Selling a home through probate or a trust
Help for executors and trustees, including family out of town, from cleanout to closing.
What a probate or trust sale means for your family
If you're an executor or trustee selling a home through probate or a trust in Santa Maria, Orcutt, or nearby, you're probably carrying two things at once: grief, and a long list of jobs you didn't ask for.
Often it's an adult child settling a parent's home, sometimes from out of state, sometimes with brothers and sisters who all need a say. The house is full of a lifetime of things. And nobody knows where to start.
You don't need to know how this works. That's my job. You need one person local who can be your eyes on the property and keep everyone informed.
How I help executors and trustees
I'm Lisa Bognuda, a REALTOR® with eXp Realty of California and a licensed general contractor. I've closed estate sales with several heirs and sales for sellers living hours away.
I'm your eyes on the house. If you're out of town, I coordinate the cleanout, the estate sale timing, and the trades locally, so you don't have to fly in for every step.
I tell you what the house needs, as a contractor. Inherited homes have often gone years without updates. If you're open to it, my walkthrough gives you a Fix/Skip list, so the estate doesn't spend money it won't get back.
Everyone gets the same information. If there are several heirs, I keep all of you informed, in writing, so nobody feels left out.
I work alongside your attorney. Probate and trust sales can have extra legal steps, and some need court involvement. Your attorney guides those. I make sure the real estate side is ready when they are.
What you get, step by step
- A first conversation about the family, the timeline, and what the attorney has told you.
- The contractor's walkthrough and a Fix/Skip list.
- Your EPIC Report, three prices with honest tradeoffs, which can help the family agree. How it works.
- A plan for the belongings: my Seller Moving and Decluttering Guide and my directory of local estate liquidation companies.
- The trades, handled locally from my vetted vendor list. You hire who you want, and I take no markup or referral fee.
- Full marketing, including professional photos, video, and drone. See the plan.
- Weekly updates to everyone who needs them, through closing.
Nothing here is legal or tax advice. Your attorney guides the probate or trust process, and a CPA can advise on taxes.
Probate and trust sales across the towns I serve
- Probate and trust sales in Santa Maria
- Probate and trust sales in Orcutt
- Probate and trust sales in Lompoc
- Probate and trust sales in Nipomo
Helping a parent move rather than settling an estate? See senior transitions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sell my parent's house if I live out of state?
Yes. I can be your eyes on the property and coordinate the cleanout, the estate sale timing, and the trades locally, so you only travel when you want to.
Does the house need to be fixed up first?
Usually not much. If you're open to it, my contractor's walkthrough gives the estate a Fix/Skip list so it only spends money where it comes back.
What happens to everything in the house?
You get my decluttering guide and my directory of local estate liquidation companies, and I help time the estate sale around the listing.
Does a probate sale need court approval?
Some do and some don't, depending on how the estate is being handled. Your attorney will tell you which applies. I'll make sure the real estate side fits their process.
Probate & Trust by neighborhood
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Ready to make your move with Lisa Bognuda?