The world of inherited real estate is full of surprises. Just last month, we successfully closed a deal that began two years ago—a deal that taught me three powerful lessons about patience, value, and the surprising role of ignorance. Here’s the story of how a seemingly straightforward case became a two-year lesson in perseverance.
The Investigation: When the Obvious Isn’t the Truth
Our journey started with a property that, on the surface, appeared to have no living heirs. The owner had passed away, and without a will, the property was in limbo. Our first step was to initiate our private investigation process. We secured a death certificate, and a quick call to the “informant”—a neighbor across the street—confirmed our initial assumption: the decedent had no children. The trail seemed to have gone cold.
But our private investigation process goes deeper than surface-level checks. A routine search of public records revealed a crucial detail: the decedent was still legally married. His spouse, who had been out of the picture for years, was living in another state. While many people assume separation is the same as divorce, legally, it’s not. This fact gave her legal rights to the estate, even though she hadn’t been in the decedent’s life for years.
We reached out to the spouse and her daughter. Despite our thorough research and clear explanation of their rights, they were hesitant and didn’t want our services. This was a crushing blow, but we stayed in touch.
Lesson 1: Patience and Perseverance Pay Off
This case taught me that not every “no” is a permanent one. It’s easy to walk away from a deal after a rejection, but the best opportunities often require patience. We didn’t pressure the family. Instead, we provided them with the information they needed and gave them the space to make a decision on their own terms. Over the next two years, we periodically checked in, reminding them that the property was still in legal limbo and the issues—probate, property maintenance, and legal fees—weren’t going away. This proved to them that we weren’t just transactional; we were genuinely committed to helping them find a solution.
Lesson 2: Value Isn’t Just a Number
The most important lesson was a deeper understanding of value. Initially, the family didn’t see the value in our service because they were focused solely on the property’s potential cash value. They didn’t fully comprehend the hidden costs and complexities they would have to face on their own. We had to show them that our value was in what we remove from their lives: the stress, the time, the legal fees, and the emotional toll of dealing with a difficult situation. Our value was a solution to their problem, not just a dollar amount.
Lesson 3: The Power of Ignorance
This may sound counterintuitive, but a crucial part of this story is the client’s initial ignorance of their own legal rights and the scale of the problem. They didn’t know they were heirs, and once they found out, they were ignorant of the monumental task ahead of them. This is not a negative trait but a powerful truth in our industry. Most heirs are not real estate or legal experts. Our role is to educate them and provide them with a clear path forward. Without our persistent investigation, they would have remained blissfully unaware of their inheritance. We had the power to educate them and turn an unknown asset into a life-changing opportunity.
The Final Outcome: A Win-Win
Two years after our initial contact, the family reached out to us. They had finally realized the time, money, and stress involved in handling the property on their own. We successfully guided them through the entire process, and they received the cash they were entitled to without having to deal with the complexities themselves. It was a clear win-win, built on a foundation of patience, a focus on true value, and a commitment to helping people overcome the power of ignorance.
If you have an inherited property and feel overwhelmed, don’t go it alone. Contact ProperHeir today for a free, no-obligation consultation.