If you and your siblings just inherited a house in California, you are already dealing with grief, logistics, and a property worth, in most of greater Los Angeles, somewhere north of a million dollars. The family dynamics around that number can get complicated fast. Some siblings want to sell immediately. One wants to keep it. Another lives three states away and just wants the check. I have seen this play out dozens of times across LA County, the San Gabriel Valley, the South Bay, and the Inland Empire. This guide gives you the mechanics you need and the communication framework to get through it without permanently damaging your relationships.
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The Reality of Multi-Heir Sales: Family Tension Is Normal
I want to say something directly that most real estate guides skip over: disagreement between siblings about an inherited property is completely normal. It does not mean your family is broken or that someone is being unreasonable. It means you are all processing grief in different ways while simultaneously staring at a significant financial decision. Those two things do not mix cleanly.
One sibling may need the money immediately, maybe they are dealing with their own financial pressures. Another sibling grew up in that house and cannot imagine strangers living there. A third is trying to be neutral but is quietly furious that they have to manage the whole thing from out of state. These are real human dynamics, and they show up in nearly every multi-heir sale I work on across Southern California.
The good news is that most multi-heir sales do get resolved without a courtroom. In my experience working with inherited properties from Pasadena to Long Beach to the Inland Empire, the families who get through it cleanest share two traits: they agree early on a structured decision-making process, and they get an objective third party involved before things calcify. That is what this guide is designed to help you do.
Pull the recorded deed at the LA County Recorder's Office (or the relevant county recorder where the property sits). The deed tells you exactly how title is held and who the legal owners are. Everything else in this guide flows from that document. Do not assume you know, verify.
How Title Flows to Multiple Heirs in California
The legal mechanics of your situation depend entirely on how the deceased person held title and whether a trust or will was involved. This is not just technical fine print, it determines who has authority, what vote thresholds apply, and how fast you can move.
Tenants in Common (Most Common for Heirs)
When multiple heirs inherit a property through a will or intestate succession, they typically end up as tenants in common. Each sibling owns a defined percentage share (often equal, but not always) and can sell, transfer, or encumber their own share independently. There is no right of survivorship, if one heir dies, their share passes to their own estate rather than the remaining siblings. This is the most common structure for inherited multi-heir properties in California, and it is also the structure most prone to disagreement because no single owner has control.
Joint Tenancy (Less Common, Usually Pre-Existing)
Joint tenancy requires equal shares, concurrent possession, and a right of survivorship, meaning when one joint tenant dies, their share automatically passes to the surviving joint tenants. Joint tenancy must be explicitly created and is more common in married couples than among siblings. If your parent held the property in joint tenancy with one sibling and then died, that surviving sibling may have inherited the entire property outright without the others. This is worth verifying before any family conversations happen.
Trust Distribution (Cleanest Path)
If the deceased had a living trust, the property passes to the named beneficiaries per the trust terms without probate. The successor trustee (named in the trust document) has legal authority to sell. Depending on how the trust is written, beneficiaries may or may not have a formal vote. Many trusts give the trustee broad discretion to sell at fair market value and distribute proceeds. If you are a beneficiary of a trust and a co-beneficiary is blocking the sale, the trustee has authority to proceed anyway, which is one of the major advantages of trust-based estate planning. For a deeper look, see our guide on what happens to a house in a trust after death in California.
| Title Type | How You Got Here | Voting Requirement | Speed to Market |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tenants in Common | Will or intestate probate | Unanimous to sell voluntarily | Slow (probate + agreement) |
| Joint Tenancy | Pre-existing, explicit creation | All joint tenants must agree | Faster (no probate if survivor) |
| Trust Distribution | Named in a living trust | Trustee authority (varies by trust) | Fastest (no probate needed) |
The Decision Framework: Sell and Split, Buyout, or Hold as Investment
Before the family can agree on anything, everyone needs to understand the three realistic options. I like to put these in writing for families I work with so there is no confusion about what is actually on the table.
Option 3 sounds appealing in theory, passive income and emotional connection to the family home. In practice, I have seen more families torn apart by trying to co-own rental property together than by any other scenario. Who collects rent? Who pays for the new roof? What happens when one sibling needs their equity out in three years? If you go this route, you need an LLC, a written operating agreement, and a defined exit mechanism before anyone moves in a tenant. Do not do this on a handshake.
Voting Rules: Who Actually Has Final Say?
This is where many families waste months in confusion. The answer is not "majority rules", at least not by default in California for tenants in common. Here is how it actually works.
Tenants in Common: Unanimous Required to Sell
In a tenants in common arrangement, all owners must agree to sell the property voluntarily. Three out of four siblings wanting to sell is not enough. The one holdout cannot be forced to sign a purchase agreement. This is where partition action (covered below) comes in, but that is a court process, not a negotiation. The practical implication: if you are tenants in common, every conversation and every decision needs to be made with the goal of getting genuine buy-in from everyone, not just outvoting the dissenter.
Trust Beneficiaries: Trustee Decides
If the property is in a trust, the trustee has legal authority to act per the trust terms. Beneficiaries have rights to information and to challenge breaches of fiduciary duty, but they typically do not get a "vote" on whether to sell. If one beneficiary is also the trustee, that can create perceived conflicts, which is why having a neutral co-trustee or professional trustee matters in contentious families.
Practical Reality: Get Everyone Aligned Before You Start
Even if you have the legal authority to proceed without one heir's signature, doing so unilaterally will poison relationships. The legal path and the human path are different. In 13 years of working through inherited property sales in LA County, I have seen families who "won" the legal battle and lost the family. My strong recommendation: invest the time upfront in getting genuine alignment. It is almost always faster and cheaper than the alternatives.
When One Heir Wants to Keep the House: Buyout Mechanics
This is one of the more emotionally charged scenarios, and one with clear, workable mechanics if everyone agrees on value. The sibling who wants to keep the home needs to buy out the others at fair market value. Here is how that works in practice.
Step 1: Get an Independent Appraisal
Do not let anyone's personal estimate of value drive this conversation. Get a licensed appraisal from a California-licensed appraiser (MAI designation is the gold standard for complex properties). For inherited properties, you will want both a date-of-death appraisal (for tax basis purposes) and a current market appraisal (for the buyout price). If the siblings disagree on value, each side can commission their own appraisal and then agree to average the two, this is a common and workable compromise.
Step 2: Calculate Each Heir's Buyout Amount
Take the agreed fair market value, subtract any outstanding mortgage balance, back taxes, or liens, and divide by the ownership percentages. If the home is worth $1.2M and three siblings own equal thirds, each share is worth $400K. If the buying sibling is financing this, they need to qualify for a loan to cover the other two shares, roughly $800K in this example, on top of any existing mortgage they may be assuming or refinancing.
| Financing Option | How It Works | Best For | Challenge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash Buyout | Buying heir pays cash from savings or liquidated assets | Heirs with significant assets | Requires substantial liquid capital |
| Conventional Refinance | Buying heir refinances existing mortgage + equity | Strong credit, stable income | Must qualify at current rates; equity limits |
| Estate Loan / Probate Loan | Short-term loan secured by the property during estate | Pre-distribution liquidity | Higher rates; lender must approve title |
| Heir Financing | Buying heir makes payments to selling heirs over time | Trust between siblings | Requires formal promissory note and deed of trust |
Document Everything Formally
A buyout between siblings must be documented as a real estate transaction, not a verbal agreement. The buying sibling should go through escrow, title insurance should be obtained, and the deed must be formally transferred. I have seen informal "handshake" buyouts cause catastrophic legal problems years later when one party dies, divorces, or disputes the terms. Treat it like any other real estate sale, because legally, it is one.
Under California Proposition 19 (effective February 2021), if a sibling is inheriting and using the home as their primary residence, they may qualify for a partial property tax exclusion. However, if any portion of ownership is being bought rather than inherited, the purchased portion gets reassessed. Have a tax professional review this before finalizing any buyout structure.
When Heirs Disagree and Can't Reach Agreement: Partition Action
If you have exhausted mediation and good-faith negotiation and one or more heirs are still blocking a sale they have no legal right to prevent, California law provides a remedy: partition action. I want to be direct about this. Partition is the legal tool of last resort. It works, but it costs everyone significantly in money, time, and family relationships. Understanding it clearly is important, not so you will use it, but so you understand what the stakes are if negotiation fails.
Under California Code of Civil Procedure section 872.210 et seq., any co-owner of real property has an absolute right to petition the court for partition. This right cannot be waived by agreement in most cases, it is a fundamental property right in California. The court will divide the property (partition in kind) or, far more commonly for residential property, order the property sold and proceeds divided (partition by sale).
Even the heir who "wins" a partition action loses. Legal fees typically run $20,000 to $50,000+ per side. The process takes 6 to 12 months minimum. Courts may appoint a referee to manage the sale, adding another layer of cost. And properties sold under court order frequently sell below market value because buyers know the sellers are motivated. Mediation is almost always cheaper, faster, and better for everyone.
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The Partition Process: Mediation First, Then Court
Under California's Partition of Real Property Act (which significantly updated the older partition statutes and now governs most residential cases), the court is required to consider whether partition in kind, physically dividing the property, is feasible before ordering a sale. For a single-family home, partition in kind is almost never feasible, so partition by sale is the standard outcome. Here is how the process unfolds.
1. Demand and Prefiling Notice
Before filing, California law now requires that the petitioning co-owner give written notice to all other co-owners and allow a reasonable time for a buyout. Any co-owner has the right to purchase the petitioner's interest at fair market value, avoiding the full partition proceeding. This buyout right is a relatively recent addition to California law (SB 1079 and related reforms) and creates a structured off-ramp that courts strongly encourage parties to use.
2. Filing and Service
The partition petition is filed in the superior court of the county where the property is located. All co-owners must be served. If any co-owner cannot be located, the court can appoint a guardian ad litem for their interest. The filing itself is a matter of public record.
3. Appointment of a Referee
The court often appoints a partition referee, a neutral third party (frequently a real estate professional or attorney) who manages the sale process. The referee's fees come out of the sale proceeds before distribution. Referee fees typically run $150 to $350 per hour and the work can be extensive.
4. Appraisal and Marketing
The referee obtains an appraisal, develops a marketing plan, and lists the property. Co-owners who want to bid on the property can do so. The court must approve the final sale price, which adds time. The entire listing and confirmation process can take 4 to 8 additional months beyond the filing phase.
5. Court Confirmation and Distribution
After a buyer is identified, the sale goes back to court for confirmation. After confirmation, proceeds are distributed per the court's order, which accounts for ownership percentages, any adjustments for improvements or carrying costs paid by individual heirs, and legal fees.
| Factor | Voluntary Sale | Partition by Sale |
|---|---|---|
| Timeline | 3 to 6 months total | 12 to 24 months typical |
| Legal Costs | Standard closing costs only | $20,000 to $50,000+ per side |
| Sale Price Achieved | Full market value possible | Often 5 to 15% below market |
| Family Impact | Manageable if handled well | Often permanently damaging |
| Control | Heirs choose agent, timing, terms | Referee and court control |
If you have had two or more family conversations that ended without agreement, your next call should be to a real estate mediator, not a partition attorney. Mediation typically costs $1,500 to $5,000 total and resolves the majority of multi-heir disputes. A mediator can surface the underlying concerns (often fear of loss, financial stress, or grief) that are masquerading as disagreements about price or timing. The California Association of Realtors and many county bar associations maintain mediator referral lists. Ask your real estate attorney or agent for a referral before filing anything with the court.
How to Price a Multi-Heir Property: Show Everyone the Math
The single most effective thing I do when working with multi-heir families is put the financial picture on paper in a format everyone can see at the same time. Arguments about whether to sell often evaporate when heirs understand what the numbers actually look like. Here is how to approach pricing correctly for a multi-heir situation.
Date-of-Death Appraisal: Your Tax Foundation
For California inherited properties, you need a retroactive appraisal establishing fair market value on the date of death. This becomes your stepped-up cost basis for capital gains purposes. In Southern California, where properties have appreciated significantly over the past decade, this stepped-up basis is often the single largest financial advantage of inheriting rather than receiving the property as a gift. A retroactive appraisal from a certified appraiser (look for the MAI designation) costs roughly $500 to $1,500 and is essential for accurate tax planning. Our guide on selling an inherited house in Los Angeles covers the stepped-up basis in more detail.
Current Market Valuation: What the Property Can Actually Sell For
This is a separate analysis from the date-of-death appraisal. A current comparative market analysis (CMA) looks at recent sold comps, active competition, days on market, and condition adjustments. I do this at no charge for families I work with. The goal is to give every heir the same data so no one is operating on emotion or outdated Zillow estimates. In neighborhoods like Alhambra, Monterey Park, Whittier, or Covina, I can run a same-day CMA that gives you a realistic net proceeds projection for each heir.
| Item | Example ($1.2M Sale) | Who Controls This |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Sale Price | $1,200,000 | Market + negotiation |
| Agent Commission | ($30,000 to $60,000) | Listing agreement |
| Closing Costs (escrow, title, transfer tax) | ($15,000 to $25,000) | Largely fixed |
| Outstanding Mortgage | ($0 to $400,000+) | Estate obligation |
| Deferred Maintenance/Repairs | ($0 to $50,000) | Heir decision |
| Net Proceeds to Distribute | ~$1,100,000 | Split per ownership % |
| Each Heir's Share (3 equal heirs) | ~$366,000 | Per deed/trust |
Showing this table to every heir in the same conversation, before anyone has taken a position, changes the dynamic entirely. People stop arguing about "the principle of the thing" when they can see their actual check amount and compare it to what they would net if the property sat vacant for two more years while they fought.
Handling Improvements One Heir Made to the Property
This comes up in nearly every multi-heir situation where one sibling lived in or managed the property. They paid for a new roof. They replaced the HVAC. They painted the whole interior and put in new flooring. Now that the property is selling, they want credit for those improvements. This is both legally and emotionally loaded.
The Legal Framework: Right of Reimbursement
California law recognizes that a co-owner who pays for necessary improvements to commonly owned property has a right to reimbursement from co-owners before proceeds are divided, but only for improvements that were truly necessary (preserving value or functionality) versus elective (personal taste). Documenting this requires receipts, contractor invoices, and sometimes a formal accounting. California's partition statutes (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. SS872.140) allow the court to account for these contributions in a partition proceeding. In a voluntary sale, the same principle applies: it should be negotiated and agreed upon in writing before closing.
The Practical Approach
Get a written accounting of every dollar spent, with receipts. Have the appraiser assess whether those improvements increased the property's market value and by how much. The reimbursable amount is generally the lower of (a) the actual cost paid or (b) the increase in market value attributable to that improvement. If a sibling spent $40,000 on a kitchen remodel that added $55,000 in market value, they are entitled to reimbursement of $40,000. If they spent $40,000 on improvements that added only $20,000 in market value, the court would likely allow reimbursement of $20,000. Keep emotion out of it and let the numbers lead.
If one heir made improvements but also lived in the property rent-free, the other heirs may be entitled to an offset for fair rental value of the portion of the home the occupying heir used. This can dramatically reduce or eliminate the net reimbursement claim. California courts account for this in partition proceedings. Address it proactively in mediation rather than letting it become a surprise at closing.
How Proceeds Get Distributed After a Multi-Heir Sale
Closing day arrives and the escrow company has a check. Here is the order of operations before any heir receives a dollar.
1. Mortgage Payoff
Any outstanding mortgage balance is paid to the lender directly from escrow. This happens before any distribution to heirs.
2. Closing Costs and Agent Commissions
Escrow fees, title insurance, county transfer taxes, and agreed commissions all come out of gross proceeds. In Los Angeles County, transfer tax runs $1.10 per $1,000 of sale price. Escrow and title on a $1.2M sale typically runs $15,000 to $20,000 combined.
3. Improvement Reimbursements and Offsets
Any agreed-upon reimbursements for improvements (or rental offsets, as discussed above) are settled from proceeds before the final split. These should be documented in a side agreement signed by all heirs before closing so there are no disputes at the wire transfer stage.
4. California and Federal Tax Withholding
Escrow will withhold 3.33% of the gross sale price for California non-resident sellers under FIRPTA/CALFIRPTA rules if any heir is a non-California resident. California also requires withholding for the estate if the decedent was not a California resident. Work with your tax professional before closing to ensure the correct withholding amounts and any exemptions you qualify for are applied. Withholding is not your final tax, it is a deposit against what may be owed.
5. Distribution Per Ownership Percentage
The remaining net proceeds are distributed to each heir's ownership share as established by the deed, court order, or trust document. Escrow will wire funds directly to each heir's account or issue checks. Make sure every heir has provided banking instructions or a mailing address to escrow before closing day, delays at this stage are frustrating and unnecessary.
1031 Exchange Options If One Heir Wants to Reinvest
Here is a scenario that comes up occasionally: the sale closes, and one sibling does not want to take their proceeds in cash, they want to roll it into a replacement investment property to defer capital gains taxes via a 1031 exchange. Can an heir do a 1031 exchange on their share of an inherited property sale?
The Short Answer: Sometimes, With Careful Structuring
A 1031 exchange requires that the taxpayer holding the relinquished property be the same taxpayer acquiring the replacement property. For an heir who is a tenant in common, their ownership share is their relinquished property, and they can potentially execute a 1031 exchange on their share of the proceeds if the sale is structured correctly. This requires a qualified intermediary (QI) to be designated before closing, the heir must not touch or control the funds, and the replacement property must be identified within 45 days and closed within 180 days.
The challenge in a multi-heir sale is coordination. The heir who wants to do a 1031 exchange needs to set up their QI before escrow closes. The other heirs may simply take cash. This is workable if the heir planning the exchange communicates their intent to escrow early. If you are considering this, our 1031 exchange guide for Los Angeles covers the full mechanics. For tenancy in common arrangements used specifically to enable 1031 exchanges across multiple investors, see our coverage of TIC structures and 1031 exchanges in California.
Inherited property receives a stepped-up cost basis to the date-of-death fair market value. If the property has not appreciated significantly since the date of death, a 1031 exchange may not be necessary to avoid large capital gains. Run the numbers with a CPA before assuming you need a 1031 exchange on inherited property, the stepped-up basis often already eliminates most of the gain.
Communication Strategies: Keep It Professional and Documented
This is where I spend a significant amount of time with multi-heir families, and it is where I have seen the biggest difference between families who get through this intact and families who do not speak to each other for years afterward. The mechanics of the sale are solvable. The human dynamics are where things break.
Establish One Communication Channel
Designate one point of contact between the family and all vendors: the real estate agent, the attorney, and the escrow officer. Ideally, this is a sibling who has time and capacity and who everyone trusts to communicate neutrally. All significant updates should go out in writing to all heirs simultaneously, not through a telephone chain where information gets filtered or distorted.
Document Every Decision in Writing
When heirs agree on a listing price, get it in an email thread with everyone on it. When you agree on which offers to counter, document that conversation. When you negotiate the final price, circulate the net sheet before anyone signs. This is not about distrust, it is about making sure no one later says "I didn't know" or "That wasn't what I agreed to." Written documentation protects everyone, including the sibling who would never misrepresent anything.
Hire an Advocate Who Is Not a Sibling
The most effective thing a multi-heir family can do is hire a real estate agent who understands inherited property dynamics and can serve as a neutral voice that everyone trusts. When I work with these families, my job is not to advocate for any individual sibling, it is to represent the property's interest and help all the owners get to the same destination. That neutral, professional presence often allows siblings to stop arguing with each other and start responding to a third party who is not emotionally invested in the outcome.
If your family has had two or more conversations about the property that ended in conflict, schedule a mediation session before anyone calls a partition attorney. Real estate mediators typically charge $200 to $400 per hour with sessions running 2 to 4 hours. Total cost: $800 to $1,600. That is a fraction of the $20,000 to $50,000 minimum cost of partition litigation. The California Department of Consumer Affairs maintains a list of certified mediators. Many estate attorneys can also refer you to specialists in real property co-ownership disputes. The mediator's job is not to decide who is right, it is to help each heir articulate what they actually need (not just what they are demanding) and find a structure that meets those needs.
Red Flag Situations That Require Immediate Professional Attention
Most multi-heir situations are resolvable with patience and good-faith communication. But some situations have characteristics that require you to move faster and get professional help sooner. Here are the patterns I watch for.
The Heir in Denial
This heir will not engage with any communication, refuses to discuss the property, or keeps saying "I just need more time" indefinitely. Time costs all heirs money, in carrying costs, deferred maintenance, and opportunity cost. If a co-owner has not responded to written communication in 30 days, consult an estate attorney about your options. Courts do not look favorably on heirs who simply refuse to participate.
The Heir Hiding Information
Occasionally, one heir who lives locally has been managing the property and has access to financial information the others do not. Are they collecting rent and not sharing it? Did they refinance against the property? Are there liens the others do not know about? If you cannot get straight answers about the property's financial status from a co-heir, hire an estate attorney or accountant to pull all public records and do an independent accounting. Every co-owner has a legal right to inspect financial records related to commonly owned property.
The Heir Using the Property Without Paying
If one heir has been living in the property without paying fair market rent to the other co-owners, those co-owners may be entitled to reimbursement for fair rental value going back to the date of death (or date of inheritance). California law recognizes this as a legitimate claim in partition proceedings. Address it directly in mediation rather than letting resentment build silently, the longer it goes unaddressed, the larger the dollar figure becomes.
Signs of Financial Elder Abuse or Undue Influence
If you believe the will or trust was altered in a sibling's favor through undue influence over the deceased, or if assets appear to have been transferred before death in suspicious circumstances, stop. This is a probate litigation matter. Contact a probate attorney who specializes in contested wills and trust disputes. Do not attempt to handle this through real estate mediation.
Quick Reference: Multi-Heir Sale Decision Map
Frequently Asked Questions
Can one sibling force the others to sell an inherited house in California?
Not directly. If you are tenants in common, any co-owner can file a partition action under Cal. Code Civ. Proc. SS872.210, which can result in a court-ordered sale. However, the process takes 6 to 24 months and costs $20,000 to $50,000+ in legal fees per side. Before filing, California law now requires a prefiling notice and opportunity for other co-owners to buy out the petitioning heir's interest. Partition is the legal tool of last resort, not the first move.
What happens if one heir refuses to sign the listing agreement or purchase contract?
For tenants in common, you cannot sell without all owners' signatures on a purchase contract. If one heir refuses to sign, your options are mediation, negotiating a buyout of that heir's interest, or filing a partition action. If the property is in a trust, the trustee has the authority to sign without beneficiary consent per the trust terms. This is one of the most important questions to resolve before spending money on listing preparation or marketing.
How long does a multi-heir home sale take in California compared to a standard sale?
A standard California home sale closes in 30 to 45 days from accepted offer. A multi-heir sale where all parties are aligned adds 4 to 8 weeks for coordination, legal review, and heir approvals. A sale involving a probate estate adds 8 to 18 months for the court process before you can even list. A contested sale requiring partition can add 12 to 24 months beyond that. Getting alignment early is the single biggest time-saving move available to you.
Do we need to go through probate if the property was in a living trust?
No. If the property was properly titled into a living trust before the owner's death, it passes to the named beneficiaries without probate. The successor trustee named in the trust document has authority to sell. You will still need a death certificate, a trust certification, and possibly a trustee's deed, but there is no court involvement. This is why living trusts are so valuable in California, they skip the 8 to 18 month probate timeline entirely.
What do we do if one sibling has been living in the property for free since our parent died?
The other co-owners may be entitled to a proportionate share of the property's fair rental value for the period of exclusive occupancy. This is called an "owelty" or offset claim in partition proceedings. In practice, this is negotiated in mediation or settlement: the occupying sibling often agrees to reduce their share of net proceeds by an amount representing the notional rent they would have paid. Document all dates of occupancy and get a fair market rent estimate from a property manager or appraiser covering the relevant period.
Can different heirs do different things with their share of the proceeds?
Yes, absolutely. Once the property sells and net proceeds are distributed, each heir can do whatever they want with their individual share. One sibling can take the cash. Another can deposit into a retirement account. A third can complete a 1031 exchange into a replacement investment property (with a qualified intermediary set up before closing). The key is that the heir doing a 1031 exchange must structure it before the sale closes, after proceeds are distributed it is too late. Tax strategies are individual decisions; they do not require group agreement.
Who pays property taxes, insurance, and maintenance costs on the inherited property before it sells?
All co-owners are proportionally responsible for carrying costs. If one heir is paying all the bills, they are entitled to reimbursement from co-owners for their proportionate share. Keep receipts for everything. In practice, families often designate one sibling to manage the property and track expenses, with a monthly accounting email to all heirs. These costs come out of the gross proceeds at closing as part of the final settlement accounting. Do not let one sibling absorb all the costs silently, it breeds resentment that poisons the process.
We can't agree on who to hire as our real estate agent. How do we resolve this?
This is more common than you might think. My recommendation: have each sibling nominate their preferred agent, then have every agent do a formal listing presentation to all siblings at the same meeting. After the presentations, vote. If there is a tie, have the tied candidates each present their best offer (commission, marketing plan, timeline) and vote again. If you are still deadlocked, a mediator can facilitate the agent selection process. What you want to avoid is one sibling unilaterally hiring their friend without a transparent selection process, that undermines trust at every step of the sale that follows.
Justin Borges
Team Lead, The Borges Real Estate TeamDRE #01940318
With over 13 years in Southern California real estate, Justin specializes in probate sales, trust properties, and character homes. His expertise in 1031 exchanges and historic preservation has helped hundreds of clients navigate complex real estate transactions.