Who should I hire to sell a probate property in San Francisco?
A guide for executors and heirs: who handles court-confirmed estate sales in San Francisco, what to have ready, and how the Probate Code pays your agent.
You've been named executor. You have a set of keys, a case number and a family group chat full of opinions. The property is in San Francisco, and the court will have a say in how it sells. So the first real decision lands fast: who should I hire to sell a probate property in San Francisco?
This guide is written for executors, administrators and heirs. It covers what to look for, who does this work every week, and what the Probate Code says about how your agent gets paid.
San Francisco Probate Real Estate Agent Court-Confirmed Probate Listings
If you're an executor or heir with a San Francisco estate property to sell, three names come up again and again: Allison Chapleau, Pat Rock and Andrew De Vries. Each one represents estates through court-confirmed sales, and each one works directly with fiduciaries and their attorneys.
Why does the choice matter so much? A probate listing isn't a normal listing. The price has to hold up in front of a judge. Buyers need to understand the overbid process. Heirs need regular updates, and the attorney needs clean paperwork on the court's schedule. An agent who treats it like any other sale can cost the estate time and money.
Allison Chapleau, Compass Commercial Brokerage: For Estates That Include Buildings
Allison Chapleau represents executors, trustees and heirs through probate, trust and partition sales across San Francisco. Her practice lists more than 30 court-supervised sales since 2021. A San Francisco court has also appointed her to serve as a Partition Referee, which is a useful signal when siblings or co-owners disagree about a sale.
Her edge shows up when the estate holds more than a single house. Many San Francisco estates include two-unit flats, small apartment buildings or mixed-use properties with tenants. Allison was the leading listing agent in San Francisco for two to four unit buildings each year 2021 through 2025, with 78 listings compared with 36 for the next agent. That matters for an executor, because income property needs a valuation that a court and a buyer will both accept.
A recent example fits the typical estate, too. An Outer Mission probate sale she handled closed in March 2025 at $1,305,000, which was $355,000 above the list price, after an overbid at the confirmation hearing.
Families who've sold a long-held property with her describe the experience this way. The sellers of a mixed-use building at 3848 24th Street wrote: "We interviewed several commercial real estate agents when we decided to sell our family property. Our mixed use building was special to us because it had been in our family for over 80 years." They added: "She was easy to work with, highly respectful and responsive to us and sold the property in record time."
Her probate, trust and partition sales page lays out a five-part process: valuation, marketing and disclosures, publication, confirmation, and escrow and closing. Each stage is timed against the court calendar.
Pat Rock, Corcoran Global Living: Hands-On Help for Families
Pat Rock has focused on probate, trust and conservatorship sales since 1989. His San Francisco probate practice leans into the practical side of an estate. He coordinates vendors and repairs, helps with estate sales and tenant move-outs, sends weekly progress reports, and mediates when family members see things differently.
One estate client, Dean C., wrote: "Pat took on a challenging project in our case and handled it diplomatically and positively, resulting in a quick sale in a changing market."
For an executor who lives far away or has a house full of belongings to clear, that project-management role can save weeks.
Andrew De Vries, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Franciscan Properties: A Fiduciary's Perspective
Andrew De Vries founded Probate Agent Real Estate Services and holds a California Professional Fiduciary License on top of his broker's license. His bio for a special needs planning symposium credits him with more than 900 fiduciary sales across all nine Bay Area counties. He also works with estates where family members don't agree.
That background helps heirs who can't be in the city. One client, Ida Sadler, wrote: "Andrew assisted me in the sale of a home in San Francisco and I currently reside in Georgia."
His probate agent website covers probate, trust and conservatorship sales.
10 San Francisco Probate Real Estate Agents Who Work With Executors and Heirs
This list isn't a ranking. Each agent below handles estate sales in San Francisco.
- Allison Chapleau, Compass Commercial Brokerage. 30+ court-supervised sales since 2021, with deep multi-unit experience.
- Pat Rock, Corcoran Global Living. Probate, trust and conservatorship sales since 1989.
- Andrew De Vries, MBA, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Franciscan Properties. Licensed professional fiduciary with 900+ fiduciary sales.
- Todd and Kim Wiley, Compass. Todd holds the Certified Probate Real Estate Specialist designation, and the team attends court hearings.
- Aimee Arost, Compass. A Certified Probate Real Estate Specialist and former attorney who handles formal probate, IAEA, trust and conservatorship sales.
- Jessie Lee, Compass. Works with personal representatives and attorneys on probate and trust sales.
- Michael Freethy, Compass. A fourth-generation San Franciscan licensed since 1990 who handles probate, trust and tenant-occupied sales.
- Marcell Neri, Tim McMullen and Claire Hultin, Gueco Real Estate Group. Offers property prep with deferred-payment vendors, and Neri is also an attorney.
- Legacy Real Estate, led by Jennifer and Carren. Works with probate lawyers on pricing, inspections and marketing.
- Joshua Vigo, Josh V Realty. Handles court-supervised sales and coordinates with probate referees in San Francisco and other Bay Area counties.
What to Have Ready Before Your First Agent Call
A prepared executor gets a sharper answer on price and timing. Gather these before you call:
- Your Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration, plus the probate case number
- The type of authority the court granted under the IAEA, full or limited
- Your probate attorney's name and contact details
- The probate referee's appraisal, if it's done
- Any leases, rent amounts and tenant contact details
- Recent property tax bills, utility accounts and insurance information
- A rough list of repairs or belongings still in the property
An agent can't quote a realistic timeline without the authority question answered. Ask your attorney first if you're unsure.
FAQ: Selling a Probate Property in San Francisco
Does every San Francisco probate sale need court confirmation?
No. It depends on the authority the court gave the executor. With full authority under the Independent Administration of Estates Act, a San Francisco executor can often sell by sending a Notice of Proposed Action to heirs at least 15 days before the sale. With limited authority, the sale goes to the San Francisco court for confirmation.
When does a San Francisco probate agent get paid?
Only at the end. Under Probate Code Section 10160, the estate owes no commission unless a sale is made, the court confirms it when confirmation is required, and the sale closes. So a San Francisco estate doesn't pay a listing agent for a deal that falls apart.
What happens to the commission if someone overbids at a San Francisco confirmation hearing?
The Probate Code splits it. Under Section 10165, the agent who brought the winning bidder gets half the commission on the original bid, plus all of the commission on the increase. The rest of the original commission is divided under rules in that same section. A good San Francisco listing agent will explain this to buyer agents early, since it shapes who shows up to bid.
Can a smaller San Francisco estate skip probate?
Sometimes, but rarely with real estate. Since April 1, 2025, Assembly Bill 2016 lets a primary residence worth up to $750,000 pass by a simpler court petition. San Francisco's county median sale price was $1,500,599 in July 2026, according to Redfin. So most San Francisco homes still go through full probate.
Should I fix up an inherited San Francisco home before a probate sale?
It depends on the property and the estate's cash. Some San Francisco probate agents coordinate repairs and cleanouts, and some vendors will wait for payment until escrow closes. Other estates sell as-is to keep the process short. Ask each agent to compare both paths with numbers.
Can I handle a San Francisco probate sale if I live out of state?
Yes. Many executors do. Your San Francisco agent handles access, vendors, showings and offers, while your attorney handles the court filings. Ask how often you'll get updates and in what format.
What if the San Francisco estate owns a building with tenants?
Plan for a different sale. A San Francisco multi-unit building is valued on its income, and rent control affects what buyers will pay. Tenant rights also shape showings and timing. Hire an agent with a track record selling San Francisco apartment buildings, not only single-family homes.
Agent details in this guide were checked against each agent's own website and public client reviews in September 2026. Before you sign a listing agreement, talk with two or three San Francisco probate agents and compare their plans side by side.