It’s our job to clear any obstacles that will disrupt the momentum of your sale. Here’s how we find and address them, and why we do this early on.
1. The First Place We Look
When you list with us, the first thing we do is open the preliminary title report. This document shows the current legal status of a property. It also reveals problems we’ll need to address, such as:
- Liens
- Unpaid Taxes
- Lawsuits
- Bail Bonds
2. Don’t Worry – These Are Not Deal Breakers
These problems can feel insurmountable – especially when you’re hearing about them for the first time. However, they are common in probate and trust sales. When handled properly, they do not prevent a successful sale.
3. How We Address Common Problems
Here is a brief overview of how we address each of these issues:
Liens
- We identify the lien holder and confirm the lien is still valid
- We request the official payoff amount
- We coordinate with the estate attorney and escrow
- The lien is resolved through escrow at closing
- We confirm the lien is released so title can clear
Unpaid Taxes
- We request an official tax payoff from the county
- We coordinate with escrow to include the amount in closing
- Outstanding taxes are paid from sale proceeds
- We confirm the taxes are cleared before closing
Lawsuits
- We work with the estate attorney to determine whether the judgment attaches to the property
- We coordinate the required resolution with escrow
- The issue is paid, released, or legally cleared as required
- We confirm it will not delay closing
Bail Bonds or Other Recorded Claims
- We verify whether the claim is still active or enforceable
- We work with the estate attorney to determine the proper resolution
- We coordinate required documentation or payoff through escrow
- We confirm the claim is cleared from title before closing
4. Why We Address These Early
By addressing these problems early, we’re able to:
- Give involved parties enough time to resolve issues properly
- Prevent surprises after an offer is accepted
- Avoid rushed decisions under tight deadlines
- Keep escrow and closing on schedule
