Who can sign the sale?
It depends on how the house was owned. The most common situations:
- In the person's name alone. Usually someone needs authority from the probate court first. In Wayne County that means a personal representative appointed by the Wayne County Probate Court, who receives Letters of Authority. That person signs for the estate.
- In a trust. The trustee named in the trust signs. Probate often isn't needed for the house.
- Owned jointly with a spouse or someone else "with rights of survivorship." The surviving owner may already own the house; the death certificate gets recorded and they can sell.
Not sure which one it is? That's normal. Send us the address. The title company runs a title search and tells everyone exactly who has to sign and what papers they need.
Do we have to wait until probate is finished?
Usually not. Once a personal representative is appointed, they can generally sell the house without waiting for the whole estate to close, unless the court limited their powers. Any limit is written on the Letters of Authority. Informal probate in Michigan can take as little as a few days to a couple of weeks to get Letters; formal probate with a hearing takes longer.
We can sign a purchase agreement and set the closing date around the paperwork, so nobody is rushed.
What about everything inside the house?
Take what matters to your family: photos, papers, keepsakes. Leave the rest. You don't need to empty, clean or repair anything before selling to us.
What if there are unpaid taxes, bills or a mortgage?
Those don't stop a sale. Back property taxes, water bills and any mortgage are paid off from the sale at closing by the title company, and the estate receives what's left. If the taxes are far behind, read our page on Detroit property taxes and foreclosure, because Wayne County's deadlines still apply to an estate.
What if the family doesn't agree?
Everyone who has to sign needs to be on board. We put our offer in writing, with the numbers behind it, so every heir sees the same thing. There's no deadline pressure from us; take the time you need.
Your options
- Sell it to us as-is. A written cash offer, no repairs or clean-out, no commissions, and a closing date that works around probate. Nobody in the family has to manage an empty house in the meantime.
- List it with an agent. Can bring more for a house in move-in shape, but someone has to empty it, fix what the buyer's inspection turns up, and keep paying taxes, insurance and utilities through showings and the buyer's loan approval. The commission and closing costs come out of the price.
- Keep it or rent it out. Works if someone in the family wants to take on the taxes, the repairs and being a landlord.
Quick answers
Can we sell an inherited house in Detroit without fixing it?
Yes. We buy inherited houses as-is. You don't need to repair, clean or empty it.
Who pays the back taxes on an inherited house?
They are paid from the sale at closing by the title company. The estate gets what's left after taxes, bills and any mortgage.