Frank Farey - Preparing an Inherited Property for Sale

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In 2018, Frank faced a daunting challenge after his father passed away at his longtime home in Bend. With nearly five acres of land and a house full of belongings, there was a lot to handle, especially from Frank’s home base in Southern California. That’s where I stepped in to help.

We started by clearing the property, removing old brush and debris, trimming trees, and refreshing the landscaping to enhance its appeal, all common tasks in the process of preparing an inherited property for sale. Inside, we gave the home a deep clean, assuming it would likely attract a rehabber or builder due to its condition. However, by making it clean and livable, we drew interest from buyers who saw its potential as a home they could update over time. This approach ultimately led to a higher sale price than originally expected.

In addition to the home, Frank’s father owned a beautiful motor coach that needed a few repairs before Frank could drive it back to SoCal. We took care of those, ensuring he could hit the road without a hitch.

Working with Frank was a great experience, and we’ve stayed in touch ever since. Helping families navigate transitions like these with care and expertise is what I do best.

"Hello, my name is Frank, and I want to share how much Jared Schuh helped me during one of the most difficult times of my life.

I live in a small beach town in Southern California but work out of state in New Mexico. One day, while I was at work, I received a devastating phone call from the sheriffs in Bend, Oregon—my father had been in a car accident and passed away. I was in shock and had to get to Bend as quickly as possible, knowing there was only so much time to claim my father.

It was the dead of winter, so I first had to get home to California to pack warm clothes before heading to Oregon. I flew into Portland, thinking I could catch a shuttle flight to Bend, but due to heavy snow, there were no flights. I ended up renting an SUV and hiring a driver to get me over Mount Hood. It took me two days to finally arrive in Bend, and the entire process was overwhelming.

Once I got to my dad’s house, my niece and I, as executors of the estate, quickly realized we had a massive challenge ahead of us. My father had already hired an estate lawyer, which came with its own complications, and to make things even harder, my dad was somewhat of a hoarder—not the kind you see on TV, but he had stockpiled an incredible amount of canned food. We were lost, unsure of what to do next.

This is where Jared comes in. He had reached out to me by phone, introducing himself, but in the midst of my grief and shock, I initially didn’t pay much attention. As reality set in, my niece and I first considered keeping the house, but we soon realized it would be too much to handle. When we decided to sell, we met with a few realtors—but to me, they felt cold and indifferent. Then I remembered Jared’s call.

When Jared came over, it didn’t take long for me to realize he was the right person for the job. I trusted him immediately, but since my niece was also an executor, I had to convince her as well—which I did. Looking back, choosing Jared was one of the best decisions I’ve made in my 67 years of life.

Selling the house wasn’t easy. We had to clear out years of accumulated belongings, including all the food my father had stored. My niece eventually had to return home, leaving me to handle the overwhelming task alone. On top of that, the house had a reverse mortgage that needed to be dealt with. Jared helped me every step of the way. From coordinating the cleanup—which took two full 40-yard dumpsters—to handling the mortgage logistics, he was there for everything.

Beyond the house, my father had left me an RV. When I was preparing it to drive home, a check valve broke and flooded the RV. Without hesitation, Jared drove me all the way from Bend to Portland to get the part I needed. He didn’t just treat me like a client—he cared about getting me through this incredibly difficult time.

I will forever be grateful to Jared Schuh for everything he did for me. Not only did I find the best realtor I’ve ever worked with, but I also gained a lifelong friend. P.S. I could keep going on about Jared—he is truly one of a kind."

-Regards, Frank