After over 40 years, the successor trustee of the family trust is selling the single-story family home in San Jose. Certified Probate Real Estate Specialist, Kathleen Daniels, was hired to list the home.
Kathleen first started working with the successor trustee in March 2021. There were many things that needed to be done before the home was ready to list for sale. From our experience, it typically takes several months to empty family homes before renovations, if any can begin.
We then complete inspections, have it professionally cleaned, do some light staging, get photos taken, then start on the marketing. All required disclosures are available at the time a home is listed. Buyers need this information to make informed buying decisions.
On Friday, October 22, 2021, the home was ready to list.
This spacious 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom home has all-new interior paint and laminate floors. It is located on a tree-lined street on a 7,700+ square foot lot.
The living room has a wood-burning stove-type fireplace. A dual-pane sliding glass door in the dining room provides natural light and access to the large backyard which is the perfect place to gather with family and friends, relax in the shade provided by the large mature trees, or enjoy the harvest from the fruit trees.
The lot size creates an opportunity to expand the home or add an Accessory Dwelling Unit (“ADU”) without affecting the livability of the main house.
The City of San Jose Hathaway Park is only .1 mile away. This park has something for everyone.
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- Baseball fields
- Basketball courts
- Children’s play apparatus
- Picnic benches
- BBQ pit
- Restrooms
- Large open field for dogs to run and play.
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Close to Westgate, other prime shopping malls, and tech companies.
This centrally located home in West San Jose is close to Highway 280, 880 (17), and 85.
The offer deadline is set for Friday, October 29, 2021, by 3:00 pm.
Successor Trustee Hires Kathleen Daniels

No Preemptive Offers
Within hours after listing the home, the showings by real estate agents began. We received several calls and text messages asking if the seller is accepting preemptive offers.
It is our best practice when listing a home to keep it on the market for one week and set an offer deadline. This casts and wide and deep marketing net providing an opportunity for many buyers to see the home. In a market with low inventory and high demand, it just makes sense for a seller to want many qualified buyers to see the home. This increases the likelihood of receiving multiple offers and the home selling for more than asking. If a seller accepts a preemptive offer on the first day the home is on the market, how will they know that offer is the highest and best offer?
Who can blame people looking for an opportunity to buy a home without competing with other buyers? For agents looking to double-end (dual agency) the transaction and a seller not knowing any better, that would be a perfect situation for the buyer and the listing agent. But would it be the best thing for the seller? In most cases, Kathleen does not believe so. There may be a rare exception however, as a matter of sound business practice she does not engage in a dual agency or preemptive offers.
Certified Probate Real Estate Specialist
We are specialists in probate real estate sales. That means selling probate properties, trust homes, and property under conservatorship. Over the years we have helped many executors and successor trustees sell homes.
Understanding the challenges people face, we know a higher level of service is needed when representing an estate. That is why we focus on high-touch service versus a high volume of sales.
Experience does make a difference! Kathleen Daniels is a Certified Probate Real Estate Specialist (“CPRES”) and certified in Professional Fiduciary Management for Trustees. She has extensive probate Realtor training. The core of her business is probate real estate sales and working with successor trustees selling properties with titles held in the family trust.
The number of clients we work with is limited to ensure we can provide all clients with the highest level of representation. Working with out-of-state and out-of-area clients requires more time.
If you are a successor trustee and need help, call Certified Probate Real Estate Specialist, Kathleen Daniels. She will sell the home for top dollar and will not need to host an open house. Kathleen can be reached at 408-972-1822, or contact us and request a consultation.