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Can you sell an inherited house without traveling to Minnesota?
Yes. Most of the heirs we work with live somewhere else. A parent’s house in Richfield or Roseville, a family scattered from Phoenix to Seattle, and nobody who can take two weeks off to deal with it. You can sell an inherited house with us from wherever you are, with Ryan as your one point of contact.
Here’s how each piece works remotely.
1. Probate or authority to sign
Someone needs legal authority to sell. That’s usually the personal representative named in probate, a beneficiary on a transfer on death deed, a surviving joint owner or a trustee. You can open probate in Minnesota with a local attorney without traveling. See selling a probate house.
2. Seeing the house
Ryan walks the house in person, and you can join on a video call. A lockbox, a neighbor or a relative can provide access. He’ll show you the roof, basement, mechanicals and anything you ask about, and send photos.
3. Protecting the house while you decide
A vacant house needs attention, especially in a Minnesota winter:
- Keep the heat on and have someone check every week or two.
- Call the insurance company. Many policies limit coverage after 30 to 60 days of vacancy.
- Keep utilities active. Transfer them to the estate’s name if needed.
- Change the locks if you don’t know who has keys.
- Forward the mail to catch tax and utility bills.
Read what happens to an empty house in January if the house will sit through winter.
4. The contents
Take what matters: documents, photos, heirlooms. You can have a family member box them up or pay a packing service to ship them. On a cash sale, leave the rest. We handle the cleanout after closing. If there are valuables, an estate sale company may help before closing.
5. Signing remotely
| Method | How it works | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile notary | A notary meets you at your home or office to sign | Most remote sellers |
| Mail-away closing | The title company ships documents; you sign before a notary and return them | Simple closings |
| Power of attorney | Someone you trust signs for you | Sellers who can’t be reached easily |
| Remote online notarization | Signing by video, where available and accepted | Depends on title company and documents |
The title company will review a power of attorney in advance, so send it early.
6. Getting paid
Proceeds are wired to the estate account or to you, as the documents direct. The settlement statement shows every payoff: mortgage, reverse mortgage, taxes, any Medicaid estate recovery claim.
Cash sale vs. listing from a distance
Listing can net more, but it’s harder from far away: prep, repairs, showings, keeping the house clean and heated, and managing contractors you’ve never met. A cash sale from a distance is one walkthrough, one offer, one closing. Ryan puts both nets side by side so you can decide with numbers. If listing wins, he lists it through Coldwell Banker Realty and handles the local work.
Why one point of contact matters
Out-of-state heirs get passed between agents, contractors, title offices and estate attorneys. With us, Ryan is the person you call from the first conversation to the closing. He’ll coordinate with your probate attorney and the title company so you’re not the one chasing paperwork across time zones.