Selling Quietly

Selling Quietly

Ask Phyllis: a blog series of frequently asked real estate questions. Email us here

Selling Quietly

Dear Phyllis,

I look forward to your real estate questions and think this is a new topic for discussion. I have a sister whom my mother disinherited years ago. She was a drug addict and a real disappointment to my parents. She moved out of state years before my mother passed, and I have only had limited contact with her.

My mother had a long illness and a lot of medical bills. After she passed, I inherited the Glendale home. With my being on a fixed income, there are a lot of repairs and updates that were never made. It’s time for me to move to where the cost of living is less, and I need to sell. But I don’t want my sister to find out. I don’t want her judging me for the home’s condition or asking for money. With everything being so available on the internet, how can I best accomplish selling quietly? Jennifer

Dear Jennifer,

What an interesting question. You want to sell your home without listing it in the multiple listing service (MLS). However, once a property enters the MLS, it automatically syndicates to Realtor.com, Zillow, and thousands of other websites. As a result, anyone searching online can see the listing.

Years ago, I handled a similar situation. I represented a client going through a difficult divorce. She felt embarrassed about how public the details had become. In addition, she did not want friends or neighbors to see how much her once beautiful home had declined. Therefore, I approached the sale differently. I relied on my local network of buyers, investors, and fellow Realtors to generate interest. I also worked within a larger brokerage to maximize private exposure.

However, I still advised caution. Limiting MLS exposure also limits the number of potential buyers who will see the property. Therefore, I always recommend working with an experienced local agent who has a strong sphere of influence and access to other agents and investors. Finally, once the home sells, MLS rules require that we report the sale. However, we can omit details about the condition of the home at that time. By then, you will already have completed the transaction and moved on.

Related Post: Selling your home promises, promises