Updated October 23, 2026
Five ways to handle it
- Keep it or move in. Makes sense if it fits your life and you can cover the upkeep.
- Rent it out. Brings income, but you take on tenants, repairs, and vacancies — or a property manager's fee.
- Fix it up and list it. Usually the highest price, if you can fund and manage the repairs first.
- List it as-is with an agent. Less work for you, but expect a lower price and buyers who are often investors anyway.
- Sell directly to a cash buyer. Lowest effort and a firm date, in exchange for a lower price than a repaired house would bring.
If you inherited the house
Who can sell depends on where the estate stands. If probate is complete and the deed is in your name, it is a normal sale. If probate is still open, the estate's personal representative usually has authority to sell, sometimes with court approval. Probate is handled by the probate court in the county where the person lived.
If several heirs inherit, everyone on the deed has to sign. It helps to agree early on whether to sell and how proceeds will be split.
In the meantime, keep the house insured — tell the insurer it is vacant — and secure it.
Selling a house people still live in
Tenants: a lease generally stays in place when a house is sold, so a buyer usually takes over as the landlord. Tell any buyer whether the tenant is on a written lease or month-to-month and what the rent is.
Family or several people living there: showings are hard to arrange and harder to keep tidy. Talk early about a move-out date, and tie it to the closing date so nobody is rushed. A direct sale needs one walkthrough instead of months of showings.
What to do this week
- Find the deed, any mortgage statements, and the most recent property tax bill.
- Confirm the house is insured and secured.
- Take photos of every room and the outside.
- Get two opinions on what to do: a local agent's and a written cash offer. Compare the net, not the headline price.