CHAPTER 12 Expect Emotions
Dealing with the passing of a loved one—especially a mother or father—is a long-term process, which is made even more complicated when it also involves the sale of the “family home.” Whether the loved one’s passing is expected or not, the turmoil involved in grieving while also handling a major business transaction is incredibly stressful. Here are a few guidelines that may assist through the course of the transaction if you need to sell an inherited property. Before the house is even listed for sale. You may find that you, or someone in the family, is hesitating, putting off, or coming up with excuses to not list the house. Pricing of the house. Logic and data should be used in pricing a house. But when it was “home” to people and memories, they often want to price it much higher than it should be. This might be simply because they add the “value” of the memories and home onto the actual value. Or, it could be a deliberate or subconscious attempt to delay the sale of the house.
Negotiations and acceptance of offers.
Packing up belongings and “moving out.” This can be before the house is listed, during the time it’s on the market, or up to the closing day. There’s no way to make a list of every possible moment or way that emotions can come into play. Just expect that they might. And if for some reason you find yourself, or someone else involved, having trouble agreeing on anything during the
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