Inheriting a house is rarely simple. Along with the loss, you’re suddenly responsible for a property that may be out of town, full of a lifetime of belongings, behind on maintenance, or shared among several family members who don’t all agree on what to do next. If you’ve inherited a home in the Tri-Cities — Kennewick, Pasco, Richland, or anywhere in Benton or Franklin County — here’s a clear look at how it works and the options in front of you.
Do you have to go through probate in Washington?
In most cases, transferring or selling an inherited home in Washington means going through probate — the court process that confirms the will (or settles the estate if there isn’t one) and gives someone legal authority to act for the estate. Here in the Tri-Cities, that filing happens in Benton County Superior Court (Kennewick) or Franklin County Superior Court (Pasco), depending on where your loved one lived. Some property passes outside probate entirely — a transfer-on-death deed, joint ownership with survivorship, or (common for married couples in Washington) a community property agreement. Every situation is different, so the first smart step is a short conversation with a Washington probate attorney to confirm what your estate actually requires. (This guide is general information, not legal advice.)
The practical takeaway: you usually need that legal authority in hand before the house can be sold — but you can line up your plan and your buyer while the paperwork moves.
Your three main options
1. Keep it (or rent it out). If the home is in good shape and you want to hold it, renting can make sense. Just go in clear-eyed about being a long-distance landlord, repair costs, and tenant management — especially if the heirs live out of the area.
2. List it with an agent. A traditional sale can bring top dollar if the home is market-ready. The catch with many inherited homes: they’re dated, need repairs, and are full of belongings. That often means weeks of cleanout, thousands in repairs, agent commissions, and months on the market — all while you’re covering taxes, insurance, and utilities on an empty house.
3. Sell as-is for cash. If you’d rather skip the repairs, the cleanout, and the waiting, selling directly to a local cash buyer lets you move on quickly. A fair as-is offer means no fixing anything, no commissions or fees, and a closing date you choose.
Why “as-is” is often the right fit for an inherited home
Inherited houses are the classic case for an as-is sale. You don’t have to:
- Make repairs — old roof, dated kitchen, deferred maintenance? Sold as-is, that’s the buyer’s problem, not yours.
- Clean it out — take what matters to you and leave the rest; a good local buyer handles the rest.
- Coordinate showings across the family — one offer, one closing, done.
For out-of-area heirs especially, that simplicity is worth a lot. We see it constantly here: a family home held for decades — often a Hanford-era house Mom and Dad bought when they settled in the Tri-Cities — and the kids are now in Seattle, Portland, or out of state, trying to manage an estate from hundreds of miles away. That’s exactly the situation an as-is sale was made for.
Deal with the actual local buyer — not a national lead site
A lot of “we buy houses” websites are national lead brokers: you fill out a form, and your information gets sold to whichever investor pays for it. Integrity House Buyers is different — we’re the local, family-owned buyer that’s served Tri-Cities families since 1992. You talk to us directly, we make the offer, and we close. No middleman, no fees, no pressure. We buy throughout the Tri-Cities, including Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland.
If you’ve inherited a house in the Tri-Cities and want to know what it’s worth as-is, we’re happy to give you a free, no-obligation cash offer — and if selling isn’t the right move for your family, we’ll tell you that too.
Related guides: Selling an elderly parent’s home or downsizing · Selling a hoarder or cluttered house · Facing foreclosure: your options · Selling a house that needs major repairs · How a cash offer is calculated · Selling a rental with tenants in it · Selling a house during a divorce · Selling fast for a job relocation · Selling a house with back property taxes
📞 Get Your Free Cash Offer — (509) 824-6600
Need to sell an inherited or probate property? See how a cash sale in probate works.
Frequently asked questions
Can I sell a house I inherited, even if it’s in probate?
Yes. Inherited homes are one of the most common situations we help with, and a sale can usually proceed through the probate process. We’ll work at your pace.
Do all the heirs have to agree to sell?
Generally the people with legal authority over the estate (the executor or administrator, or the heirs together) need to be on board, so it’s worth confirming who has authority with the estate’s attorney. Once that’s settled, we make it simple.
Do I have to clean it out first?
No. Take the keepsakes and leave the rest – we handle the cleanout, so you don’t have to empty a lifetime of belongings.