Handling Tenants In Probate House In Tennessee
Brad:
A lot of times, there are tenants in a property, especially if someone has inherited a rental property. It’s common for one of the heirs to live in the house. How do you typically handle this situation in Tennessee?
We’ve encountered this issue on numerous occasions.
Initiating The Legal Process
Typically, the first step we take is to issue a notice to vacate. This allows us to start the legal process.
I understand that it might feel like we’re just preparing to put someone out on the street, but that’s never our intention. We have an in-house relocation assistance program that offers two different tiers: a concierge level and a referral level.
Our Solution-Focused Approach and Capabilities
Everything we do is focused on finding solutions! Our goal is to provide customized, tailored solutions for each individual. Fortunately, as a local company, we have built strong relationships with property management companies, various investors, and smaller, local landlords who have rental properties.
We understand that some individuals may not have the best credit scores or may struggle to pass standard background checks, and that’s perfectly fine. Our priority is to help relocate them while preserving their dignity and ensuring they have a place to live.
For instance, we recently assisted a woman who inherited a house. She was the niece of one of the original owners and needed help to clear an eviction off her record. We were able to pay for that, allowing her to move to a new location and start fresh.
While we don’t claim to have every situation figured out, we are adept at problem-solving as issues arise. I would say that our strength lies in identifying a problem and swiftly finding an effective solution.
Brad:
We’ve dealt with this situation numerous times. Often, the heartburn arises because someone, like Sister Susie, may be reluctant to leave the property. This hesitation usually stems from uncertainty about where they will go next. If you can help her figure out her next steps, she’s more likely to move.
In situations involving inheritance, she won’t receive any funds until the house is sold, making it a tricky situation. It’s essential to assist her in finding a new place to live. In many cases, I’ve advanced their security deposit for the new residence.
I never give money directly to the seller, but I will provide funds to the apartment complex, ensuring a stipulation at closing that we are reimbursed by the estate for those expenses. With a signed lease and a confirmed move-in date, she will feel more secure about her future, which increases the likelihood of her being cooperative and moving out. Often, people are simply acting difficult because they are scared or uncertain about where they will end up.
No one is helping them, and I completely agree with that.
Our goal is to establish communication and build a relationship. We’re trying to gather information about their needs: Where do you want to go? What is your ideal situation? Even if we don’t know all the answers, what’s on your wishlist? How can we assist you in getting there? If you need movers, storage units, or people to help pack and move your belongings, we can arrange that.
We can even help you sell some items if necessary. There are always solutions available, whether that involves a cash advance, going through a title company, or coordinating with the property management company. We will find a way to make it work.
Brad:
I remember years ago, I had a client who needed to move to Texas to be with her mom. She was in a foreclosure situation and didn’t have much money, so she wasn’t going to leave the closing table with any significant funds.
To help her out, I bought a bunch of gas cards for BP and other gas stations and gave them to her in an envelope at closing. The bank wouldn’t allow her to receive cash directly because she owed money to the HOA, but they had agreed to accept a lesser amount as a settlement. Therefore, I had to pay her outside of closing and provided her with gas cards to cover her trip to Texas. I ended up giving her around $600 to $700 worth of gas cards. She was incredibly grateful and said, “This is great! I can get to my mom.” After she arrived in Texas, she called to thank us, saying, “I’m here with my mom, and I really appreciate everything you did.” It’s these creative solutions that allow us to help sellers get to where they need to go. Sometimes they just need a little assistance.