I'm Darren Dowling, Founder of Beyond Realty, an owner-operated boutique brokerage in downtown Sarasota. I help families, personal representatives and trustees sell a loved one's home through probate or an estate, from clearing out the house to closing, even when the family lives out of state. I work across Sarasota, Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, Longboat Key and Siesta Key.
Much of my probate and estate work comes by referral from local probate and estate attorneys. I handle the real estate side and work alongside your attorney, who handles the legal side.
It's for anyone responsible for selling a home that's part of a probate or estate in the Sarasota area:
Some families live nearby. In my most recent estate sale, the family lived just south in Venice. Others live out of state and need me to handle almost everything on the ground.
Usually it's distance, what's left in the house, and getting the family to agree.
Not being local. Most of the stress I see comes from families who live elsewhere. Getting everything out of the house is often their biggest worry.
The home's condition. Some estate homes need renovating and some don't. Some need work to pass a 4-point inspection, which buyers typically need to secure insurance in Florida.
Carrying costs. Every month the home sits, someone is paying property taxes, HOA fees and the other costs of owning it.
Too many decision-makers. It's usually much easier when one or two family members are involved. With three or more relatives responsible, it's naturally harder to get everyone on the same page about price and timing.
I take the on-the-ground work off the family's plate and keep the attorney involved at every signature. I've done many probate and estate sales over my career, and I approach every one with empathy first, because the family is dealing with a loss at the same time.
Clearing the house. I have vendors who can get everything out of the home. I can also hold an estate sale. Whatever doesn't sell, I have a company pick up and drop off at local stores like Goodwill and the Salvation Army.
Cleaning and odor. I send in cleaners, and when a home has a strong smell, I arrange an ozone odor treatment.
Preparing for inspection and insurance. Once the home is clear, I walk it to see what may or may not need doing, including whether it will pass a 4-point inspection. Taking care of those items up front makes the inspection period smoother, especially when the family is out of state.
Bringing in specialists. If an issue comes up, such as foundation concerns, I bring in the right professional, like a structural engineer.
Working with your attorney. Every listing contract and every offer goes to the attorney for approval before the family signs. The attorney and I both have a fiduciary responsibility, and working this way keeps the sale efficient and smooth.
It starts when the estate is ready to sign and ends at closing, with the attorney approving each step.
It depends on the property and the family's goals. Most estates land in one of two situations.
Price to sell. Many families don't want to keep paying the taxes, HOA fees and carrying costs, so they agree to a more aggressive price for a faster sale. Backed by good comps, that usually means a quick contract with little negotiation off asking.
Test a higher price. Some families have the funds to ride out a slower market and want to see what they can get. In my experience, that usually leads to price reductions and a longer time to close.
We settle this in the Strategy Session, together with what the home needs before market. Some homes benefit from repairs, and some sell best as they are. It comes down to the property. Start with a home valuation or my 2026 Home Seller's Guide.
A Deer Hollow fixer, under contract in 5 days. A local probate attorney's trust department referred this sale to me. The home was a 1994 three-bed, two-bath on a cul-de-sac in Deer Hollow, Sarasota. Apart from a new roof and updated major appliances, it was a fixer, with a strong smoke smell. I arranged an ozone odor treatment. The family lived nearby in Venice, wanted to stop carrying the home, and was open to my advice on price, strategy and marketing. We listed at $377,000 on April 2, 2026, went under contract in 5 days with backup offers requested, and closed on May 8, 2026 at $365,000. The buyer was a first-time buyer relocating to the area who moved in.
"Darren was really on top of things .Very Professional And easy to work with.Put our house on the market and had a buyer within three weeks and closed within a month. Easy to work with and knows his stuff. I highly Recommend."
Rhonda Colvin, five-star review, May 22, 2026
An out-of-state family and a foundation issue. For another estate, the family lived out of state. I held an estate sale to clear the house, had what didn't sell picked up and donated to Goodwill and the Salvation Army, and sent in cleaners to clean and deodorize. The home had foundation issues, so we brought in a structural engineer. There were bumps along the way, but we sold it to a family relocating from Central Florida, who had their own agent. It was a lot of work, and very fulfilling.
Attorney referrals. Much of my probate and estate business comes from probate and estate attorneys, because of my track record of getting these sales done. Read more on my Testimonials page.
When your attorney says the estate is ready for documents to be signed. In my experience, the attorney or their paralegal contacts me once everything is in place. I'm not an attorney, so legal timing questions belong with yours.
Yes. I've handled estate sales where the family lived out of state and I managed the clean-out, cleaning, vendors and specialists here.
I can hold an estate sale and use my vendors to clear the rest. Items that don't sell can be picked up and donated to local stores like Goodwill and the Salvation Army.
Not always. Some homes benefit from repairs, and some sell best as they are. I check the home's condition, including whether it will pass a 4-point inspection for insurance, and we decide together in the Strategy Session.
Yes. Every listing contract and offer goes to the attorney for approval before the family signs.
Look for empathy first, then a real history of probate and estate sales, ideally someone an attorney has recommended. Then look for an agent who holds a Strategy Session with the family to set expectations on what the home needs, the timeline and pricing, based on the home's condition and your goals.
Book a Strategy Session. We'll go over the home, your family's goals, what it may need before market, and a realistic timeline and price, whether you're down the road or across the country.