How We Sold an Inherited Solera Home in Chandler in 11 Days, Without Ever Meeting the Sellers

Oct 9

Mike and Shari Eichman inherited Shari's mother's home in Solera, a 55+ community in Chandler, Arizona (85249). They lived nearby and prepped the house themselves. I priced and listed it through their family trust, and it went under contract in 11 days with a cash buyer at $465,000. We did the entire sale remotely. I never met the sellers in person.

Why were they selling a home in Solera?

Shari's mother had passed away and left her the home. It was held in the Sondheimer Family Trust. Mike and Shari already lived in Chandler, so this was not a relocation. They had a house to sell, and they wanted it handled well.

They also had a clear view of how. They did not want to sell it as-is. They also did not want to pour money into it.

What did they do to get the home ready?

They did the work themselves. They replaced the appliances, moved out belongings, and met a contractor to repaint the inside. That was the list. Appliances and paint, not a remodel.

Living in Chandler made that possible. They could be at the house in the morning and back home by lunch. For a Solera listing, being close and hands-on helped.

How do you list a home you have never seen?

I was out of town when Mike first called. So I sent someone from my team to walk the home for me. They took the photos and video, and I worked from those.

Mike and Shari knew this up front and were fine with it. They did not hire me for a handshake or a house tour. They hired me for pricing, marketing, and negotiating. That is where the money is made or lost on a sale, and none of it needs a face-to-face meeting.

How did it sell so fast?

We listed on July 23 at $469,900. I ran the comps and set the number where the home would sell. Mike is a direct guy who trusted me to tell him what the house was worth and what it would actually sell for. We did not spend weeks debating the price.

We went under contract on August 3, which is 11 days. The buyer paid cash at $465,000, with no concessions.

Did anything go wrong?

Nothing big. This was a quiet close, and that is the point.

After the buyer's inspection, the buyer's side asked for a credit toward repairs. The home was not new, and it was not perfect. The seller gave a credit in place of repairs, written as a price change of $2,500, which brought the final price to $462,500. The trust paperwork was easy. The sale closed on August 28.

What would I tell someone selling an inherited home in a 55+ community?

Based on how this one went:

If you live close, you can handle the prep yourself. Mike and Shari kept it to appliances and paint.

Do not go as-is by default, and do not remodel by default. Ask your agent what buyers in that community will actually pay for. If you want to see the opposite approach, read about another inherited Chandler home that sold without repairs.

Price it where it will sell the first time. Eleven days came from the number, not from luck.

Hire the agent for the work. If they are good at pricing, marketing, and negotiating, where they are standing on day one matters less than you think.

Not sure where to start with a parent's home? Read my executor's guide to selling an inherited home, or see how I help with selling an inherited home in Tempe and Chandler.

Frequently asked questions

Can you sell a home that is held in a family trust?
Yes. In this sale, the Sondheimer Family Trust was the seller, and the paperwork was straightforward. Check with your trust attorney about who has authority to sign before you list. Also ask whether you need to wait for probate, which I cover in this post on probate and selling.

Do I have to meet my listing agent in person?
No. Mike and Shari never met me, and I never visited the home. A member of my team shot the photos and video, and we handled everything else by phone, email, and DocuSign. What matters is that the agent knows the market and the process.

Should I sell an inherited home as-is?
It depends on the home. Mike and Shari chose not to. They replaced appliances and repainted, and the home was under contract in 11 days. I cannot say as-is would have done worse, but I can say this approach worked.

Ben Graham, luxury real estate advisor serving South Tempe and South Chandler. REALTOR since 2011 with more than 500 transactions across Chandler and Tempe.

Ben Graham

You’ve made it. Now you want a home that finally feels like it.

Since 2011, I’ve helped move-up and move-in buyers do exactly that across South Tempe and South Chandler. More land, more quiet, more character, without leaving the city behind. If you’re buying or selling above $1M in 85284 or 85248, you want an advisor who knows the ground, not a salesperson who knows a script.

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Ben is a husband, father, and full-time real estate advisor based in Chandler. Since 2011, across more than 500 transactions, he’s guided buyers and sellers through the Southeast Valley’s best neighborhoods.

His approach is simple: teach the market like a teacher, protect your equity like it’s his own, and tell you the truth even when the truth is “wait.” Clear communication, a proven plan, and your interests first.

Most of Ben’s clients fall into two camps.

The move-up buyer who’s outgrown a great starter home in Chandler or Tempe and is ready for something that feels like an arrival. More space, more privacy, more character, same easy access to four freeways, great schools, and Sky Harbor.

The move-in buyer relocating from out of town who needs someone who actually knows which street holds its value and which one only looks like it does.

He also represents sellers across South Tempe and South Chandler who want their home priced right in week one and marketed like the asset it is.

Faith and family are the center of how Ben lives and works. He’s a follower of Christ, a husband, and a father, raising his kids in Chandler with his wife Sarah. The family is active at CCV, the kids attend Valley Christian, and they support foster care and adoption. One of their sons joined the family that way.

Clients often tell Ben his faith is part of why they trusted him with one of the biggest decisions of their lives. He doesn’t take that lightly.

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