When a Savannah attorney referred me to a family in need, they were facing not only the loss of a beloved husband and father but also the overwhelming responsibility of handling six different properties tied to his estate.

Client Background

After her husband’s passing, a widow moved to an assisted living facility in Atlanta. Her daughter suddenly found herself responsible for both her mother’s care and the estate. The family was left with:

• 3 vacant lots

• 2 investment properties with tenants who were no longer paying rent

• The family home of 40 years, still filled with belongings

The daughter, managing everything from Atlanta, felt paralyzed by paperwork, grief, and the logistics of selling multiple properties.

Challenges

This situation presented several unique hurdles:

• Some properties required probate before they could be sold.

• The home had been vacant for over a year and was filled with personal belongings.

• The rental properties had non-paying tenants, requiring attorney involvement.

• The daughter initially considered keeping a rental, but managing it long-distance wasn’t realistic.

• The mother needed to stay in Atlanta and couldn’t return to Savannah for closings.

My Approach

To reduce the stress on the family, I created a step-by-step plan:

1. Valuation & Strategy

   • I provided a comparative market analysis (CMA) for each property, showing both current values and the potential with improvements.

   • Together, the family decided which to sell and in what order.

2. Quick Wins

   • We listed one vacant lot first and found a buyer within 60 days, giving the family momentum.

3. Tenant Solutions

   • I connected them with an attorney to resolve the non-paying tenants. One left voluntarily; the other was legally removed.

4. Bundled Sale

   • Once vacant, the two investment properties and two lots were sold together to a single buyer for $350,000.

5. Preparing the Family Home

   • A crew cleared out the house after the daughter removed sentimental items.

   • A deep clean and HVAC servicing were completed, but we sold the home as-is.

6. Market Positioning

   • We listed the home on the higher side due to its neighborhood.

   • After 25 days with no offers, we reduced the price — and within a week, multiple offers came in.

   • An investor purchased the home, and we closed within 30 days.

Results

• All 6 properties sold — 3 vacant lots, 2 investment rentals, and the family home.

• The mother signed remotely from Atlanta; proceeds were wired directly.

• The family avoided managing renovations, evictions, or complicated logistics from afar.

• What began as a stressful, overwhelming situation ended with clarity, closure, and financial peace of mind.
  
  
  Family Outcome

By the end of the process, the family had sold all six properties and closed their chapter in Savannah. The daughter could focus on supporting her mother in Atlanta, rather than dealing with long-distance property issues.