How do I sell an inherited house in Spokane, and do I need to finish probate first?
In Washington you generally need legal authority to sell an inherited house: either a court-appointed personal representative through probate, or a trustee if the home was held in a trust. Once that authority exists, Horizon Home Buyers can buy the house as-is, belongings and all, with a cash offer within 24 hours and closing timed to the estate's needs. We regularly work with out-of-town heirs and estate attorneys and can coordinate directly with the title company.
An inherited house usually comes with a full garage, a deferred-maintenance list, and siblings who live in three different states. Here is how the sale actually works.
Step 1: Establish who can sign
- Probate. If the home was in your parent’s name alone, someone must be appointed personal representative by the Spokane County Superior Court. Washington probate is comparatively simple and many estates get “nonintervention powers,” which let the personal representative sell without a separate court order.
- Trust. If the home was titled to a living trust, the successor trustee can typically sell without probate.
- Transfer on death deed or joint ownership. Washington allows TOD deeds; the named beneficiary may already hold title.
An estate attorney can confirm which applies. We are happy to wait for the appointment and can still give you a number now so the family can plan.
Step 2: Do not clean it out first
Many heirs spend weekends and thousands of dollars hauling before they call us. You do not need to. Take the photos, the paperwork and the things that matter; we handle the rest after closing.
Step 3: Taxes and proceeds
Inherited property generally gets a stepped-up basis to its value at the date of death, so a sale soon after often has little or no capital gain. The title company distributes proceeds according to the personal representative’s instructions. Our article on five common questions about selling inherited property goes deeper. This is general information, not legal or tax advice.