If you just inherited a Denver home and have no idea what to do with it, here's the honest truth about where to start

Something I hear a lot from families right now: 'We inherited the house, but nobody agrees on what to do with it, and we don't even know what it's worth.' That's not a real estate problem yet. That's a family decision that needs to happen before any real estate conversation can be useful. Let me explain what I mean — because in the current Denver market, the timing of your choices matters more than most people realize. Denver (Southmoor Park, Cherry Hills, Centennial) (serving: Southmoor Park, Cherry Hills, Centennial, Greenwood Village, Denver Tech Center) is in an interesting position right now. Inventory has been climbing. Days on market have stretched compared to the peak years. Buyers have more choices, which means sellers — especially those listing estate properties — are competing against freshened-up homes with new kitchens and staged interiors. An inherited home that hasn't been touched in fifteen years is going to land in that market as a fixer, and the price will reflect it. That's not a problem, but it's something every family needs to understand before they decide anything. Here's the position I'll defend clearly: the biggest financial mistakes I see families make with inherited properties are not made at the closing table. They're made in the first 60 days — when people are still in shock, still grieving, and someone in the group says 'let's just get it on the market fast and split everything.' Fast is not always the right plan. Rushing a listing on a Centennial ranch or a Cherry Hills property before you've had a title review, before you've checked for liens, before you've talked to a probate attorney, and before you understand whether the estate even has legal authority to sell — that can cost a family tens of thousands of dollars and months of delays they didn't expect. The steady, practical approach almost always produces a better result. Here's what the first 30 days should actually look like for most families: First, find out what kind of estate you're dealing with. Was there a trust? A will? Did the home go through probate or does it transfer automatically? This single question determines who has legal authority to make decisions about the property, and it's not something you can skip. Second, get a clear picture of the home's condition and its actual market value — not Zillow, not what the neighbor sold for three years ago. A real assessment from someone who knows the micro-market in Southmoor Park or Greenwood Village, because those neighborhoods have specific buyer pools and specific value drivers that a general estimate won't capture. Third, decide as a family — with a real plan — whether you're selling, renting, or one family member is buying out the others. Each path has a different financial and legal structure, and the choice you make early shapes everything that follows. The quotable truth here is this: an inherited home is not a windfall until the family makes a plan, and the plan has to come before the listing. Right now, in this Denver market, an estate property priced and prepared correctly — with clear title, honest condition disclosure, and realistic expectations — will sell. It may not sell in a weekend at five percent over asking the way things moved in 2021, but it will sell to a buyer who understands the value. Greenwood Village and Cherry Hills still draw buyers who are specifically looking for established properties with land and bones. The Denver Tech Center corridor continues to attract professional buyers who want proximity and value. Centennial and Southmoor Park have steady demand from people who want quiet, well-located neighborhoods with character. The market hasn't disappeared. It's just become more respectful of preparation. If you're the person in your family who's been handed this responsibility — whether you're the executor, the trustee, or just the sibling who's been designated to 'handle it' — I want you to know that you don't have to figure this all out in a week. What you do need is a clear picture of where you stand legally, financially, and practically. Everything else flows from that. If you're currently dealing with an inherited property somewhere in the south Denver metro — Centennial, Cherry Hills, Southmoor Park, Greenwood Village, or the DTC area — I'd be glad to sit down and walk through what the choices actually look like for your specific situation. No pressure, no sales pitch. Just a practical conversation about what the property is, what the market is doing, and what your real options are. Has your family already talked to a probate attorney, or is the property still sitting in a kind of 'we'll figure it out later' holding pattern right now? — Kevin Lundy | The HomeBridge Group at eXp Realty