Question 1

How long after someone dies should you call about a probate listing?

Accepted Answer

Jim Sullivan says it averages about 90 days nationwide from the date of death to the probate being filed, so the family has usually had time to grieve and make a business decision. Bill Byrd calls his whole new list the day after it arrives, and says empathy matters far more than it does on an expired.

Question 2

How do you approach a probate attorney?

Accepted Answer

Bill Byrd keeps it soft. He introduces himself and his brokerage, says he noticed they might be managing a property with an estate, and asks whether they might need a little help. He avoids the assumptive close he would use on an expired, and offers a free broker price opinion as the opener.

Question 3

How much time does working probate leads actually take?

Accepted Answer

Bill Byrd spends about two to two and a half hours a week on probate calls, working roughly 150 leads a month. He staggers the callbacks rather than calling everyone on the same day each week, and treats the list like stocking a pond that produces business months later.

Question 4

How do you handle a probate seller who has a cash investor offer?

Accepted Answer

Bill Byrd asks why they would rob themselves of the chance at maximum value, and points out the investor will still be there later. He deliberately stopped mentioning cash investors himself after finding he was losing deals that way, and now frames everything around taking the property to market.

Question 5

Who needs to be at a probate listing appointment?

Accepted Answer

Everyone with influence. Bill Byrd asks who is responsible for the trust and who else is influencing that person’s decision, a habit he credits to trainer Chad Corbett. On one Daly City listing he insisted the whole family attend and signed the listing in under fifteen minutes.