Case Study
My most challenging estate situation was a terribly distressed home of an elderly gentleman who had moved from Switzerland to the Seattle area in the 1970’s. Having never married and having neither children nor family in the US, the retired gentleman had with very little financial resources, and his physician ordered the removal of the man from his home because of his physical deterioration and the poor condition of his home.
The gentleman was “sponsored” by long-time friends, who temporarily secured an adult family home living situation for him. It was the desire of the gentleman to return to his native homeland to finish out his days. His friends were from his hometown, the husband, the Power of Attorney, traveled with the ailing gentleman to Geneva. Prior to his flight, his friends and I assisted the gentleman in the completion of the listing paperwork and disclosures to list his home for sale. Since the Power of Attorney husband was traveling with the gentleman, I required that his wife be authorized as the Power of Attorney for real estate.
As the listing broker, I oversaw the removal of the personal items from the home and subsequent cleaning. The home was listed for sale, priced to reflect its as-is-condition and market, and received seven offers. The wife and husband (then in Switzerland) went over the offers with me and accepted the most attractive one. The home was then slated to close several weeks down the road. However, six days after departing Seattle for his homeland, the gentleman died.
The home, which also included a lien, was now the legal property of the decedent’s 83 year old Swiss brother who had never been to the US and spoke no English. The brother with help from a Swiss/English translator were challenged with understanding the Purchase and Sale Agreement on the house that was now his property. There were many telephone conversations and countless emails with English-speaking (some) great granddaughter of the new owner during the weeks following mutual acceptance.
“It is situations like these that make me grateful for the work I do. Anytime I can bring peace to my clients and life a weight off their shoulders I feel satisfied.”
– Janet LewisThe property eventually did close as expected. However, this was the first time I had to have get a Purchase and Sale
Agreement closing documents signed, secured, and notarized at a US Embassy! In the end, the home sold, the lien was
paid, the gentleman’s family had closure and received proceeds of the sale of the home to pay the Swiss medical
expenses the gentleman had incurred at his arrival, minus the FIRPTA funds per Section #1445 US Internal Revenue
Code.
Additional Experiences
I was called to list a rambler with unfinished daylight basement. An heir was living in the home and had been for more than ten years. I advised the heirs to clean the home and listed it when done. I coordinated with an estate attorney for completion of the Seller Disclosure, Listing, and Closing Documents. Upon inspection it was found that the septic system had failed and an electric panel was not to code. I had the septic system decommissions, home hooked up to public sewer, and had an electrical panel installed that was now to code.
Result ->SOLD IN 45 DAYS.
Additional Experiences
An out-of-state heir turned over the keys to a 1,000 square foot rambler. When I got there, there was food in the refrigerator, prescription bottles throughout along with oxygen tanks and breathing lines. In addition, the owners had been hoarders, filling 2 large detached workshops and the home. The crawlspace had been dug out to a depth of 5’ and filled with construction and landscaping pipes, wood, cinder blocks, and the attic was completely full of junk. I coordinated clean out by vendors,
donations made.
Result ->SOLD IN LESS THAN 30 DAYS WITH MULTIPLE OFFERS.
Additional Experiences
I got a heartbreaking call from a man distraught over the loss of his mother and the 1,700 square foot filled with his mother’s belongings and her two cats. I consulted son regarding donations, and homes for the cats, addressed electrical and plumbing issues to meet code, staged, listed, and sold the home.
Result ->SOLD IN JUST 15 DAYS WITH MULTIPLE OFFERS.