First-Time Poster Seeking Advice: How to Approach Heir About Inherited Property

[Ricky Moore]

Hi BiggerPockets community,

excited to connect with like-minded individuals who are passionate about real estate investing. A little about me: i’m new to the real estate world and eager to learn everything I can to build a successful investing journey. I’ve been exploring buy and hold opportunities in my area, and I recently came across a situation I’d like some advice on.

I’ve come across a property in my area that I’m very interested in, but I want to make sure I approach the situation the right way. Here’s the context:

• The house appears vacant, with a large tree that has fallen on the property.
• From what I can see, the house seems full of furniture and might even be a hoarder home.
• I’ve skip-traced the property and found that the owner has unfortunately passed away.
• The house seems to be mortgage-free, and I’ve identified three phone numbers associated with the son, who I believe is the heir.

I’d like to reach out to the son to express my interest in purchasing the property, but I want to ensure I do so respectfully while also gathering the right information.

Here are my questions:

1. What’s the best way to approach the heir while showing my condolences for their loss?
2. How should I phrase my interest in the property to avoid coming across as pushy or insensitive?
3. What questions should I ask to understand the property’s condition and the heir’s willingness to sell?
4. What should I look for before making an offer on a property like this?

Any advice, tips, or scripts for making the initial contact and navigating this process would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance for your help!