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For your ease, we have provided a transcript of the Q&A Recording.

Hey, this is Evan with Meli. Meli is a home buyer, brokerage and consultant that focuses on working with people that have title issues, code violations, liens, judgments and things of that nature. We will work to solve whatever problems you have with your property that’s making it unable to be sold, and we’ll either buy the property from you or list the property, or do consulting just depending on your situation. Let’s go ahead and get into the Q&A.

1. What is a distressed property?

Everyone defines it differently. Some people would say a foreclosure is a distressed property. Others would say a property that needs a lot of repairs is a distressed property. We look at distressed properties that may have a lot of title issues, like foreclosure or liens. Our main focus could be a lien on the property that needs to be negotiated or isn’t going to go away. That’s how Meli looks at it as a company.

Read More: What Does “Distressed Property” Mean?

2. How can I sell a distressed property?

Depending on your situation, distressed properties are usually going to be bought by someone who is looking to purchase that property for cash. A retail buyer will typically not look to finance a distressed property. But, you can still list and sell a property in a lot of instances. But typically it’s still going to go to a cash buyer anyway. Rather than selling to a retail buyer, you’ll be selling to an investor.

Read More: 8 Tips to Sell Your Distressed Property in Florida

3. What do you do at Meli?

We focus on working with people who have title issues. These include liens, judgments, probate, code violations, disputes between different parties, and things like that. We’ll work to solve those problems and then buy the property or help you get the property sold.

4. What are my options when selling my home with Meli?

So, you have a couple of different options. We can make you an offer on the property if we agree upon the price between both parties, then we will buy it. But if our offer is lower than what the seller wants, which can be very understandable, we can list that property for you and possibly net more money on it. We’ll fix the title issue, then sell your home to a retail buyer, who is going to pay a lot more than an investor will. Investors pay less because they are going to resell that property, and need to make money on it.

We need to be able to do both those things when someone comes to us with a title issue. Maybe you own a beautiful house, but it has a title issue. That’s very, very common. It has a lien or a judgment on it that just needs to be fixed, and then you should list the property. You don’t need to sell the property to an investor.

5. Are you a cash home buyer?

Yes, we are. But, we really focus on our niche of buying properties with title issues like liens, judgments, probate, code violations, things of that nature. That’s our focus, but we are a cash buyer and we definitely will buy properties for cash. It’s not always a title issue property, but that’s really what we focus on.

6. Is it possible to resolve my title issues?

Most title issues are resolvable. I would say 95% of all title issues are. Sometimes, though, the property isn’t worth it to resolve the title issue. That’s a potential problem. For example, let’s say there are 10 people on a title, the property is worth $50,000, and it’s going to cost $50,000 to fix the title issues. Then there’s no reason to even resolve it because no one’s going to make any money.

When this happens, many of those properties sell at the tax deed auction, and no one gets anything and it’s unfortunate. And you do see situations where you’re not going to make anything on it. If you fix it, you’ll probably lose money, so there’s no sense in doing that. But most of the time that’s not the case.

We’ve worked with people who thought their title issue was more expensive than it actually was. We ended up figuring out how to make a deal out of it by thinking outside the box. If you have a title issue, always check with multiple people and ask everyone’s opinions. Don’t just take the first opinion that you get if they’re telling you that it’s not possible.

7. Can I sell a house with a lien on it?

Yes, absolutely. We buy properties with liens on them. We’ll close with liens on them. A lot of times what we try to do is resolve those liens before we close, but that’s not always possible. And in those situations, we will still close.

It is very possible to close with a lien on your property, but it will always be an investor buying it. The bank will not buy homes with liens. That means a retail buyer with a mortgage from a bank will not close on a home with a lien. An investor will, but not that many. A lot of investors would not close with a lien on the property because of the risks involved.

Read More: Can You Sell a House With a Lien on it?

8. Is selling a house without probate possible?

It can be. It’s very, very complicated, title-wise. I would say, probably 99% of the time, it’s not really possible. If you sold the house, you would sell a house that you don’t actually own yet. Typically you have to sell it for much less than it’s worth if it’s not actually in your name. So, I would never recommend trying to sell it that way. And, there’s not really anyone that will buy it.

Meli would look at it. But more than likely, we wouldn’t buy it either because you’d be selling us a house that, by law, you don’t actually own yet. It’s a tough one. I would just have to look at the property and see what was going on to see if it made sense for us to try to buy it that way. And I know a lot of other buyers would feel the same way. It’d be tough.

We would be buying it for very cheap because it’s possible we would never even actually own the property, which is kind of crazy to think about. But someone else could come along that was part of the probate and say, “Hey, I didn’t sell you this house. So I own some of the house now,” and they can go into the courts. If they can prove that by law, then they usually would own part, or all of the house. And now we’ve bought a house that we don’t own. It’s very complicated, so almost all the time, it’s really not possible.

Read More: Can a House Be Sold While in Probate?

9. Can I sell my house with a violation?

Yes, you can absolutely sell a house with a violation. It does depend if it’s a violation that’s become a lien or not. If it hasn’t become a lien, then it’s typically pretty easy to fix, assuming the code violation isn’t huge. If it’s a huge violation, then that could be a real problem. But most of them are pretty simple to fix. Maybe it’s just cutting a tree down or bringing something up to code. But, if it’s a significant structural issue or electrical issue, it could get very expensive. In that case, people are going to be hesitant about buying it.

But for the most part, many violations are small, like you didn’t cut your grass or you need to move an abandoned vehicle. In those scenarios, there are pretty easy fixes, then you can sell the house.

Read More: Can You Sell a House with Code Violations?

10. Is it possible to sell a hoarder’s house?

Yes, absolutely. There’s a few people that will buy them, us included. We have in the past, and we would consider buying them in the future. I would say typically, those houses sell for cheaper just because of all the stuff that’s in it. Plus, you don’t know what the actual problems are until you get all the stuff out of the house. There can be a lot of risk, and those houses typically sell cheaper.

You would probably get more money if you take 10 grand and pay someone to clear the house out. But, at the same time, maybe you clear the house out, you find out that a wall is falling in or something. It’s tough, but it is definitely possible to sell it as-is. People will buy it, for sure.

Read More: How to Sell a Hoarder’s House

Wrapping Up

Are there any other questions? I’m not seeing any, so thanks again. You can always give us a call at 407 305-5008 or go to MeliHomes.com. You’ll answer a couple of questions and put in your information. Then, we’ll reach out to you to see if we’re a good fit and if we can help you through your situation.

Meli is a home buyer, brokerage, and consultant, focusing on liens, probate, judgments, and code violations. Please feel free to give us a call or reach out, and we’ll see if we can help. Thank you very much.

This article is meant for informational purposes only and is not intended to be construed as financial, tax, legal, real estate, insurance, or investment advice. Meli encourages you to reach out to an advisor regarding your own situation. Please consult with your advisor when making legal or financial decisions.

As you deal with your grief following the death of a loved one, you may also be struggling to understand the question, what is probate when selling a house? Probate is the process of settling the debts of a deceased person and distributing their assets to heirs. The probate process verifies that everything is carried out per the wishes of the decedent.  But can a house be sold while in probate?

In some cases, you can sell a probate home in Florida. Understand when you can sell a house in probate and how doing so may be beneficial.

What is the Probate Process in Florida?

A house can be sold while in probate in Florida, as long as you follow these five distinct steps:

1. Filing the Petition

According to Florida law, the executor must submit a valid will to the deceased’s county probate court within ten days of their death. The heir(s) must file a petition including these details:

• State where the property is located 
• Contact information of the petitioner
• The name, most recent address, and personal information of the decedent
• Names and contact information of any surviving spouses and beneficiaries
• Existence of unrevoked wills (if there are no wills, you must note that you have done your due diligence to track one down, and it does not exist to the best of your knowledge)
• A statement declaring the will is deposited with the county probate court

2. Notice to Creditors and Beneficiaries

You must give notice to anyone who is considered a debtor or beneficiary of the deceased. Debtors then have three months in the state of Florida to contact you about any unsettled debts. Beneficiaries will need to be kept apprised of progress.

3. Payment of the Estate’s Debts, Taxes, and Expenses

Due to illness or financial concerns at the end of the deceased’s life, there is a good chance they’ll have outstanding debts. You must also pay taxes for the year of the death and any expenses they accrued before they died. These payments are made through the estate, whether through the sale of assets or from cash savings.

4. Property Transfers in Accordance with the Deceased’s Will or Local Law

Once the estate has paid all debts, taxes, and expenses, the remaining assets are transferred to beneficiaries as named in the will. The only exception is if assets must be sold to pay the estate’s debts, taxes, or expenses. Those must be paid before anything is distributed to the beneficiaries.

5. Closing the Probate Estate

Once the estate’s debts, taxes, and expenses are settled, and the assets are distributed, the probate estate is formally closed through a petition to close the estate. Generally, this takes place ~6 months after the probate case is opened. It may take two years or more in complicated cases.

When Can a House Be Sold in Probate?

For a house to be sold in probate, one of the two conditions below must be met:

• The will contains a “power of sale” clause expressly granting the personal representative or executor the right to sell the real estate in question
• There is a court order from the county probate court if there is either no power of sale clause in the will or there is no will

If the deceased is survived by a spouse or the will specifically identify a living trust or specific home beneficiary through a quitclaim deed or other formal estate planning means, the property’s ownership automatically transfers to that person without entering probate.

How Do I Sell a House in Probate?

Selling a house in probate can be a long and challenging process. This is because, in addition to the logistics of it, you’ll also need the probate court’s permission.

When selling a house in probate, you’ll want to follow these steps.

1. File an Intent to Sell Petition with the Probate Court

You’ll need to include the appraisal of the home and your strategy for selling (sale by owner or a realtor). Then, once the court approves, you can continue with the process.

2. Understand the Details of the Home

Often, you may not know a lot about the house since it did not belong to you. You’ll want to check county property appraiser sites for the home’s specs and the county tax assessor site to see the status of the home’s taxes. You can also hire a realtor at this stage to help you do the work thoroughly.

3. Prepare the Home for Sale

Hire an inspector to take a thorough look at the house. Then, if any repairs need to be done, you can either pay for repairs through the estate if there is enough cash available to do so, hire contractors to do the work that will be paid for upon the date of sale, or sell the home “as-is” without doing any repairs.

4. List the Home for Sale

You can do this yourself to save a commission, or you can hire a realtor. However, it’s highly recommended that you hire a real estate lawyer who has experience working with selling homes in probate, as there are added legal statutes you need to be aware of.

5. Inform the Buyer of Probate

Because probate sales need the probate court’s approval, you’ll want to let the buyer know that while you have accepted their offer, the probate court must approve it, which can take a while.

6. File a Petition for a Court Order Authorizing Sale of Real Property

Show proof of consent from all beneficiaries that they approve of the sale.

7. Receive Court Approval of Sale

Once the court approves the sale, everything proceeds as it usually would for any other real estate sale.

Why Work with Meli?

For traditional buyers, the process of a probate sale may be too long. As a result, it may be challenging to find the right buyer. A home buyer like Meli is an excellent option for any probate real estate sale because we save you time and money in a high-stress situation.

There’s no need to involve a financial institution with Meli since we can either purchase your property outright or help you list it as a distressed property. This significantly speeds up the sale process so you can get paid fast and get the property off your hands. Because there’s no need to fix up the home, there is less financial risk when you work with Meli.

If we wish to purchase your probate property, you’ll receive a no-obligation offer from us, usually the same day as our walkthrough of the property, which you can accept or reject. Depending on if you accept, we close quickly so you can continue with the probate process, saving you money on fees accrued while the probate case is open. If we don’t buy your property, we can help you list it and support you through the process of selling your distressed property quickly. 

Since we specialize in probate properties, you can rest assured that your probate sale with Meli abides by all Florida legal statutes governing the sale of probate real estate. Request a consultation with us today. 

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Sometimes you need to sell your home fast in Florida for financial or personal reasons. If you can’t spend the time or money to renovate your property, selling it “as-is” might be the best solution.

The Florida real estate market is booming with many opportunities to sell your home fast. More people move into the Sunshine State looking for better job opportunities and a higher quality of life. To take advantage of it, a growing number of homeowners work with cash home buyers rather than real estate agents. Houses are sold not only at a fair price, but they also sell quickly. This saves you time and money while eliminating the hassle of working with agents.

Meli helps homeowners who want to sell their homes fast in Florida, and we ensure the process is smooth. It starts with a consultation and ends with your home closing fast, usually within 30 days. 

Central Florida

There is no doubt about Central Florida’s importance, not as a hub of amusement parks but for high-tech, energy, and manufacturing corporations. The significant presence of world-class hospitality, research, and development in Orlando makes it a destination that draws people from across the country to benefit from the seemingly limitless opportunities and exceptional quality of life the city offers. 

Orlando’s population has increased by 20.4% in the last decade, and Orlando listings have spent just 36 days on the market in May 2021. These factors make Orlando a top place for investors and those looking to flip houses in Central Florida.

Meli is based in the Orlando metropolitan area, which puts us at an advantage when buying distressed or difficult-to-sell homes in the area. We can help you whether your home is located in Orlando or Kissimmee. 

If you’re a property owner saying, “I need to sell my house fast in Winter Park” or “I need to sell my house fast in Kissimmee,” now is the right time to do so. Meli can help you start the process of selling your home in the Metro Orlando area. 

East Florida

Melbourne is well-positioned to attract more people with high-paying jobs as the home of the Melbourne Orlando International Airport, Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, and many aviation firms and defense contractors. This makes Melbourne a reliable and stable market for investors to flip houses outside major markets such as Orlando. At Meli Homes, we buy houses in Melbourne, no matter the condition of the house. 

When you are looking to sell a house fast in Melbourne, Meli can take the property off your hands in just one month with a cash deal. Investors and buyers in Titusville can also choose to invest in and renovate homes for use as single-family rental properties. If you’re looking for a company that buys houses in Titusville, FL, for cash, get in touch with Meli Homes today. 

Legal Ramifications

A mortgage is a legal contract between you and the mortgage company/bank that helps fund the purchase of your home. If you fail to hold up your end of the agreement, they have the right to take your home. They will do so after filing legal paperwork and giving you notice of foreclosure.

However, the goal for banks and mortgage companies is simply to make their money back. If the foreclosure hasn’t happened yet, you can still try to sell the home. The new buyer must be fully aware of the financial situation and any existing debts or liens on the property.

This is why there are companies that specialize in the legal intricacies of buying distressed properties. There is usually additional red tape that needs to be cut through before you can finally walk away from a distressed or underwater home. The average buyer won’t have time or knowledge for dealing with the bureaucracy, nor will they have the money necessary to buy the home outright instead of getting a mortgage.

North and South Florida

North Florida is also seeing strong demand from buyers across the board. In the past decade, Jacksonville’s population has grown by 10.9%. Jacksonville is also notable for strong economic growth with major businesses and corporations headquartered in the city. Tallahassee’s population has grown by 7.1% in the past decade, with a solid economic backbone as well. 

More people are moving to South Florida in search of a better quality of life. Florida is expected to have 26 million residents by 2030, with a population increase in the South of 6.9 million in the next 10 years. The inflow of new potential buyers and investors could spur the South Florida real estate market on, forcing it to keep pace with demand. Investing in distressed properties is becoming more popular as investors seek out affordable rentals to flip for profit. 

You may find it easier to sell a distressed property than you thought, especially when you can find a cash buyer who will give you a fair price. Selling your home fast in Florida can be effortless when you work with a professional buyer like Meli Homes. 

Sell Your Home Fast in Florida

Florida’s population, local economies, and real estate market are booming. The state’s good weather, job opportunities, and revitalized cities and suburbs have attracted more residents and investors in recent years. According to the Florida real estate market, there has never been a better time to sell your property than right now.

When it comes to selling your home in Florida fast, you can rely on Meli. Having purchased a significant amount of distressed properties in the state, we know how to navigate the process quickly and will take on the administrative tasks of filing paperwork for you so you can focus on your upcoming move.

With our home base in Orlando, we are happy to assist local homeowners with a quick and hassle-free home sale within 30 days. 

Give us a call right away at (407) 338-4183 if you want to act quickly and sell your home to us. We can make you a competitive offer for your Florida home following a scheduled walkthrough.

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Owning a home is a significant responsibility, and there will always be factors outside of your control. The financial burdens associated with owning a home can become overwhelming to families if they encounter other financial emergencies. Most sellers become stressed when they learn that this may mean they own a distressed property but don’t understand the meaning behind it.

When it’s time to move, you might find that your home is considered distressed because of your financial circumstances and the timeline on which you need to sell. A distressed home generally sells for less than market value. 

It’s important to thoroughly understand the meaning behind a distressed property as a homeowner. This will help you weigh your options better when it comes time to sell. 

The Basic Definiton

The meaning behind distressed property often refers exclusively to financial problems. However, it’s common for distressed properties also to have physical problems. 

Distressed properties are common in areas where the economy isn’t doing well. They can also occur in other situations where the owners have fallen behind on payments and are struggling to sell.

Underwater Homes

Underwater homes are a special kind of distressed property because the home itself is often in good condition. Situations like this occur when the remaining mortgage is more than the property is worth. This usually isn’t due to neglect.

This sometimes happens if there is a dramatic drop in property value due to environmental factors. It may also happen if the homeowner hasn’t been making payments on time and has foreclosure looming.

Underwater homes are often sold in short sales, which is when someone buys them for less than what the mortgage is worth. After that, the house may be re-sold to new occupants.

Legal Ramifications

A mortgage is a legal contract between you and the mortgage company/bank that helps fund the purchase of your home. If you fail to hold up your end of the agreement, they have the right to take your home. They will do so after filing legal paperwork and giving you notice of foreclosure.

However, the goal for banks and mortgage companies is simply to make their money back. If the foreclosure hasn’t happened yet, you can still try to sell the home. The new buyer must be fully aware of the financial situation and any existing debts or liens on the property.

This is why there are companies that specialize in the legal intricacies of buying distressed properties. There is usually additional red tape that needs to be cut through before you can finally walk away from a distressed or underwater home. The average buyer won’t have time or knowledge for dealing with the bureaucracy, nor will they have the money necessary to buy the home outright instead of getting a mortgage.

Distressed properties are usually sold as quickly as possible to bail out the owners. This faster sale process means less time for inspections, which means that the property is usually sold as-is without legal recourse for problems discovered later. The buyer will be taking a risk on the purchase, but an experienced distressed property buyer will understand this risk and consider it when making an offer on the home.

Getting Out of the Situation

Distressed properties aren’t hopeless, and in some situations, families manage to turn the situation around and reclaim their homes. However, this is uncommon because of how often other bills and debts pile up at the same time.

Figuring out how to get rid of distressed property as soon as possible can help you avoid catastrophic impacts on your credit score. Since a lower credit score makes it even harder to recover financially after walking away from your home, it’s essential to move quickly before unpaid bills affect your rating.

Many owners of distressed homes move quickly to sell their property with that in mind. Even if the house has sentimental value, it’s not worth the risk to your financial health.

Home Selling Options

The standard option is to try to sell your home on the open market, with a lower price tag on it to entice buyers. However, this reduced price may also make it harder to cover the mortgage if your home is underwater.

Additionally, standard home sale terms require inspections and escape clauses for the buyer to slow down or even cancel a pending sale. This can prolong the challenge of selling the property and getting out of a bad financial situation. Selling a distressed property to a cash buyer who specializes in these types of homes is often the best option.

Who to Trust

Florida’s home-buying market is constantly in flux, with property values changing to account for demand. You need a buyer who understands the market and can give you a fair deal for your home, even if it is damaged in addition to being in distress.

It’s important to vet your distressed property buyer and make sure they’re operating a respected business. Scammers can try to steal your Social Security Number and property information by posing as a cash home buyer. If they can’t point to dozens of satisfied sellers, you should find someone with a better reputation.

Turning to an established cash buyer like Meli allows you to follow an easy step-by-step process for selling your home quickly, without the hassle of multiple showings, negotiations, or handling the paperwork yourself.

Cash Home Buyers in Central Florida

Our team at Meli is proud to serve the Central Florida area and beyond, providing fair offers for distressed homes and usually closing in just 30 days. We know that each distressed property is different, and we treat you with the consideration you deserve.

Our team works hard to cut through red tape and give you the best deal possible. Whether your home is facing foreclosure or has major hurricane damage you can’t repair, call us today at (407) 338-4183 to learn more about how we can help.

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If you are faced with a distressed property you can no longer afford, you’re not alone. In the United States, about 2.1 million households are three months or more behind on their mortgage payments. It may seem hopeless, but there are ways to deal with distressed property. Working with a cash home buyer like Meli can make the process of selling your home more manageable. Regardless of your situation, we make competitive offers when we buy distressed homes.

When Does a Home Become Distressed?

If you are wondering “what is a distressed property?” it’s essentially any property where the owner can no longer meet their financial obligations. Perhaps they’ve defaulted on their loan or no longer have enough money to pay the property tax and mortgage. In addition, a distressed property is generally a house in disrepair, having been neglected over time, or vandalized.

Distressed properties gain a lot of attention from investors because they provide a chance to buy at a bargain price and flip for a profit or to create a rental property. There are several options to consider for how to get rid of the house while improving your personal financial situation. 

What to Do Before You Sell Distressed Property

There are a few things to consider before you decide how to get rid of distressed property.

Find Out How Much Your Home is Worth

Before selling a distressed property, evaluate its true worth. There are several ways to approach this. 

The easiest and least expensive method of determining your home’s worth is with a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA). A CMA evaluates the relative value of your home by looking up nearby properties or contacting a real estate agent. 

There may be a need for an appraisal if there aren’t many comparable houses in the area. At Meli, we also provide you with an estimate of your home when it’s in poor condition and you are looking to sell.

Decide if You Should Repair or Sell As-Is

Whenever you’re dealing with a distressed house that has fallen into disrepair due to neglect, think about whether you can recoup your repair costs in the selling price before undertaking any major repairs. For example, vinyl window replacements in Orlando average $19,367, but the resale value is only $14,249 in 2021. That means you’d be able to recover just 73.6% of the money you’d spend. Do some research into which repairs add the most value to your property when selling a house in poor condition. 

Various things may go wrong during a major repair, including finding asbestos or lead which can increase your costs dramatically. So, significant repairs to a distressed property may not be the best option if you plan to sell it to a cash buyer. 

In place of a renovation, focus on freshening your home with minor updates like a deep clean and decluttering. The key to selling a property that needs a lot of repairs is to price it low and accentuate its best features. This helps to demonstrate the potential it has if repairs are made. Unfortunately, for a seller who’s in a financial bind, pricing low to attract investors isn’t always an option.

Evaluate Potential Buyers

Even if a conventional home buyer is interested in your distressed home, it’s likely that the process of them gaining approval from their lender will take some time, which can slow down the sale process immensely. This is especially true if the home is in need of serious repairs; the lending institution will likely perform an inspection and may be hesitant to approve the loan if they determine the financial risk is too great. 

Cash homebuyers don’t need a mortgage and have a network of reputable investors to rely on. You can reduce the chances of an offer disappearing at the last minute when you work with a reputable home buyer in Central Florida.

Give Complete Disclosure of Your Property Before Selling

Even if the property has material defects that aren’t visible to the naked eye, you must be honest about any possible flaws that could affect its value. Despite Florida not requiring the disclosure of defects in writing, concealing property defects raises the possibility of legal issues. Even when you are selling your house as-is, you are still required to disclose any defects you are aware of under Florida law. 

If the buyer discovers the issues before closing the deal, they will likely want the price reduced or pull out of the deal entirely. For your protection, it is best to have your disclosure done in writing.

Gather Your Real Estate Documentation

As a seller, you may find it challenging to get all your contracts in order. In addition to disclosing any issues with the home, you’ll need to ensure you keep copies of all sale-related agreements and file necessary paperwork correctly. Failure to do so can put you at risk of legal trouble down the line. To avoid handling the overwhelming documentation yourself, consider working with a professional cash buyer like Meli. 

With a cash buyer, you avoid the prolonged financing and closing process to complete the home purchase and we handle all the paperwork for you. You can also accelerate the sale with a cash buyer because there’s no need for a lender to evaluate the buyer’s creditworthiness.

Get in Touch with Meli Homes

While many homes on the market require some level of repair, some require extensive maintenance that can’t be ignored. If you don’t have the financial means to make necessary repairs to your home, consider implementing some of these tips for marketing the property, or contact a cash home buyer in Florida so you can off-load your property as-is without the hassle of listing it.  

If you’re selling a house that needs repairs in Central Florida, Meli can help. We buy distressed homes. Give us a call at (407) 338-4183 to schedule your walk-through and start a consultation. 

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For your ease, we have provided a transcript of the Q&A Recording.

Hey, this is Evan with Meli, back for our monthly Q&A. I just want to take a quick second to introduce Meli. Meli was formerly Simple Sale Central Florida. We ended up rebranding the company to the name Meli, short for “ameliorate,” which means to make something better.

So in our line of business, we find houses with title issues like probates, liens, code violations, things like that, and we work to fix the situation for the property. We also, of course, buy properties that have excessive repairs and things of that nature. But, now we’re really focusing on properties that have extreme title issues. A lot of the clients we work with are in that category, so we decided to just really market toward that set of people that are going through those types of situations. Examples like, they need a probate on a property, a lien negotiated, or things of that nature.

1. What are my options if I have a really difficult problem with my home?

If you have a difficult problem with your home, I suggest you consult an attorney and see what they think about your situation. You can also consult with home buying companies like Meli, for example. We deal with those situations. Other homebuyers probably also deal with a lot of these situations.

As far as your real options, I recommend you consult an attorney, or someone like us or another home buyer. Someone that’s experienced in handling situations where there is some kind of title issue on a property.

Read More: How Meli Helped a Homeowner in Titusville with His Difficult Home

2. I tried to get a lien off my house but can’t figure it out. Can you help?

Of course, we can. We’ve negotiated, at this point, hundreds of liens on properties mounting in millions of dollars for clients. We’d just get on a call and discuss your scenario and really try to help understand what’s going on. If it’s a situation we think we can help you with, we would then look deeper into the records. We may see that lien filing, see exactly what they’re looking for, what they’re looking to get, and if it’s negotiable…

But we can definitely help. That’s exactly what we are looking for, is to work with clients that are going through those types of situations.

Read More: Can You Sell a House With a Lien on it?

3. I’ve never heard of a probate before, what is that?

So, a probate is when you have a relative, let’s say, for example, a parent that passes away. In order for their assets and belongings to get conveyed to the heirs, whether that be children or whomever, you have to go through a process called probate.

This is essentially the legal way of showing that you have the right to inherit that deceased individual’s belongings, whatever that may be. Whether it be a house, cars, money, things of that nature, you would go through the legal process called probate. During that process, it will determine who is entitled to these items. Maybe you and your siblings, or whoever, are entitled to these. In some scenarios it will show that you are not entitled to those things.

The reason for that is to make sure that people aren’t trying to inherit assets that aren’t theirs. People try to maliciously take assets from a person, which I’ve seen before. I’ve seen people create a will or falsely say they inherited a house, when in fact it’s not legally theirs. Those types of things do happen. That’s why probate is important, is to make sure that whoever is supposed to inherit the house actually inherits it.

4. How can I sell a house if it’s inherited in probate?

What I would recommend is pretty simple. Even if it’s in probate, you can still sell it, you would just go under contract with a home buyer. And they would buy the property whenever the probate was through.

Unfortunately, I’ve seen people trying to do probates by themselves many times, and I’ve never seen it end well. But people try to do it because they think they’re saving money. Ultimately, they don’t understand the law well enough. They don’t file the right documents, and they end up with an unofficial probate that doesn’t convey the property correctly. In those snares, they have to go back and fix it, or they end up spending a lot more money on attorney’s fees to clear up the title issues that they’ve created.

So, to sell a house that’s in probate, hopefully you’ve got an attorney and you’re going through that process. Then, you’d sign a contract with someone that’s looking to buy the property and close on it. That’s really all there is to it. There’s not a huge process. Once that probate is finished, if it’s done properly, you would then just proceed to closing.

Read More: What to Expect When Selling a House in Probate

5. How should I start trying to fix the title issues on my home?

I would highly recommend that you reach out to an attorney. You could also reach out to a company like Meli, if not Meli. We’ll discuss the issue with you and see if it’s something that we can help you with. An attorney will be able to try to help you, too. They’re going to be able to get you through that process in most scenarios. But, they may have to have a retainer for their work, or maybe they can negotiate through a scenario, but by the time you pay them, it’s not worth it.

You have to think about if it’s really worth it. If the attorney can save you hundreds of thousands of dollars, then you should just consult the attorney. But if not, then someone like Meli can help fix those title issues, and we don’t do it for a fee upfront or anything of that nature, and just fix the scenario, whatever that scenario is. And then we would either buy the house from you or we would list it for you and broker it and get it sold.

6. How can I resolve a tax lien on my home?

Your options depend on what type of tax lien it is. If it’s a property tax lien, then you would have to just go pay it. If you owe $5,000, you would just go to the County and the municipality and pay it. As a note, property taxes are not negotiable. You cannot negotiate those down. Now if it’s an IRS lien, those are negotiable. Depending on your situation, you can go try to negotiate those down, and then ultimately come to a price for that lien that you would negotiate through.

So, you can negotiate the lien and sell the property simultaneously. It’ll take anywhere from 60-120 days to negotiate those liens with the IRS, and then you’ll have that negotiated payoff. Let’s say it was $100,000 and you negotiated down to $80,000. You can have that payoff ready for the closing.

Again, with the property tax lien, you can’t negotiate those. If you didn’t have the money, a lot of times people would just end up selling it. What you don’t want to do is wait till the last minute and try to sell it because that property is going to go to a Tax Deed sale. If you wait till the last minute, the sale may not go through fast enough. You just want to be very careful. If you’re within 30 days or less, you really need to move quickly. Make sure that you avoid that.

We’ve had situations where we paid for the taxes before closing to make sure that the property wasn’t sold, or wasn’t sold as a Tax Deed sale. There was a property; they owed about $6,000 tax liens. We went and paid them before the closing. So, we saved the property and ended up buying it a few days later.

Read More: How to Remove a Tax Lien on a House

7. What do I need to do to sell my house if it has code violations on it?

With code violations, it could be a couple of different things. It can be active violations, or it can be code violation liens. With an active violation you have a couple of different options. One, you can fix that situation. Let’s say it’s something simple like you haven’t mowed your grass, then you just mow the grass. Then, you could go to the code violation authority and code enforcement and tell them, “Hey, I mowed my grass. Please drop this.” And they’ll typically drop it. Maybe you may have to pay a small fine for that and then you’d be able to sell the property.

Now the other option: some people will buy the property with the code violation. Say it’s an active violation, or there’s a structural issue with the property and somehow, you’ve got a code violation. Some people will just buy it with the active code violation using what’s called a Hold Harmless. This holds them, essentially saying “I know that there’s a code violation on this property, I’m still going to close.”

With code violation liens, you’d fix the situation and then pay the lien. Code violation liens are unusual because it takes a while to get one. But, let’s say you hadn’t mowed your grass in a year, then you got it mowed. You could then go to the code enforcement and say, “I’ve now mowed the grass. I know I owe $15,000 in code violations. I’m going to pay those and settle.” In that scenario, you can do that, or a homebuyer that will close with the code violation lien. However, this is very uncommon for people to do. We do it. We’ll do it on properties, but a lot of buyers will not do it until those code violations are cleared up.

So, that’s ultimately, what you do is you either sell it as-is with a Hold Harmless, with the liens or with the violation, or you fix the situation and then sell it. So, it’s really up to you. You may make more money on the property if you clear up the violation. It just depends on what time and money you can put into fixing the situation.

Read More: Can You Sell a House with Code Violations?

8. Is it possible to sell a house with title issues?

Yes, it is very possible to sell a house with title issues. It depends on what kind of title issue it is. If it’s a probate, and there’s not a clear title, it’s going to be pretty difficult. A lot of people will not buy it. We would buy something like that, but most people would not.

If it’s something like a lien, like we just talked about, maybe someone would buy it. If you’re buying out a partial share of the property, then there are some buyers that would probably do something like that. So it is possible. You would just need to talk with a buyer and see what they’re comfortable with doing, and see if it’s a good fit.

9. How does a consultation with Meli work?

To get started, you can give us a call or you can reach out on the website, MeliHomes.com, and let us know what’s going on with your situation. We’ll take a few minutes and talk you through it and see if it’s something that we can work with you on. And if it is, we will.

We will either make you an offer on the house to buy it, list it, or just do a straight consultation. If we decide to work together on a consultation, we would look at the situation and charge you a fee depending on what exactly we need to do to fix it. If you agree, we’ll then perform those services for you. So, yeah, that’s essentially it.

Read More: 5 Things to Know About Companies That Buy Distressed Properties

10. How can you list my home if it has title issues?

Well, typically you don’t. A lot of people won’t. What we would ultimately do is we would fix the title issues for you, and then list it. Or we can list the property while it has title issues, then fix those title issues while we’re negotiating a sale of the property.

Let’s say it takes us 60 days to fix the title issues. During that time we will find a buyer for the property if we were to list it for you. That’s how we’ve done it in the past, and it’s worked out really well. We’ve done probates where we’re simultaneously getting through the probate, finding a buyer for you, and having that sale ready to go as soon as the probate is done.

Wrapping Up

As always, thank you very much for listening to this. I hope it was informative. You can give us a call at 407-338-4183. That will get you through to our phone answering service and they will take your information. Also, if you want to call, you can request Evan. That’s me. You can request Evan Shelley directly, and they will transfer you to me and that’ll get you right to my cell, if you want to go that route. Then, I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

You can also go to our website at MeliHomes.com, and answer a few questions, and that will help us determine what’s going on with your property. That’s it for our September Q&A with Meli Homebuyer, Brokerage, and Consultant. Feel free to reach out, we’ll try to help you as much as we can. Thank you.

This article is meant for informational purposes only and is not intended to be construed as financial, tax, legal, real estate, insurance, or investment advice. Meli encourages you to reach out to an advisor regarding your own situation. Please consult with your advisor when making legal or financial decisions.

Putting your house on the market in Central Florida without doing any upgrades is a bit intimidating. It can be nerve-wracking to list your home when it’s in a state of disrepair with a neglected yard or a roof that needs replacing. But not everyone has time or money to renovate a fixer-upper.

Selling a home in need of work at a reasonable price isn’t impossible, and it doesn’t require substantial investments. You can use some of these simple tips on selling a house that needs repairs to make your property more appealing to buyers.

1. Take Care of the Yard and Remove Clutter

A 2019 study found that curb appeal contributes to 7% of a house’s value when it is sold. Therefore, it makes sense to focus on landscaping to create a positive first impression with buyers and realtors. You certainly don’t have to spend a lot of money on landscaping; just mowing and edging the lawn, trimming the shrubs, and planting a few flowers may be enough. Removing clutter from your yard can also improve curb appeal.

2. Focus on Some Major Repairs

When selling a house in poor condition, focus on some major repairs since most buyers put a large percentage of their cash into the down payment and can’t afford immediate maintenance after closing. Taking care of these major improvements will allow you to ask for a higher price that covers the upgrade costs and attracts a broader range of purchasers. Some major repairs you can do to increase home value include:

• Install a new water heater
• Repair pipes or septic systems
• Update the HVAC system
• Replace kitchen appliances
• Update bathroom fixtures

3. Small Changes Can Have a Great Impact

If you don’t have the time or money for major repair projects, it’s worth the effort and money to make minor updates around the home. A few quick touch-ups can help make a positive impression on potential buyers who come to view the property. Some upgrades you can make in a pinch include:

• Refreshing your home’s interior with a coat of neutral paint
• Removing stains from bathtubs and toilets
• Changing light fixtures & bulbs to improve lightning throughout the house
• Getting a professional carpet cleaning

Even if your home is not brand new, it must be clean. Dirt, stains, and clutter can turn off potential buyers more quickly that more significant issues like worn flooring or outdated counters.

4. Bring Attention to the Home’s Features

How you stage the home affects how buyers perceive it. When you’re selling a house that needs repairs, consider how you can draw attention away from the property’s flaws.

Talk about your home’s best features, like a spacious master bedroom, additional garage storage, or a walk-in pantry. According to the National Association of Home Buyers, about 83% of home buyers place a walk-in pantry on their buying wish list, making it worth mentioning on a listing.

Buyers can always replace the home’s countertops and other aesthetic elements. But, they are more likely to take the plunge if its location and layout appeal to them. Consider highlighting positive neighborhood features such as local recreational activities, malls, and school districts.

5. Offer the House for Sale “As Is”

Properties advertised as being sold “as-is,” meaning there are no warranties, repairs, or any other assurances conveyed by the listing. If you have a desirable lot size, location, or floor plan, your property may still appeal to buyers even if it requires significant repairs.

Homebuyers who are strapped for cash, distressed home buyers, or individuals looking to flip homes for future rentals are all potential buyers for a home listed “as-is.” A buyer may still ask for an inspection of the home, but a real estate agent can set the expectations of no significant repairs. 

6. Engage the Services of A Real Estate Agent

Real estate agents offer a full range of services, including listing your home, staging it, taking photos, and negotiating with the buyer. An agent can recommend what minor repairs will make your home more marketable, and they can make suggestions for staging the property to highlight the home’s best features. 

However, keep in mind that a real estate agent takes a cut of the final sale price as commission. This may not be ideal if you’re already accepting an offer that’s lower than you’d like. 

7. Sell a House that Needs Repairs to a Cash Home Buyer

Cash home buyers in Central Florida can offer you several advantages over traditional buyers. Homebuyers who acquire properties with cash payments are often willing to buy distressed homes and offer quicker transaction times because they don’t require approval from a third-party lender.  

Contacting cash home buyers in Central Florida like Meli is as easy as calling and describing your circumstances and the condition of your home. If interested, we schedule a time to walk through your home and assess its value. You’ll then receive a firm cash offer that you can accept or reject. 

When Meli buys your home, we handle the paperwork and pay you in full. We typically close in just 30 days, which is ideal for individuals dealing with a distressed property they need to get off their hands quickly. A cash buyer gives you the best price for your house without all the hassle of traditional listings, showings, and negotiations. 

Get in Touch with Meli Homes

While many homes on the market require some level of repair, some require extensive maintenance that can’t be ignored. If you don’t have the financial means to make necessary repairs to your home, consider implementing some of these tips for marketing the property, or contact a cash home buyer in Florida so you can off-load your property as-is without the hassle of listing it.  

If you’re selling a house that needs repairs in Orlando, Tampa, Kissimmee, or the surrounding areas, Meli can help. Give us a call at (407) 338-4183 to schedule your walk-through and receive an offer. 

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Every home gets cluttered at times, but some homes end up full of things the owner has no use for. Hoarding is a rare but serious situation in which a home or apartment’s occupant ends up overwhelmed with things and refuses to part with them. Not sure how to sell a hoarder house, or what it even means?

Hoarding is a complex predicament that can have wide-ranging effects on family members. If you’re intervening in a hoarding situation or have inherited one, you don’t have to handle the sale alone. Here are some possible scenarios for how to sell a hoarder house.

Recognizing Hoarding

It’s important to remember that not all highly-cluttered homes are irreparable hoarding situations. If the owner or occupant can clean the clutter, you may be able to get the property to a saleable state.

Hoarding behaviors alone may be considered a mental illness, but can also be tied to anxiety, depression, or OCD. This often makes it more challenging for the individual to tackle the situation or make a change. Even having the help of family or friends isn’t always enough.

Hoarding usually results in unclean conditions around the home that can cause long-term damage to the carpets and walls. This is exacerbated if the hoarder had pets that were not properly cleaned up after. In most cases, hoarding houses are not attractive to traditional buyers because of the level of repairs they require.

Option 1: Intensive Clean-Up

When the occupant has passed away or has consented to selling their home and moving out, the most obvious option is to clean up the house and try to sell it. This may seem like a reasonable choice for low-level hoarders, but the expenses of a thorough cleanup can accumulate quickly, especially if minor repairs are also necessary. Selling a hoarder house can take months or even years if you take on all the tasks yourself.

You will need to enlist the help of a junk removal team and professional cleaners. Junk removal teams look inexpensive at first glance, but they often charge based on the number of items removed. This can add up fast in a hoarding situation.

After that, you may need to enlist a home repair expert to thoroughly inspect the home for damages related to rot and mildew. Many homes require carpet replacement at a minimum, and others need more substantial repairs to drywall, closets, and window frames.

The problem with attempting an intensive clean-up on your own is that the most expensive issues usually don’t come to light until well after decluttering has begun. Renovating a hoarder house can drive up original cleaning and repair estimates by tens of thousands of dollars. When you’re the owner of the house, you’re on the hook for these repairs, even if they end up outweighing the market value of the home.

If there are significant amounts of black mold or rot that have caused structural damage, a home inspector may deem the house unsafe, which will impact your ability to sell a hoarder house.

Option 2: Selling As-Is

If you don’t have the time or means to clean it, it may be time to figure out how to sell the hoarder house. Your second option is to sell the property as-is, leaving any damages for the buyer to deal with. This is not a common option for properties with moderate wear and tear but is worth considering for sellers dealing with a hoarder’s house.

As-is means that the buyer accepts the property with only a basic inspection and walkthrough and cannot back out of the deal in most cases. The buyer has the intention of cleaning up and even significantly improving the property. In dire situations, they could demolish the existing home and rebuild a new house in its place.

When you sell the property as-is, most banks and mortgage providers won’t provide any loans for the purchase. This is because the property is a potential liability, with substantial damage deeply affecting the home’s value.

However, a home can be sold as-is to a cash buyer in many cases. This relieves you of the stress of dealing with the property and allows you to start fresh elsewhere. It also means the sale will be completed more quickly since there’s no waiting time for inspections or mortgage approval processes. For homeowners with a distressed property, an as-is sale to a cash buyer is an excellent solution. 

Navigating Potential Buyers

Not everyone has the financial and logistical capability to buy a home in poor shape due to hoarding. A hoarder situation is often far more than the typical fixer-upper that the average DIY enthusiast can handle. 

The best buyers for hoarder homes are companies with long-standing relationships with contractors who can handle the cleaning and renovations. A company specializing in purchasing distressed and damaged homes for cash will know exactly who to turn to for repairing the home.

Companies specializing in buying hoarder homes will also know how to cut through the red tape to buy them quickly. In many cases, Meli can close on your home in 30 days or less, allowing you to unload your distressed property fast. 

The process with Meli Homes relieves pressure from the seller with a few easy steps. Call us today to answer questions about your home, then schedule a walkthrough so we can get a better look. We can make you an offer the same day, and if accepted, we can close in 7 to 30 days.

If you’re struggling with how to sell a hoarder house in probate or similar circumstances in Kissimmee, Melbourne, or Winter Park and the surrounding areas, reach out to Meli. We are a reputable, local home buying company with excellent reviews and a long list of satisfied sellers.

Meli’s Commitment to You

At Meli Homes, we understand that selling distressed property can be stressful. Our goal is to ease that burden on the seller by handling the paperwork and providing you with a simple process for a cash sale that starts with a phone call.

We work with families facing complex financial situations due to inheritances, hoarding, liens, divorce disputes, and much more. Our compassionate and knowledgeable team can offer you cash for your home and close within weeks. Call us at (407) 338-4183 for a no-obligation consultation to get started.

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For your ease, we have provided a transcript of the Q&A Recording.

Hey, this is Evan with Meli, formerly Simple Sale Central Florida. In the last couple of months we’ve begun to rebrand from the name to Meli. We’re going to spend the first couple of minutes here discussing the difference between Meli and Simple Sale Central Florida, and why we transitioned to a different name. First off, this is the monthly Q&A for the month of August. We do these once a month and answer common questions from clients we’ve worked with.

So, there are a few reasons for our transition. First off, we believed that our branding wasn’t quite as strong. For various trademark reasons, we thought changing to a more original name was very important for the long-term for the company. We came up with the name Meli, which is short for “Ameliorate,” which means to make something better. We work hard to make a bad situation better. What we do is we take properties with liens, probates, distress, excessive repairs, and things of that nature, and make those situations better.

So, we thought Meli was a good name that represented something very important to what we do. In the next few questions, we’ll go over a little more about Meli and the transition.

1. I tried handling my probate and it got too tough. Can Meli help me?

I always recommend hiring an experienced attorney you trust, because they can help you through the probate process. I’ve seen people try to do it themselves, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone do it themselves successfully where everything works out. It can be a complicated process. You can try to educate yourself online, but there’s conflicting information and it may vary from municipality to municipality. So, you have to be very careful.

You can actually have a probate go through, but then you’re not able to sell the house. In this case, a judge may say that you have the rights to the house. However, when you try to sell it, the power company may say, “Well actually, this paper or that paper wasn’t filed. For those reasons, we’re not going to accept this because we think it’s a risk. The title company is not going to insure this policy.” This essentially means that you’re not going to be given a clear title. Then, you can’t sell the house to 99.9% of people because the title isn’t clear. In those situations we’ll get our attorney involved to help you through the probate and back on the right track.

I think the reason people try to do probates themselves is because they think they’re going to save $2000, $3000, $4000, but ultimately they still end up paying that money, wasting a lot of their time, and getting themselves into a difficult situation with the courts because things haven’t been filed properly. Then, the attorney has to go back, refile, and straighten everything up. Meli can definitely help you through that. We’ve fixed those types of situations before.

2. What is Meli?

So briefly, Meli is very similar to what Simple Sale Central Florida was, but there’s a few key changes. We’re now not only a homebuyer, but we’re also a brokerage and a consultant. Now we will help you with your situation, and we may possibly buy the house, help you with your situation and broker the house for you so you can get top dollar for it, or we can just help you with your situation. If it’s something that requires more than an initial phone consultation, then we would ask for compensation to help you through that situation, if you want to handle it yourself.

We’ve looked at previous deals that we worked on over the past couple of years. Some common issues we’ve worked with are probates, liens, code violations, and title issues. People in those situations are primarily the people that we end up working with. We used to advertise ourselves just strictly as a homebuyer, and we’d do some brokerage stuff as well. But now we’ve realized that we do a lot of home buying and brokering depending on the person’s situation. And, most of those people fall into one of these four categories almost every time. Yeah, the house may have excessive repairs, but a lot of times what comes with that is code violations, or a lien, probate, or something of that nature.

So, we’re really just trying to brand ourselves differently, in the sense that this is our niche, this is what we’re focusing on, and this is the type of people we can help out. Not to say we can’t help in other situations, but a lot of our situations fall under those categories.

3. What’s different about Meli?

I would say the real difference is that we have an extreme focus on those four or so categories: Liens, probates, code violations, and title issues. That’s our focus. And what we promise along with that is that we are very transparent and accountable. We can help someone through almost any situation. There are extreme situations I’ve seen, rarely, where we can’t help but, in almost all situations we can.

4. How can you help me?

If you fall into one of those situations, let’s say, for example, probate; we can help you through that probate. We can refer you to our attorney, and he will help you through your situation. At the same time, we can evaluate your home and make you an offer or market your home and get you maybe 10-30% more because your property isn’t in bad shape. It just has these legal difficulties that we have to get you through. Or, if you have a lien, code violation or some crazy title issue, we can begin working through them.

We’ll make you an offer at the same time, but you may possibly get a mortgage on the house. This means you can have a retail buyer buy the property and net 20% more money. Now, if it’s a situation where you have a lien and there’s a ton of repairs needed for the property, then we’re probably going to be your best fit for just buying the property outright as a homebuyer. We work to give you a lot of options and make sure that you get through your situation.

Read More: 5 Things to Know About Companies That Buy Distressed Properties

5. How does Meli work?

When you want to reach out, you can go to our website, MeliHomes.com, and input your address. On the website, you can learn more about the company. After you input your address, you’ll put in your contact info; first name, last name, email, phone number. And that’s just to give us the ability to reach out to you. Then you’ll answer a few questions about your house. We’ll reach out within a few minutes to discuss your property with you and see what’s going on with it.

In that initial consultation, we’ll say, “Well, you know, this is what’s going on with your property. Let us consider it and then we’ll get back with you.” Or, “Okay. I understand what’s going on here. I think this would be the best route for you. We’ll fix the probate, list your property and we think you can get this amount for it. And we’d love to help you do that.” Something of that nature. So, we’ll just have that initial consultation.

And you can always call us directly. We have a phone number on our website, 407-338-4183, on our Facebook, LinkedIn, that you can reach out and call us and we can talk with you. We’ll figure out what your situation is and consider it. Then, we’ll suggest the best route for you, and what working with us would be like and how we can help.

6. Are there any charges for working with you?

No, there aren’t any charges. Typically we’ll start by having that initial phone consultation, and we can do that by email or text, too. Often, it’s much easier to speak over the phone and have that conversation to better understand what’s going on. In that call, we may make a recommendation or we’ll get back to you after we look into it further. There’s no charge for the initial consultation.

Now, if you want to just use us as a consultant, we would dedicate several hours to understanding your situation and helping you through it. In that case there would be a charge for the consultation. But initial calls are not anything that you would be charged for.

7. I found out I have a lien on my home. What is a lien?

Essentially, a lien is someone or a company that has put a legal claim on a property’s title. Most often, the property owner owes money to a person or entity and they want to guarantee they get paid. So, let’s say someone put a roof on your house for $8,000 and you didn’t pay them. They could put a lien on your property that basically says “You never paid us for the $8,000 roof.”

That lien would remain until you paid it off or wanted to sell the property. At that point, you would need to try to negotiate the lien or pay it in full. There’s a process you have to go through to get the lien paid and make sure everything is correct. That can take some time, but it hinders you from selling the property, because if you sell it for $100,000, and the roof is $8,000, you’re going to net $92,000 before you can sell that property free and clear.

8. How can I sell my house with a lien on it?

We’ve bought houses before that have current liens on them. We’ll take those liens in what’s called a Hold Harmless. This essentially states that we’re aware of the liens and title issues but still want to close on the property. We’d just need to evaluate your situation and see if that’s something that would work for us.

Most other buyers will not close with a lien on the property; I don’t know of any that do. But, we have in the past and will definitely consider any situations that may have a lien on the property.

Read More: Can You Sell a House With a Lien on it?

9. Can I sell a house before probate?

Many times people don’t even know if they need a probate or not. However, selling a house before probate is technically possible. But, if you sell it before it goes through probate, you’re not selling it with a clear title. You’re just selling them your interest in the property. Let’s say you’re an heir. Before probate, no one has proved that you actually own the property yet. The judge has to determine that you’re one of the heirs or you’re the only heir. You’re essentially selling them your interest and then you still have to go prove that that is the case.

So it’s technically possible. I’ve never seen it, just because it’s so risky. If I purchase your property for $100,000 and buy your interest, it isn’t a clear title. I know there’s a probate that needs to be done. And then I say, “Okay, I own this property. Now I have to clear up this title.” I could approach the courts and tell them I own the property and we need to do a probate. Then I’ll pay my attorney to find and bring the correct documentation.

We may end up finding more heirs, more people involved that actually own the house that we didn’t know about. It could be a huge mess and I could lose all that money. So, selling the house before probate isn’t technically possible. For 99.99% of people you’re never going to be able to sell it.

But, what you should do is get the house into the probate process. Then, you can actually go under contract in the probate or before probate. Someone like Meli can help you pay for that probate, actually, and get you going. And as soon as a judge determines that these one, two, three, 10 people are the heirs, then you can close on the property and sell it.

Read More: What to Expect When Selling a House in Probate

10. Can you sell a house that’s not up to code?

You can definitely sell a house that’s not up to code, that has code violations, or stopped work orders. Anything of that nature. We’ve bought houses like that before. It can be a non-issue for a lot of buyers. Most buyers will buy a property that’s not up to code assuming it’s not some crazy situation, but it’s definitely not an issue to sell a house like that.

Read More: Can You Sell a House with Code Violations?

Wrapping Up

Okay, any other questions? I don’t think there’s any other questions. As always, thank you for listening in. We are now Meli. You can reach us at MeliHomes.com, and give us a call at 407-338-4183. When you call us, a member of our team will ask you a few questions and walk you through the process. That information will then be evaluated and we will let you know what steps we recommend you take. It’s a very simple process.

As always, thank you very much. We’re Meli, a homebuyer, brokerage, and consultant, focusing on liens, probates, code violations, and title issues. We’re here to help. Thanks, guys.

Meli is a homebuyer, brokerage, and consultant. The core of what we represent has not changed: we still buy and list distressed properties, but we now focus on helping homeowners of properties with liens, probates, and title issues.

We made the decision to focus specifically on these categories because we realized that the majority of our clients are struggling with these problems. Instead of serving solely a homebuyer, we are now offering brokerage services! We can help you with your probate property, get you through probate easily and stress-free, then list and sell your home for top dollar on the open market. We are now giving you, the client, more options to allow for a better experience.

Why Meli?

Meli was named after the word “ameliorate,” which means to make something better.

We found this very relevant to the solution-oriented service we provide to our clients. We always strive to fix your home’s problems in a stress-free manner. When dealing with liens, probates, or title issues, we find that a person may deal with these situations once or twice in their life, so they can become very overwhelming.

But, with a quick consultation from Meli, we can help you on a clear path forward. Whether we buy your home, list it for you, or just act as a consultant we will find the best solution for you!

What Clients are Saying :

“Evan literally is a lifesaver! He helped us with a very tough situation when other realtors said they couldn’t! He helped us when we thought there was no hope. Evan was such a blessing and we will always use him in the future!” – Aaron R., Ocoee, FL

“After the loss of a family member, the last thing you want is to deal with the headache of probate and selling their home. Evan helped with every aspect of this process. I highly recommend using him and his company.” – Becky S., Orlando, FL

“Everything went smoothly and exactly like Evan said it would. I would absolutely recommend Meli to anyone who finds themselves in a tough situation with their property.” – Noel S., Casselberry, FL

Meli is Making Home Sales Better

You need to partner with a reputable home expert with the knowledge necessary to solve your home’s problems. Not all companies can handle these situations with the sensitivity they deserve. 

Meli knows that every home is different, and we work hard to find your best option. We have a streamlined process that takes care of the difficult, behind-the-scenes work for you. Start with a no-obligation phone consultation and schedule a walk-through so we can get the information we need to find the best solution for you and your home.

We’re happy to chat and see if we’re a good fit for you. Call us today at (407) 338-4183 or request a consultation to give us some basic information and schedule your walk-through.