Selling a Parent's Home in Menlo Park

If you're reading this, you're probably one of two people.

You're an adult child , maybe the trustee or executor , and you've just inherited a home full of forty years of memories, and you have no idea what happens next. Or you're the homeowner yourself, and you've lived in your house for decades, and the thought of sorting through it, fixing it up, and selling it feels like more than you can take on.

Either way, you don't need someone to rush you. You need someone to make you a plan.

That's what I do. I'm Mary Murphy, and for 35 years I've specialized in exactly this — helping families sell a home that isn't just a transaction, it's a legacy. Whether you're settling a trust, helping a parent downsize, or facing this decision yourself, my job is to bring calm, clarity, and a clear next step to a moment that can otherwise feel completely overwhelming.

Schedule a Free, No-Pressure Consultation

You Are Not Alone in This

Here's what I hear most often, almost word for word:

"I've never sold a house before, and I don't even know what I don't know."
"There's so much stuff. Where do we even begin?"
"My siblings and I don't agree on what to do."
"I live three states away — how is this even possible?"
"This house has forty years of memories in it. I don't want to feel rushed."

If any of those sound familiar, you're in the right place. None of this is unusual, and none of it means you're behind. It means you need a guide, not a salesperson.

A Clear, Step-by-Step Plan — Not a Sales Pitch

You don't need to know what to do today. You just need to know what the first step is. Here's how I walk every client through it:

1

A Conversation First, Not a Listing Appointment

2

Help With the Hard Part: The Stuff

3

A Written Plan, Start to Finish

4

We Handle the Logistics, Wherever You Are

5

Pricing With Real Data, Not Guesswork

6

A Smooth, Well-Communicated Close

A Conversation First, Not a Listing Appointment

Before we talk about pricing or paperwork, we talk about you - your timeline, your family situation, what's already been decided, and what hasn't. If you're a trustee, we talk through what the trust requires. If you're a senior homeowner, we talk about where you're headed next, and on what timeline feels right for you. There is no pressure and no clock running on this conversation.

Help With the Hard Part: The Stuff

Decades of belongings, furniture, and family history are often the single biggest reason people feel stuck. I connect you with trusted estate sale companies, donation services, and organizers I've worked with for years, so the house can be cleared with care - not chaos.

A Written Plan, Start to Finish

You'll receive a clear, written scope of work: what (if anything) needs to be done to the home before listing, a realistic budget, and a timeline. If updates are needed to get top dollar, Compass Concierge can cover those costs with no payment due until your home sells, so nothing comes out of your pocket upfront.

We Handle the Logistics, Wherever You Are

Many of my clients managing a parent's estate live out of the area, or out of state. I coordinate everything locally: contractors, cleaning, staging, inspections, signatures. You stay informed every step of the way, by whatever method you prefer - call, text, or email, without needing to be on-site.

Pricing With Real Data, Not Guesswork

Using Compass's real-time Buyer Demand tool, I can show you - before you list - exactly how much serious buyer interest exists for a home like yours right now. That means we price with confidence and clarity, not a guess based on stale comparable sales.

A Smooth, Well-Communicated Close

From offer to closing, you'll always know what's happening and what's next. No surprises, no jargon, no wondering if something fell through the cracks.

See Our Full Selling Process

What Our Clients Say

"I Was the Trustee. I Had No Idea What I Was Doing. Mary Did. ...Never having prior experience selling a house, I had no idea what it would entail. As trustee of my parents' trust, I was tasked with selling their beautiful home after their deaths an emotionally difficult duty to be sure. Mary guided me through every step." — Jean B.

"Mary helped me with the sale of my mother's house. Before the house went up for sale, Mary took the time to discuss with me all the potential options for a sale, being mindful of the house's strengths and challenges." — Emily P.

MORE CLIENT STORIES

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Start with a conversation, not a contract. The first step is simply understanding your timeline, what condition the home is in, and what the trust or estate requires. From there, I build a plan — most clients in this situation tell me the hardest part was starting, not the process itself once it's underway.

Not necessarily, and not always all at once. Some homes sell well as-is to buyers looking for a project; others benefit from light, strategic updates. I'll walk the home with you and give you an honest recommendation either way — and through Compass Concierge, any needed work can be paid for at closing, not upfront.

This comes up often, and it's normal. I act as a neutral, experienced guide — giving everyone the same facts about value, timing, and options so the family can make a decision together, rather than navigating it alone.

Yes. I regularly manage estate sales for clients who live across the country. I coordinate contractors, cleaning, staging, and paperwork locally, and keep you updated by phone, text, or email — whichever you prefer.

It depends entirely on the home's condition and your timeline, which is exactly why we start with a real conversation rather than a generic estimate. Once we have a plan, I'll give you a realistic, written timeline from preparation through closing.

Correct, a consultation is free and there's no obligation. If we move forward and your home needs work to prepare for market, Compass Concierge can cover those costs with no payment due until the home sells.

Ready When You Are

There's no prize for rushing this, and no penalty for taking the time to do it right.

When you're ready to talk, even just to ask questions and get a feel for what's involved - I'm here.

Call or text (650) 773-4999, or schedule a consultation.

Mary Murphy | CA DRE# 00675838 | Compass California II, Inc. | CA DRE# 01527235

Thinking of Selling.. But don't know where to Start?

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Don't Know Where to Start? Let's Make a Plan.

If you're reading this, you're probably one of two people.

You Are Not Alone in This