What we do with the house and its contents
Sell an inherited house without cleanout, repairs, or hauling away a lifetime of belongings — we take it as it is. You do not fix anything — not one thing. You can take what you want to keep; a cleanout is not required to sell to us.
We buy the house as-is and talk through access, the condition, and any belongings you want to remove before closing. The carrying costs do not stop while those details are being sorted: property taxes, utilities, insurance, and upkeep can continue.
What happens next
- Tell us the address, what you know about the house, and what estate papers are available. You do not have to clean or repair the property before we talk.
- We discuss the property and your questions, then provide a written cash offer. We give written cash offers in 24 hours.
- You see the written offer and written terms before you commit; closing is through a title company.
- The title company or a qualified attorney can confirm the estate signer, deed, and closing papers for this property.
Signing from another location
Sell from anywhere in the country — we can send a notary to you, and you don't have to attend settlement or even visit the property.
What you keep from the sale
Compare the written offer with what you expect to keep after the costs of listing, repairs, and carrying the house. Use the Watertown calculator with your own assumptions; it is an estimate, not a property-specific offer.
Open the Watertown net-proceeds calculator →Wisconsin estate rules and taxes
Who can sell for the estate?
Usually, a personal representative with issued, unrevoked letters can sell estate property without a separate court order. The will still matters: restrictions on a sale must be followed, and a beneficiary specifically left the house generally must join in the sale. A court-order exception may apply when the estate cannot otherwise pay its required expenses and claims. A valid transfer-on-death designation may pass the house outside probate.
Have the deed, will, appointment papers, and any court orders checked before setting the closing date. We help coordinate the sale, but we do not provide legal advice. The title company or a qualified attorney can confirm who has authority to sign for the estate.
Wisconsin sources: Wis. Stat. § 860.01 · § 860.11(1)–(4) · § 705.15.
Wisconsin real estate transfer fee and closing costs
On a sale that is not exempt, Wisconsin charges a real estate transfer fee of 30 cents for every $100 of sale price, or part of $100. It is collected when the deed is recorded. Some transfers are exempt, and recording and other closing charges are separate. When you sell to us, we pay the Wisconsin real estate transfer fee.
When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs. Your mortgage payoff, liens, back taxes, and share of current property taxes are separate.
Sources: Wis. Stat. §§ 77.21, 77.22, and 77.25 · Wisconsin Department of Revenue transfer-fee report
Local estate and deed help
Watertown includes properties in both Dodge and Jefferson counties. Match the property to its county before using a deed or land-record office; use the Wisconsin court links to locate court contacts for an estate question.
If you need an estate attorney, we can help you find one. We work with the estate process, but the estate's professionals confirm legal authority and represent the estate.
Wisconsin Courts probate overview
Statewide probate information and a starting point for questions about an estate case.
Open the official source →Wisconsin circuit-court directory
Find circuit-court contact information for the county connected to the estate file.
Open the official source →Dodge County Courts
County court information for Dodge County estate and court questions.
Open the official source →Dodge County Register of Deeds
Recorded deed and land-document records for property in Dodge County.
Open the official source →Dodge County Land Information
County land and parcel information for matching a property to its records.
Open the official source →Jefferson County Register of Deeds
Recorded deed and land-document records for property in Jefferson County.
Open the official source →Jefferson County Land Records Online
County land-record information for matching a property to its records.
Open the official source →For company trust information, see the Watertown trust and reviews page.
Questions and contact
Inherited-property questions
Can I sell an inherited Wisconsin house before probate is finished?
Usually, yes. A personal representative with issued, unrevoked letters can generally sell estate property without a separate court order. The will still matters: restrictions on a sale must be followed, and a beneficiary specifically left the house generally must join in the sale. A court-order exception may apply when the estate cannot otherwise pay its required expenses and claims. Have the deed, will, appointment papers, and any court orders checked before setting a closing date.
Who can sign for an inherited house?
A personal representative with issued, unrevoked letters can generally sign for an estate sale, subject to the will, any court orders, and the property documents. A beneficiary specifically left the house generally must join in the sale. The title company or a qualified attorney can confirm who has authority to sign for this estate.
Do I have to put the house in my own name before selling it?
You can sell in the estate's name once the estate is opened — no need to put the house in your own name first. If you need an estate attorney, we can help you find one. The title company or a qualified attorney can confirm the right signer and deed for the estate.
Can a Wisconsin transfer-on-death designation avoid probate?
A valid transfer-on-death designation may pass the house outside probate. The deed and designation need to be checked for the specific property.
Do I need to clean out or repair an inherited house before selling to you?
No. Sell an inherited house without cleanout, repairs, or hauling away a lifetime of belongings — we take it as it is. We buy houses as-is, in any condition — no repairs, no cleaning, no cleanout required to sell to us. You can take the belongings you want to keep.
Who pays Wisconsin’s real estate transfer fee?
On a sale that is not exempt, Wisconsin charges a real estate transfer fee of 30 cents for every $100 of sale price, or part of $100. The fee is collected when the deed is recorded. Some transfers are exempt, and recording and other closing charges are separate. When you sell to us, we pay the Wisconsin real estate transfer fee.
Can I sign if I live outside Wisconsin?
Sell from anywhere in the country — we can send a notary to you, and you don't have to attend settlement or even visit the property. The estate's signing authority and closing documents still need to be confirmed for the property.
Related Watertown guidance
Ask for a written cash offer
Call 888-274-5006 or send the Watertown-area property address. We can talk through the house and the estate papers you have.
We give written cash offers in 24 hours.
Share the address and the estate details you have.
We'll give you a written cash offer within 24 hours.