How Do You Sell a Parent's House in Indiana When You Live Out of State?

You can usually sell it without moving back for weeks. Start with three questions: who has the authority to sign, who will look after the house while it's for sale, and how you'll sign at closing. Some title companies offer online signing, so you may not have to fly in for closing day.

Lesa Miller is a REALTOR® and broker in Bloomington, Indiana, who helps buyers and sellers in Bloomington, Bedford, Martinsville and the surrounding towns. Here's how a sale from a distance usually comes together.

Who has the authority to sell?

It depends on your parent's situation.

• If your parent is living but can't handle the sale, they may be able to sign for themselves from where they are, or someone may sign for them under a power of attorney. Ask an attorney whether the power of attorney covers a real estate sale, and send a copy to the title company early so it can review it.

• If your parent has passed away and the estate is open in probate, the personal representative is usually the one who can act for the estate. If there's no probate, the heirs typically decide together. What Happens to a House When Someone Dies in Indiana? walks through how that works here.

If you're not sure who can sign, ask the estate attorney before you list. Selling an Inherited Home in Bloomington, Indiana: What to Expect covers the rest of the process.

Who will look after the house?

An empty house needs someone checking on it: the heat on in winter, the mail picked up, the yard kept up. How Do You Winterize a Vacant Inherited House in Indiana? has a checklist. If the house is still full of belongings, Do You Have to Clean Out a Parent's House Before You Sell It? goes through your options.

From a distance, I can be your eyes on the ground: I can walk through the house with you on a video call, let in contractors, and handle the showings.

How is it priced?

We price it based on the data available to us, ideally just below what the market will truly pay, and watch how buyers respond. You'll also decide whether to sell the house as it is or fix things first.

Do you have to come back for closing?

Not always. Ask the title company how it handles a seller who can't be there. Some title companies offer online signing, where a closer notarizes the closing documents over video and the signer can be anywhere in the U.S. If you'll sign paper documents in front of a notary where you live, leave time to send them back before closing. What Happens at a Real Estate Closing in Bloomington, Indiana explains closing day.

Three questions to answer first

1. Who has the authority to sign? While your parent is living: your parent, or someone acting under their power of attorney. After a death: the personal representative or the heirs.

2. Who will look after the house while it's for sale?

3. How will you sign at closing? Ask the title company early.

Frequently asked questions

Can I sell my parent's house in Indiana without being there?

Often, yes. You'll need the legal authority to sign, someone local to look after the house, and a plan for signing at closing.

Who signs if my parent has passed away?

If the estate is open in probate, usually the personal representative. If there's no probate, the heirs typically decide together. Ask the estate attorney.

Do I have to fly in for closing?

Not always. Some title companies offer online signing from anywhere in the U.S. Ask the title company what it offers.

Can a power of attorney be used to sell a parent's house?

Only while your parent is living. A power of attorney ends when the person who signed it passes away; after that, the personal representative or the heirs handle the sale. If your parent is living, ask an attorney whether the document covers a real estate sale, and get a copy to the title company early.

Selling a parent's house from out of state? Call or text (812) 360-3863, or visit LesaMillerRealEstate.com/Links.

This post is general information, not legal advice. Talk to an attorney about your situation.