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FOR FAMILIES, EXECUTORS, CONSERVATORS AND TRUSTEES · LOS ANGELES

From the first call to a sold home.

Every sale starts one of three ways: probate, conservatorship or a trust. After that, the house travels one road to its next owner, and we walk it with you.

Talk to UsFollow the Path
Probate Conservatorship Trust Value and prepare Market and offers Sold, keys handed over

Where does your story start?

Pick the one that sounds like yours. After the first step, all three follow the same road.

Probate

Someone passes away, and the home is in their name.

A probate is filed. The court appoints an executor or administrator.

Conservatorship

Someone can no longer manage their own affairs.

A conservatorship is established. The court appoints a conservator.

Trust

The person who made a living trust passes away or can no longer manage it.

The successor trustee takes responsibility.

From here, it's the same road.

We meet you and the house.

A phone call, then a visit. We listen first: what happened, who is involved and what you need.

Belongings, cars and papers

What we handle

  • Walk through the property
  • Confirm who can sign
  • Talk through belongings and keepsakes
  • Map out a plan and a timeline

We find out what it's worth.

A written price opinion compares selling as-is with light preparation, so every decision starts with real numbers.

As-is or prepared? Compare them

What we handle

  • Broker price opinion
  • Title report, checked early
  • Estimated proceeds after costs
  • City reports and disclosures

We get the house ready.

Preparation that makes financial sense. Sometimes a clean-out and a good cleaning are enough.

How preparation gets paid for

What we handle

  • Keepsakes and papers set aside first
  • Clean-out and cleaning
  • Yard, paint and small repairs, if they pay
  • Costs often paid at closing
Living room before clean-out, with belongings in front of the fireplace.
BeforeThe day we walked in
The same living room during preparation, cleared of belongings.
In progressCleared and repaired
The same living room prepared and staged for marketing.
ReadyStaged for the market

We show it to the world.

Every home gets a real launch: beautiful photos, a video tour and a marketing campaign that finds the right buyers.

See Matias in action

What we handle

  • Photos, video, drone and floor plan
  • MLS, agent networks and online ads
  • Open houses with a guest sign-in
  • Disclosures and timing explained to buyers
  • A written update every week

Property video

More from the same trust sale.

The property website, 3D walkthrough and floor plans Matias and his team created for this home.

Exterior of the Camarillo trust sale home
Property website

Photography, video and property details in one place.

Visit the property website ↗
Explore the home in 3D
3D walkthrough

Walk through the rooms at your own pace.

Open the 3D walkthrough ↗
Furnished 3D floor plan of the first floor at 3316 Loreta Court
3D floor plan

A furnished view that helps buyers picture the space.

View full-size plan ↗
Traditional floor plan of 3316 Loreta Court showing both floors and room dimensions
Traditional floor plan

Room dimensions and layout, all in one view.

View full-size plan ↗

Buyers make offers. You choose.

We line up every offer side by side, evaluate each buyer's ability to close, and tell you what we would do.

Selling without buyer contingencies

What we handle

  • Offers compared side by side
  • Buyers' funds verified
  • Negotiation on your behalf
  • Our recommendation, in writing

The paths split, then meet again.

This is the legal step, led by your attorney, if one is involved. We keep the buyer and escrow on track the whole time.

Probate

With full authority, notice goes to the people entitled to it. If no one objects in time, the sale moves ahead.

With limited authority, the court confirms the sale at a hearing, and other buyers can bid more. How overbids work

Conservatorship

The sale serves the person being cared for, so the court usually approves it, often at a hearing where other buyers can bid more.

Trust

Usually no court at all. The trustee signs, and the beneficiaries are kept informed as the trust and the law require.

Closing day.

Escrow closes, the money goes where it belongs, and the keys go to the new owner.

What we handle

  • Every deadline tracked
  • Title, liens and payoffs cleared
  • Keys, utilities and final walkthrough
  • Your complete file, organized

The house begins its next chapter.

And you can close this one, knowing it was handled with care.

Talk to UsSee real sales we have handled

Every estate is different. Timing and legal steps vary, and your attorney, if one is involved, directs the legal process.

WATCH

Watch Matias walk through the process.

In an interview with Natalie Salins on Mortgage On My Mind, Matias explains full and limited authority, court confirmation, overbids, and what's needed before a home can be listed.

The video starts at the process discussion. General information, not legal or tax advice.
California Probate Real Estate: What You Need to Know28 min · starts at 7:42

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

Reviews from across our real estate practice.

I run a property management company and have worked with many realtors—Matias is one of the best. We regularly refer clients to him, especially for distressed sales or more challenging situations, because he handles them with professionalism, expertise, and care. His deep market knowledge and commitment to service always leave our clients in great hands.

William T.Property management professional

FREQUENT QUESTIONS

Questions about the process.

How long does a probate or trust sale take?

Preparation, buyer demand, title work and required notices all affect timing. Court confirmation can add a wait for a hearing. We map out the expected schedule early and explain it to buyers before they write an offer.

Can we start before the letters or trust paperwork are ready?

Yes, for planning. We can review the property, prepare a broker price opinion and outline a preparation plan while authority is being established. The listing agreement and any sale contract are signed once authority is in place, as your attorney, if one is involved, confirms.

Do we have to renovate or fix anything before selling?

It depends on the property. Most houses sell well as-is once they have been cleared, cleaned and professionally presented. Our broker price opinion compares selling as-is with improvements, and work is recommended only when the numbers support it.

Who pays for clean-out, cleaning and preparation?

If the estate or trust has funds, vendors can be paid directly. When funds are limited, eligible clean-out, cleaning and preparation costs can often be paid from the sale proceeds at closing through escrow. Estimates are approved in writing before work begins.

What is a broker price opinion, and is it the same as an appraisal?

A broker price opinion is our written analysis of the property's likely market value and sale options. It is not an appraisal. In probate, a court-appointed probate referee prepares the appraisal, and in trusts, your advisors may order a date-of-death appraisal. Our analysis helps you plan the sale alongside those.

What happens to the belongings in the house?

They are handled before anything is cleared. Keepsakes, documents and valuables are set aside first, and nothing is discarded without the representative's direction. When it makes sense, an estate sale can be arranged before the remaining contents are removed.

Do I need to live in Los Angeles to manage the sale?

No. Many of our clients live out of state. We handle the local work, send written updates, and coordinate remote signing and notarization, so you can manage the sale from wherever you are.

Is the first consultation a commitment?

No. It is a conversation about the property, the situation and your options. Tell us about the property, and we'll help you sort out the rest.

General information about the real estate process, not legal or tax advice. An attorney can tell you how the law applies to your estate or trust.

GO DEEPER

More detail on each step.

START WITH A CONVERSATION

Ready for step one?

Tell us about the property. We'll help you sort out the rest.

Talk to Us

Prefer to talk? Call (310) 776-5145

Real estate services by Matias Baker Masucci, broker. Real estate information only; not legal or tax advice.