Losing a loved one is an emotionally wrenching experience. When the person you’ve lost leaves you with a piece of property, such as the house they lived in, the stress can be overwhelming. Now you’re left to deal with a place full of memories as you sort through belongings to determine whether to keep them, donate them, or throw them away. For some people, this is just too much to bear.

The angst that comes with such a situation often renders the survivor incapable of making decisions. We call this condition analysis paralysis. The survivor is so overwhelmed with all the decisions to be made that they can’t function. Instead of taking action to sell or clean up the property, they do nothing at all. And the house just sits there, inviting trouble.

There’s a Way Out!

Here at Kansas City Legacy Properties, we’ve seen this situation first-hand. In fact, it’s one of the reasons we started this business. We realized that people who inherit property are in a difficult situation. They may be emotional and vulnerable. They may also feel sad, mad, or empty of feelings. Often, they have no idea how to handle the challenge of disposing of an inherited property. They don’t know the steps to take, and they have very few resources to deal with the situation in a timely manner. Kansas City Legacy Properties can help with all this.

Inaction Leads to Negative Consequences

Many things can go wrong if an inherited property isn’t dealt with in a reasonable timeframe.

Here’s an example:

Kansas City Legacy Properties learned of a house that had been vacant in a local neighborhood for many years. People living nearby asked if we could locate the owner and help him figure out what to do with the house because it was becoming a neighborhood nuisance.

Once we located the owner, we discovered the house had belonged to his brother, who had passed away years ago and left the house to him. The problem is that he was overcome by grief every time he entered the house and couldn’t bear staying long enough to assess its condition or figure out what to do with it. Consequently, he did nothing but the bare minimum, and the house sat vacant. It became an eyesore in the neighborhood and was broken into twice during the owner’s analysis paralysis phase.

Making Progress

It took a year for the owner to trust that we could help him part with the property in a way that felt right to him. Once he was ready, we made a plan.

• We sorted through everything in the house and put it in piles. Then we arranged for trash pickup for the items he wanted to get rid of.

• For the things the owner wanted to keep, we hired a moving company to pick them up and take them to his residence.

• Everything that was in good condition and didn’t end up in the trash or keep pile was donated to local charities, which were more than happy to come pick them up.

• The house itself was sold. The owner had an idea of what he wanted for the property. We were able to connect him with a seller who was amenable. We even drove the client to the closing because he didn’t like to drive. He told us afterward what a relief it was to have all this off his shoulders. It had been gnawing at him daily for years.

Don’t Get Stuck in Analysis Paralysis

Analysis paralysis is real, and it can end up costing you money or causing you to miss out on opportunities that you might benefit from. While the death of a loved one is understandably difficult, inheriting property from them brings a new set of challenges that most people find themselves unequipped to deal with.

Kansas City Legacy Properties coaches clients through the process of determining the right course of action to take with an inherited property. Whether the house is stuck in probate, ready to be sold, or full of personal belongings that must be dealt with, we walk you through every step of the way.

We know the process of inheriting a property can be overwhelming. Kansas City Legacy Properties is here to help. Give us a call or visit our website today.