Trust and probate FAQs

Yes. Trustees and executors can sell without repairing the house, and buyers of Burbank's older housing stock generally expect to update systems rather than move in untouched. Sellers still must complete California disclosures, so I recommend a clean-out, a landscaping refresh, and a quick safety check of wiring, gating and handrails. Those small steps help buyers picture the property as their own.

I start with the record: whether every addition, converted garage, bathroom or ADU was permitted, what the lot actually is, and what the systems and roof are like. Then I compare recent sales of similar properties on comparable streets — a Downtown condominium, a Magnolia Park bungalow and a Burbank Hills view home all price off different evidence. The trustee or executor gets a written price range with the reasoning spelled out, which also helps document fair market value for the beneficiaries.

Name one person to make decisions about personal property, then decide early what gets kept, sold and donated. Clean-out crews and estate sale companies handle most of it, and any items of value are worth documenting before the house is emptied for the estate's records. Keep a simple file of what was sold and what was given away — it makes the accounting to beneficiaries much shorter.

No. I coordinate everything locally: clean-out crews, yard cleanup, contractor work, photography, showings and inspections. Heirs can sign documents electronically, and I send photo and video updates along the way. I also work in Mandarin Chinese for family members who prefer it.