When someone you care about passes away in Preston, their house becomes yours to handle.
But nobody teaches you how to deal with inherited property. The legal steps seem impossible to understand.
We’ve helped many Preston families through this exact situation. The paperwork takes forever. The house sits empty while bills keep arriving. Family members all want different things.
It’s too much when you’re already hurting.
That’s why we have kind specialists at Property Buyers Today. They turn complicated rules into easy steps you can follow.
This guide explains how to sell inherited Preston houses quickly and simply. You’ll understand what’s needed, avoid expensive mistakes, and complete everything without stress.
We’re here to guide you through this difficult journey.
- Three Top Ways to Sell Your Inherited Preston House
- How Property Buyers Today Works
- Preston's House Market for Inherited Houses Right Now
- How Long Does Normal Selling Take?
- Why Preston Families Sell Inherited Houses
- Why Choose Us for Inherited Houses
- How We Make Preston House Sales Simple
- Preston Family Success Stories
- All Preston Areas We Help With Inherited Houses
- Selling Probate Property in Preston – Key Information
Three Top Ways to Sell Your Inherited Preston House
Estate Agents
The traditional route requires patience and investment:
- Average sale time: 6-9 months
- 1 in 3 transactions falls through
- Success depends on local market conditions & buyers can pull out
- You’ll face several costs:
- Commission fees (up to 3%)
- Conveyancing fees (up to £3,000)
- Potential home staging expenses
- Certificate renewal if needed (i.e. EPC certificate)
Property Buyers Today
When speed is your priority:
- Completion in as little as 7 days
- No chain complications
- Clear benefits:
- No estate agent fees
- Legal fees covered
- No viewings or negotiations
- Guaranteed completion date
- Trade-off: Expect up to 85% of market value (note- this can be similar to other options after fees and mortgage payments)
Good cash property buying firms (like Property Buyers Today) have funds available and make it hands off for you.
Property Auction
Going under the hammer offers fast, certain sales:
- Timeline: 3-4 months
- Exchange happens immediately when hammer falls
- Key considerations:
- Risk of selling for lower than you may think
- Allow 4-8 weeks until auction day
- Allow 28 days to complete purchase
- Entry fees apply (up to £1,000)
- Auction house commission (up to 6%)
- More specialised knowledge required
These 3 ways split into 6 different paths. Find which one suits you best in the table below…
Sale Method | Timeframe | Price Range | Fees | Hands-on Level | Additional Notes |
Cash House Buyers | 7-28 days | 75-85% | None + legal fees covered | Minimal | Quickest most certain sale route |
Traditional Auctions | 3-4 months | 75-90% | 2-3% + entry fee + legal fees | Medium | Exchange on auction day, in a physical auction house |
Modern Method of Auction | 3-5 months | 75-90% | 2-3% + entry fee + legal fees | Medium | Online bidding, more flexible completion |
Online Estate Agents | 4-7 months | 85-100% | Fixed fee i.e. £500-£1000 + legal fees | Very High | Self-manage viewings & marketing |
Traditional Estate Agents | 6-9 months | 90-100% | 1-3% + VAT + legal fees | High | Regular viewings, negotiations |
Assisted Sale (with or without cash advance) | ~12 months | 100% + | Mortgage payments deducted + renovation costs | Low | Can have partial upfront payment, buyer handles all refurb costs |
How Property Buyers Today Works
1. Fill in a form
Fill in your details on any form on this page to get started.
2. Receive cash offer
Within 24 hours, you will receive a cash offer on your property.
3. Agree sale
Once the sale is agreed, we’ll take care of the rest, including all fees.
- Call our team or complete our online form
- We’ll gather key information about your London property
- Our specialists analyse recent sales data in your specific London borough
- We calculate a preliminary valuation based on location, property type, and condition
This entire process is designed to be efficient and non-intrusive, typically completed within 24 hours.
- We present you with a clear, no-obligation cash offer
- We walk you through how we calculated the offer amount
- Take time to consider our offer with no sales tactics
- Receive the full offer details in writing
- Discuss special requirements or circumstances
- We appoint experienced property solicitors
- Property Buyers Today covers your legal costs
- We handle all required paperwork
- Our team manages searches and title checks
- Regular reports on the legal process
- Swift handling of any legal questions
- All documentation prepared for your chosen completion date
- Choose when you want to complete (as quick as 7 days)
- We handle all final legal verifications
- The full agreed amount is transferred to your account on completion day
- Receive payment confirmation within hours
- Simple and straightforward property transfer
- Stay in the property for agreed periods if needed
Preston’s House Market for Inherited Houses Right Now
When selling inherited property in Preston, families find a steady market with solid chances:
- Steady Price Growth: House prices went up 7.4% this year – good news for families dealing with probate property sales in Preston
- Affordable Houses: Preston houses cost £167k. That’s £210,182 less than other English houses according to Rightmove – this means manageable tax bills
- University Town Benefits: Having lots of students and train links to London makes Preston houses popular
- Normal Sales Time: Preston houses need fourteen weeks to sell through normal house sellers
- Growing Market: House sales went up by 456 more than last year
How Long Does Normal Selling Take?
Selling a house you’ve inherited in Preston the usual way takes quite a long time:
House Sale Time: Around fourteen weeks just to sell the house
Extra Waiting:
- Getting probate done: 3-6 months
- Bank loans: usually fifty-one days
- Solicitor work: 8 to 12 weeks
- Other sales breaking: This often makes everything take extra months
Why Preston Families Sell Inherited Houses
Preston families get houses from family and need to sell them for lots of reasons:
- Old county town houses cost too much to heat and fix (near the city centre or university areas) – gas bills, electric bills, and fixing costs add up quickly
- Several family members got the house together – everyone needs their fair share of money – a simple guide to selling inherited houses
- Tax bills from the government – even Preston’s fair house prices can make tax bills that need paying quickly
- Houses needing big work – old people often leave county houses needing new heating, roofs, or major fixes that families can’t afford
- Family moved away – some went to London, Manchester, or other cities, so sharing a house doesn’t work
- Already own houses somewhere else – don’t need a Preston house, but do need the money
- Flat problems – not enough years left for normal buyers – help with hard-to-sell houses
- Rental houses with problem tenants – people who won’t pay rent or move out – read more on selling houses with tenants inside
- Old county buildings – old shops, offices, or government buildings that families don’t want to run
- Big house problems – sinking, damp, bad plants, or damage in older Preston areas
- Need money right now for funeral costs and other family expenses
- Houses in parts of Preston that they don’t know – inherited houses in areas families aren’t familiar with
- Storm or flood damage from bad weather – selling damaged houses
- Money still owed on houses – the person who died still had house loans to pay – stopping house loss
- Family fights stopping sales – family members arguing about how to sell – fixing broken sales
Why Choose Us for Inherited Houses
Saif Derzi started our company. We have bought and sold over 1,000 houses, including many inherited homes in towns like Preston. We are members of the National Association of Property Buyers and The Property Ombudsman.
We work by being honest and fair with every person.
We are a team of house experts, not a big company that doesn’t care. Our experts focus on inherited house sales in Preston and work hard to make your sale smooth.
Speed
Most house sales take months, but we can buy your property in as little as 7 days.
This quick process is perfect if you need to move soon or want to avoid being stuck in a long chain of buyers and sellers. We have the cash on hand so don’t need to wait for mortgages or a chain to collapse.
Guaranteed Sale
Did you know 1 in 3 sales fall through on the open market?
We know how frustrating it is to get 6 months into a process and have a buyer pull out.
When we give you the final price for your house, that’s the amount you’ll get. Guaranteed!
No Costs
You won’t face any costs with us.
We handle all the expenses involved in buying your property, including legal fees and surveys. You get cash in your bank when the sale is complete, and there are no surprise estate agent commissions to worry about.
No Stress Or Hassle
Our team supports you through the whole selling process.
We keep you updated about what’s happening and answer any questions quickly. You’ll always understand what’s going on with your sale and what happens next.
Free Property Valuation
Our property experts will value your house at no cost to you.
They look carefully at your property and check local market prices to give you an accurate figure. This professional service comes with no obligations.
No Viewings Required
Forget about cleaning and tidying for viewings.
We don’t need multiple visits or open houses to make our offer. This means no strangers walking through your home, and no disruption to your daily life.
All Properties Welcome
Whether your house needs work or is in perfect condition, we’ll buy it.
We have experience with all types of properties and conditions. This means you can sell your house to us no matter what state it’s in.
Professional Legal Service
Our expert team manages all the legal requirements for you.
We work with experienced property lawyers who make sure everything runs smoothly, and put your property at the top of their list. This gives you peace of mind that your sale is being handled properly from start to finish.
How We Make Preston House Sales Simple
Other companies make selling inherited houses in Preston too complicated. This made us want to make it simpler.
- Start Before Probate Finishes: Most buyers want all paperwork done first (six months waiting). We start straight away.
- Help Family Members: Estate agents give up when family members live in different places. We help everyone using video calls.
- Look After Empty Houses: Other buyers leave you paying bills for empty houses. We look after houses from the first day.
- Buy Anywhere in Preston: From city centre houses to Fulwood family homes – we finish buying in one week, anywhere.
- Take Houses As They Are: Normal buyers want expensive fixes done first. We buy old country houses exactly as you got them.
- Deal With Tenants: Most buyers avoid houses with tenants. We buy houses with people still living there.
- Use Our Own Money: Banks won’t lend money for houses with problems? We use our own cash.
- Meet Tax Deadlines: Tax due soon? We finish probate house sales in Preston in seven days.
- No Chain Problems: Estate agents create chains that break. We are cash buyers with no chains.
- Quick Decisions: Other companies need lots of meetings. One phone call gives you our offer.
Preston Family Success Stories
Inheritance Sale in Ashton-on-Ribble
Background: Emma inherited her grandmother’s 3-bedroom Victorian terraced house in Ashton. Living in Edinburgh made it hard to manage the property, especially since it needed significant updating and had original features requiring specialist maintenance.
Challenges:
- Empty house getting worse over time
- Growing council tax and utility bills
- Worries about security for an empty home
- Estate agent couldn’t find a buyer after 6 months
- Property needed new heating system and roof repairs
- Original Victorian features needed careful restoration
Our Solution:
- From first call to completion in just 12 days
- Bought the house as-is with all its period property maintenance needs
- Handled all the cleanout requirements
- Managed switching utilities remotely
- Took care of all legal arrangements
Emma’s Experience: “After months of stress about my grandmother’s beautiful but tired Victorian house, Property Buyers Today was exactly what I needed. Their offer was fair considering all the period property work needed, and completing in under two weeks meant I could finally focus on my life in Scotland. They really understood the challenges with these older Preston houses.”
Student Property Chain Break in Plungington
The Johnson family faced disaster when selling their house. They had already committed to buying their dream retirement home in the Lake District, but their Plungington student rental property buyer suddenly withdrew.
Challenges:
- They needed to complete their new house purchase urgently
- They risked losing their £55,000 deposit
- Finding a new buyer could take 4-5 months according to their estate agent
- The student property had complex rental income documentation
- The property needed work after years of student tenants
Our Solution:
- Making an offer within 24 hours of their call for a rapid home selling solution
- Coordinating completion to match their new purchase date
- Working directly with both sets of solicitors
- Understanding the student rental business complications
- Providing flexible arrangements for their retirement timeline
The Johnson family said: “When our buyer pulled out on our student rental property, we thought our Lake District retirement was over. Property Buyers Today literally saved our plans with their fast property sale service. Yes, we received less than the original offer, but when we calculated the costs of delays and potentially losing our retirement home, it made perfect sense. They understood the student rental market complications.”
Difficult Flood Risk Property in Fishwick
Background: Robert owned a Victorian terraced house in Fishwick near the River Ribble with flood damage history that made it extremely difficult to sell through traditional channels.
Challenges:
- Two estate agents refused to market due to flood risk concerns
- Previous flood damage had affected foundations
- Insurance companies were reluctant to provide cover
- No mortgage lender would approve loans without expensive flood defenses
- The property had been on market for 10 months
Our Solution:
- Purchasing the property despite its flood risk history
- Understanding all the flood damage and insurance complications
- Completing the sale in just 8 days
- Managing all complex environmental documentation
- No requirement for expensive flood defense work
Robert said: “I thought I’d never sell my house because of the flood problems near the river. Property Buyers Today’s speedy house sale service offered a fair price considering the flood risk and handled everything so professionally. They understood these riverside Preston properties and the challenges that come with living near the Ribble.”
All Preston Areas We Help With Inherited Houses
We buy inherited houses everywhere in Preston. When selling a probate property in Preston, we know the special problems families have in each part of the city:
Central Preston
City centre, Avenham, Fishwick, Ribbleton
Problems families have: Old government buildings that cost lots to fix, student area problems affecting house values, families moved away from Preston
How we help: Experts with central Preston houses, understand student area effects, work with families living elsewhere
North Preston
Fulwood, Sharoe Green, Grimsargh, Longridge
Problems families have: Big family houses are too expensive for the remaining family, expensive areas but houses still need work, higher tax worries
How we help: Quick purchases of family houses, understand expensive Preston areas, help with tax timing when selling inherited property in Preston
South Preston
Penwortham, Walton-le-Dale, Bamber Bridge, Lostock Hall
Problems families have: Commuter area houses with transport costs, mixed house types, families wanting the city centre, not the suburbs
How we help: Experienced with commuter areas, understand different house types, buy all houses quickly
Preston Villages
Goosnargh, Broughton, Woodplumpton, Barton
Problems families have: Village houses are costly to heat, countryside houses need lots of care, families want town living, not village life
How we help: Specialists in village houses, understand countryside costs, help families selling houses they’ve inherited in Preston, regardless of location preference
Selling Probate Property in Preston – Key Information
We check what similar houses have sold for recently in your area. We look at your house condition and know about Preston issues like Victorian terrace problems or foundation troubles. Then we give you a fair cash offer.
We work with complex legal cases all the time. No will, family arguments, missing documents – our legal team can find experienced solicitors in Preston who sort these problems out quickly.
Yes, we buy houses with all sorts of building problems. Victorian terrace troubles, foundation damage, or houses that need complete fixing – we handle them all exactly as they are.
All areas – Fulwood, Ashton, Ribbleton, Penwortham, everywhere. We know each area’s challenges, like Victorian housing issues or old foundation problems that are common around the city centre.
We pay 75-85% of your house value. So if your Penwortham terrace costs £180,000, you get around £135,000-£153,000 cash. Less than full price, but no estate agent bills and much faster.
Often, we can help. Things like council tax debts, unpaid gas bills, or care home costs usually get paid from the house sale money. Our legal team handles these money problems regularly.
We buy houses owned by several family members regularly. Everyone who inherits must agree to sell. Then we divide the money fairly between all family members. We’ve helped lots of Preston families.
You can begin while probate is still going on. We visit your house, agree on a price, and prepare all papers. Then we complete the sale when probate finishes. This saves you 2-3 months.
Take what you want and leave everything else. We clear out all the old furniture, clothes, and personal items for free. Really helpful when you live far from Preston or feel overwhelmed.
We can complete in 2-4 weeks once legal work ends. For urgent cases – like care home fees or family disputes – we can finish in 7 days. Much faster than normal house sales.
You still need the official valuation for legal reasons. But selling to us means you avoid estate agent fees and months of worry while paying empty house costs and security issues.
Usually no tax if you sell soon after someone passes away. But if you wait years before selling, you might pay capital gains tax. Our legal team can explain your exact case.
Everyone who inherits must agree before we can buy. But many families choose to sell because keeping empty houses costs loads – council tax, insurance, and security bills pile up fast.
That’s completely fine. Empty houses often get problems like break-ins, damp, or huge bills building up. We know how to handle these issues and factor them into our offer.