Selling a House You Inherited
Inheriting a house can arrive at the worst possible time — in the middle of grief, paperwork, and decisions you didn't ask to make. If the house needs work, sits empty, or is simply too far away to manage, you don't have to fix it, clean it out, or list it. We buy inherited homes as they are, for cash, on a timeline you choose. Tell us about the property and we'll come back to you with a fair, no-obligation offer.
You might be in this situation if…
Every inherited-house situation is different, but a few things come up again and again. Any of these sound familiar?
- You inherited a house along with siblings or other family, and not everyone wants the same thing.
- The house needs more repairs than you want to pay for, or more than you can pay for right now.
- It's sitting empty, and you're covering taxes, insurance, and utilities on a house nobody lives in.
- You live too far away to manage showings, contractors, or yard work.
- There are decades of belongings inside and the thought of clearing it out is exhausting.
- The estate is still working its way through probate and you're not sure what you're allowed to do yet.
- There's still a mortgage, a reverse mortgage, or a lien on the property.
- You're grieving, and every decision feels heavier than it should.
If you recognized yourself in even one of those, the rest of this page is written for you.
The four things people worry about most
"The house is in no condition to sell."
That's the most common thing we hear, and it isn't a problem for us. We buy houses as-is, which means exactly what it says: no repairs, no painting, no roof work, no bringing anything up to code. We're not comparing the house to a renovated one down the street. We're valuing it in the condition it's actually in.
"I can't face clearing it out."
You don't have to. Take what matters to you and leave the rest — furniture, appliances, boxes in the garage, whatever is in the attic. We'll handle it. For a lot of families this is the single biggest relief, because sorting a lifetime of belongings while grieving is genuinely hard.
"My siblings and I don't agree."
That's normal, and it's worth being straightforward: we can't resolve a family disagreement, and we won't try to pressure anyone into a decision. What we can do is give you a real, written number, so the conversation stops being hypothetical. It's much easier for a family to decide when everyone is looking at an actual offer instead of guessing what the house might be worth.
"How do I know this is legitimate?"
A fair question, and you should ask it of anyone who wants to buy a house from you. A legitimate transaction should leave a paper trail you can verify: a written purchase agreement you can review, independent escrow handling the closing and disbursement, and qualified title work addressing ownership and title issues. You should never feel rushed by a buyer. If you ever do, that's a reason to slow down — with us or with anyone else.
Who you'll be working with
- We're accredited. CashHouseSales.com is a BBB Accredited Business — you can check us out before you ever call.
- Real people. You work directly with Kari and Saul, not a call center.
- No fees or commissions charged by us; no repairs required. We don't require you to pay for fix-up work. Seller-side closing costs or adjustments, when applicable, are shown in the closing figures and may reduce your net proceeds.
- Flexible closing. We typically close in 7 to 30 days; as few as 7 days may be possible when title and escrow allow, and we can work with you on a later date when needed.
- No pressure, ever. A cash offer is information. What you do with it is up to you.
What actually happens when you contact us
Rather than tell you a story about someone else, here's exactly what the process looks like from your side.
- Tell us about the property. Four fields: your phone number, your email, the address, and your name if you'd like to give it. No financial questionnaire, no credit check.
- We look at the house and the sales around it. We review recent comparable sales nearby and the real condition of the property. If we need to see it, we'll arrange a time that works for you — and you don't need to clean or repair anything first.
- You get a number, and you decide. A real offer with our reasoning behind it. If it works, we sign the purchase agreement and open escrow for the agreed closing date. If it doesn't, that's ok, and we won't keep calling.
We don't charge you a fee or commission. Seller-side closing costs or adjustments, when applicable, are shown in the closing figures and may reduce your net proceeds.
Why an as-is cash sale often fits an inherited house
A traditional listing is built around a house that's ready to show. An inherited house frequently isn't, and the gap between those two things is where the cost lives.
- Repairs come out of your pocket first. A listing agent will usually want the house presentable before it goes live. That means writing checks now for work that may or may not return its cost later.
- The carrying costs don't pause. Taxes, insurance, utilities, and yard maintenance keep running for every month the house sits — and an empty house also carries real risk of vandalism, pipe damage, and insurance complications.
- A financed buyer can fall through. A buyer using a mortgage brings an appraisal and a lender. On a house with deferred maintenance, that's where deals commonly die — sometimes after weeks of waiting.
- We don't charge you a fee or agent commission. Seller-side closing costs or adjustments, when applicable, are shown in the closing figures and may reduce your net proceeds.
Your three options, honestly compared
We'd rather you make the right decision than a fast one. There are three realistic paths with an inherited house, and a cash sale is only the best one some of the time.
| Option | Makes sense when | The trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Sell as-is for cash | The house needs work, is empty, is far away, or you want it resolved quickly and simply | You accept a price below what a fully renovated, market-ready version of the house would bring |
| Repair and list on the MLS | The house is in good shape or close to it, you have money for repairs, and you can wait out a normal sale | Repairs, agent commission, showings, appraisal risk, and months of carrying costs — with no guarantee of the final number |
| Keep it and rent it out | You want long-term income, the house is rentable as-is or nearly so, and you're willing to be a landlord | You become a landlord: tenants, maintenance calls, vacancies, and management from wherever you live |
If the house is in good condition and you have the time and money to list it properly, a traditional sale may net you more. Our cash-buying model trades some price potential for speed, an as-is sale, and less preparation when condition, distance, or simply being done are important considerations. You can compare those trade-offs and decide which route fits your goals. Anyone who tells you a cash sale is always the best option is selling you something.
Where we buy
We're a California cash buyer, based in Bakersfield and buying across the state. If you'd like to see what we do in your area:
Don't see your city? Reach out anyway — we buy throughout California.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to clean the house out first?
No. Take what you want and leave the rest. We handle whatever's left behind.
What if the house needs major repairs?
That's a normal inherited-house situation, not a dealbreaker. Roof, foundation, plumbing, fire or water damage — we buy houses in that condition. We factor real condition into the offer rather than asking you to fix anything.
What if my siblings and I don't all agree?
Everyone with a legal interest in the property will need to sign for a sale to close. We're glad to give you a written offer while you're still discussing it, so the family conversation is based on a real number instead of a guess.
What if there's still a mortgage on it?
That's usually workable. The title company confirms what is still owed and pays the mortgage from the sale proceeds at closing. Reverse mortgages and other liens are also identified during the title process so you know what must be paid before the remaining proceeds are disbursed.
How fast can this close?
As quickly as about a week may be possible when speed matters and title and escrow allow, or later if the estate needs time. We'll work with you to set the closing date around the estate and transaction requirements.
What does it cost me?
Nothing to request an offer or decline one. We don't charge you a fee or agent commission. Seller-side closing costs or adjustments, when applicable, are shown in the closing figures and may reduce your net proceeds.
Find Out What the House Is Worth
Tell us about the property and we'll come back to you with a fair cash offer — as-is, no fees, no obligation, and no pressure to decide before you're ready.