Jean-Pierre Managing Principal The Dapper Agents Operations In: NY, NJ, FL & CA

We are currently in the best selling season of the year. Prices in some areas of Florida, but not all, are going down slightly. In addition, the longer a home sits vacant, the more maintenance and repairs it will need. I've been in real estate for 30 years and am licensed in Florida. I would be glad to answer any additional questions you may have, and help you sell the home when you decide to do so. Feel free to call any time, Pete Bauch, Realtor 770.617.7720

By saying that your estate is settled, I'm assuming it went through probate. If that's the case, then you're good to go ahead and list it whenever you want. The market is so completely different everywhere. There is no rhyme or reason to when there's a good time or a bad time. Every market is very different. I would not listen to anybody that is not local to where this property is located. But also, a big part of it is finding the right agent. Make sure you're asking the proper questions. Don't just go with somebody that looks all bright and shiny and presents well. Find somebody that really truly knows what selling an older home that's empty, if you've got issues with it, do they already know how to overcome those objections? And then you decide how you want to go about selling it. Are you willing to do anything to get more money for it, or are you going to sell it as is? If you sell it flat out to an investor that is going to take on all liability, they're going to pay the least amount for it. So there's a lot of factors involved, and it's just really honestly finding the agent that you feel most comfortable with that is going to tell you the truth and not just going to tell you what you want to hear or what they think you want to hear, but truly is there to provide answers to your questions.

If you and your siblings are not keeping the home, I would suggest selling it as soon as is practical. A vacant property can sometimes attract unwanted attention, such as scammers or squatters. Beyond security, consider the possibility of unexpected damage from a plumbing or roof leak, or a weather related incident. This could result in a reduction of home value or costly unexpected repairs. With all of this in mind, if the family has made the decision to sell, there is likely no benefit to holding onto the property any longer than necessary. Find a local Realtor that knows your market and how best to market the home. I wish you well, I have personally recently navigated a similar situation.

Hey Linda, I agree with Jennifer and also have someone who deals with probate properties as they will guide you thru the process, even though you have gone thru probate. Having an agent who knows your local market and knows what the current market is doing with Average list to sales price ratio, days on market in a particular price range and also pricing the home based on the updates and condition.