Should You Sell Your Inherited House Yourself in Georgia? Pros, Cons & Tips for FSBO

If you’ve inherited a house in Georgia and you’re thinking about selling it yourself, you’re probably asking a pretty simple question:

Should I sell my inherited house as a For Sale By Owner (FSBO)?

There are definitely some advantages to selling an inherited property yourself. You may save on certain commissions, have more control over who comes through the house, and have more say in how the sale is handled.

But there are also some pretty significant downsides you need to understand before you put that house on the market.

I’m Brad, the Probate House Guy. I’m an active real estate investor and a licensed real estate agent in Georgia. Over the last 10 years, I’ve helped more than 300 sellers get their properties sold, whether that was through a cash purchase or a traditional listing.

So, let’s look at the pros and cons of selling an inherited house yourself in Georgia.

The Pros of Selling an Inherited House Yourself

Let’s start with the good stuff.

1. You May Save on Real Estate Commissions

One of the biggest reasons people choose FSBO is because they want to save money on real estate commissions.

And I get it.

I’ve actually sold two of my own houses without listing them with an agent. They were essentially off-market sales to people I knew or people who knew someone I knew.

So, there are definitely situations where selling a property yourself can work.

2. You Have More Control Over Who Sees the House

Another advantage of selling your inherited house yourself is that you have more control over the people coming through the property.

When you list a house with an agent, the property gets put on the MLS and you may have a lot more people coming through the house.

With FSBO, you can control when showings happen and who you allow into the property.

Now, personally, I think getting more people through the house can be a good thing because more potential buyers can mean more potential offers. But I understand why some homeowners want more privacy.

In fact, that’s one of the reasons some homeowners decide to sell their properties directly to investors.

I recently walked through a house that looked really nice on the surface. But when I went into the basement, I discovered the owner had a small marijuana grow operation there for personal use.

I immediately understood why they didn’t want to put the property on the open market.

They wanted to sell the house as-is and avoid having a bunch of strangers walking through the property.

3. You Have More Autonomy Over the Sale

When you sell your inherited house yourself, you have more control over the process.

You can decide when you want to show the property, how you want to advertise it, and how you want to communicate with potential buyers.

For some people, that additional control is a major advantage.

But—and this is important—that same autonomy can also become a disadvantage.

The Cons of Selling an Inherited House FSBO

Now let’s talk about the other side of the equation.

There are several potential downsides to selling an inherited property yourself.

1. Your House May Get Less Exposure

One of the biggest disadvantages of FSBO is exposure.

When you sell a house yourself, you generally won’t have the same MLS exposure that you would have when working with a real estate agent.

In Georgia, there are several MLS systems, including FMLS, Georgia MLS, and North Georgia MLS, among others. These systems can provide significant exposure to buyers and real estate professionals.

There’s another issue, too.

Some buyer agents may be less likely to show an FSBO property if they’re concerned about whether they’ll receive compensation for bringing a buyer.

Whether you agree with that or not, you have to understand the reality of how real estate agents operate.

Buyer agents can spend a tremendous amount of time showing properties to their clients. They may show a buyer dozens—or even a hundred—houses before that buyer finally makes a purchase.

And they typically don’t get paid unless the transaction actually closes.

So, compensation can become a consideration when an agent decides which properties to show their buyers.

2. More Control Can Actually Work Against You

Remember how I said having more autonomy could be a pro?

It can also be a con.

You may have so much control over the process that you unintentionally limit the number of potential buyers who see your house.

For example, if you make showings too difficult to schedule or restrict access too much, you could reduce the amount of activity your property receives.

Fewer people seeing the house can mean fewer offers.

And fewer offers can make it harder to get the price and terms you want.

Need Help Selling an Inherited House in Georgia?

If you’re dealing with an inherited house and trying to figure out what your options are, we’d be happy to talk with you about it. Simply fill out the form on this page. A member of our team will be in touch with you as soon as possible.

The Legal Side of Selling an Inherited House

This is probably one of the biggest things that makes people nervous about FSBO.

Real estate transactions involve contracts, negotiations, disclosures, closings, and a whole lot of paperwork.

And let’s be honest: not everybody enjoys negotiating.

There are also legal requirements involved with real estate transactions in Georgia. Brad discusses the state’s Statute of Frauds, which requires real estate transactions of this type to be in writing.

You can find generic real estate contracts online, but the problem is that a generic contract may not address every situation that could come up during your transaction.

That’s why you need to think carefully about how you’re going to handle the contract and closing process.

Consider Working With a Georgia Closing Attorney

If you’re going to sell your inherited house yourself, one thing Brad recommends is finding a good closing attorney early in the process.

Brad has worked with Rand & Associates for many years and has closed hundreds of transactions through their office. However, there are many closing attorneys throughout Georgia, so sellers should do their own research and choose the attorney they’re comfortable working with.

A closing attorney may also be able to provide guidance on the purchase and sale contract you’ll need.

Once you find a buyer and sign a contract, the transaction can then move forward through the closing attorney.

In Georgia, it’s customary for the buyer to choose the closing attorney, although Brad explains that this isn’t necessarily a requirement.

The closing process in Georgia is also different from some other states because real estate closings are facilitated by a licensed attorney.

For a cash transaction, there’s no lender involved. For a financed transaction, the closing attorney has obligations related to the lender and the transaction.

The important takeaway is that you shouldn’t treat the legal and closing side of selling an inherited property as an afterthought.

FSBO Tips for Selling Your Inherited House in Georgia

If you’ve decided that selling your inherited house yourself is the right move, here are a few things Brad recommends.

1. Get Your Property in Front of as Many Buyers as Possible

If you’re going to sell FSBO, you need to maximize your exposure.

Put the property on platforms such as Zillow and other sites where you can advertise the property.

You should also consider local Facebook groups and real estate-specific groups for your area.

For example, Brad mentions Cherokee Connect because he lives in Cherokee County and says local groups can provide additional exposure.

The basic idea is simple:

Put the property in as many appropriate places as you can.

The more potential buyers who see the property, the more opportunities you have to find someone interested in buying it.

2. Consider Offering Compensation to a Buyer’s Agent

Another tip Brad discusses is offering compensation to a buyer’s agent.

If you’re selling FSBO, you can make it clear in your advertising that you’re willing to pay a buyer’s agent commission.

The exact amount is up to you, but the idea is to give agents an incentive to bring their buyers to your property.

If an agent brings you a buyer, you may also be asked to sign an agreement confirming the compensation and other requirements related to the transaction.

Don’t be surprised if additional documents or disclosures come your way when working with a buyer’s agent.

If you have questions about any agreement you’re being asked to sign, you can ask the agent or their broker to explain it to you.

Price Your Inherited House Correctly

This may be the most important FSBO tip in the entire video.

Price your house appropriately.

Brad says one of the biggest mistakes he sees with FSBO properties is overpricing.

It’s easy to think:

“I’m saving money on commissions, so I’ll just price the house higher and make more money.”

But the market ultimately determines what buyers are willing to pay.

For example, if comparable homes in your neighborhood have been selling around $400,000, pricing your property at $500,000 doesn’t automatically mean someone is going to pay $500,000.

You need to understand the comparable sales and what the market is actually supporting.

Brad recommends considering an appraisal or getting comparable sales information from a real estate professional who understands the local market.

And this is especially important in the market Brad was discussing when he recorded the video.

The market isn’t necessarily the same as it was several years ago. Pricing matters.

If you overprice your inherited house, your property could sit on the market for a long time.

Don’t Assume Buyers Will Just Make a Lower Offer

Here’s another interesting point Brad makes.

You might think:

“I’ll list my house for $500,000 even though I’d take $450,000. Someone will just offer me $450,000.”

Not necessarily.

Some buyers may simply avoid making an offer because they’re afraid of offending you with what they consider a lowball offer.

So instead of offering $450,000, they may just move on to another property.

That’s why pricing your inherited house correctly from the beginning can be so important.

Is Selling Your Inherited House FSBO Right for You?

Selling an inherited house yourself can have some legitimate advantages.

You may have:

• More control over the process
• More control over showings
• The potential to save on certain commissions
• More direct interaction with potential buyers

But you also need to consider:

• Less exposure
• Potentially fewer buyer-agent showings
• Handling negotiations yourself
• Understanding contracts
• Managing the transaction and closing process
• Pricing the property correctly

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer.

For some homeowners, FSBO may make sense.

For others, working with a real estate agent or selling directly to a cash buyer may be a better fit for their particular situation.

Want to Sell Your Inherited House in Georgia?

If you’ve watched this video and decided that selling your inherited house FSBO isn’t for you, you have other options.

Brad and his team buy houses for cash and have been doing so for approximately 10 years. They have helped more than 300 homeowners sell their properties, including estate and probate properties.

Brad is also a licensed real estate agent in Georgia, so his team can discuss both options with you: selling your inherited house for cash or listing it traditionally with an agent.

If you’re dealing with an inherited house in Georgia and you’re trying to figure out what to do next, fill out the form below.

A member of the team will be in touch with you as soon as possible to discuss your options.

Important: Brad is not an attorney, and this article is not legal advice. Probate, estate, and real estate situations can vary, so consult with a qualified probate or real estate attorney regarding your specific situation.