Top Real Estate probate HORROR stories
Buying and selling real estate can be stressful—but probate real estate? That’s a whole different level of chaos! Today, I’m spilling the beans on three of the wildest probate real estate horror stories I’ve personally handled as a Las Vegas realtor. We’re talking theft, legal battles, and yes… even a house INFESTED with rats! So, buckle up, because you do not want to miss these jaw-dropping stories! Have you ever had a crazy real estate experience—whether buying, selling, or just house hunting? What’s the wildest thing you’ve ever seen?
Story #1: The Solar Panel Theft
A client’s mother passed away, leaving the home to her son.
The cousin had been living there and was evicted after the son inherited the property.
When I went to check on the home, it was trashed! Appliances gone, trash everywhere—it looked like a total disaster.
While we were in the process of cleaning it up, a neighbor called me…
Two people were on the roof stealing the solar panels!
The cousin had told them they could take the solar panels!
I called the police, and thankfully, they caught them in the act.
Resolution:
We got the house cleaned up and listed quickly before any more drama could unfold!
Here is the thing, these happen a lot. I have another property right now that has been sitting vacant for a year while. The clients took their time before deciding to get an attorney involved and starting the probate process and putting the home on the market. We just found out that someone broke into the home and took the copper plumbing out of the house. I have seen this with vacant homes. While the home sits empty, it can attract vandals.
When dealing with probate properties, always check the home regularly, change the locks, and keep an eye out for sketchy relatives!
Story #2: The Sketchy Sibling
A woman wanted to sell her father’s home after he passed away.
The home was in a trust, with her as the successor trustee.
When I received the death certificate, I noticed something strange…
The father had created the trust just days before he passed away—sketchy, right?
The deed wasn’t even recorded until after his death.
I reached out to the title company, and they warned me that we might have to wait 90 days to make sure no one else had a claim on the house.
The seller’s attorney told me to list the home anyway.
Sure enough, another attorney sent me a letter demanding that I remove the listing because there were other heirs!
Turns out, there was another sister and two step-siblings who also had a legal claim to the property.
One attorney told me to list the home, and another was threatening me!
Resolution:
I pulled the listing immediately—no way was I getting in the middle of a family war over inheritance!
If you’re dealing with a probate property, always double-check title and trust documents before listing. And if it feels legally shaky, run the other way!
Story #3: The Fire & The Filth
A client’s mother passed away, leaving him her home.
The probate process took forever, and the house sat vacant for years before they finally contacted me to list it.
With no utilities running, the home became a rat paradise!
I walked in, and the dust was an inch thick—no one had touched a thing! There had even been a small fire in the garage that was never cleaned up!
The worst part? The fridge was still full of food… and had been sitting with out power for a long time.
I made the huge mistake of opening the refrigerator.
The smell was so bad, I literally ran out of the house gagging.
The cleaning crew had to wear hazmat suits to clean up the rat urine and spoiled food.
After cleaning, painting, and new flooring, the house actually looked amazing—but most of the original personal belongings were ruined.
Resolution:
The house sold quickly after the makeover, but it was a messy process.
If you’re handling a probate home, keep the utilities on if possible. And whatever you do… never open an abandoned fridge!
Also, as a buyer be aware that the home may have sat for months or years even without being maintained. I have had numerous listings where the seller passed away in the home and wasn’t discovered for some time. In those instances, the biohazard clean up team was called in to handle the repairs and cleanup. In Nevada, the Seller only has to disclose if there was a death in the home If the home caused the death. This would be such as electrical issue caused the death. So, if the person died of natural causes the Seller does not have to disclose. Keep this in mind when considering these types of sales. Ask if someone has died in the home and have a thorough inspection completed on the home!
Probate properties can be tricky, but with the right team, you can avoid total disaster and still have a successful sale!
Looking for more real estate insights for Las Vegas and Henderson? Just click on one of my videos popping up on your screen! Thanks so much for hanging out with me, and I can’t wait to catch you in the next on!
