Mastering Pre-Probate and Inheritance Leads Across Vermont: A Goldmine for Real Estate Investors
Vermont’s real estate market is known for charm, tradition, and privacy. That makes it especially fertile ground for off-market acquisition—deals that never reach a real estate listing or court docket. These are known as Pre-Probate and inheritance leads: properties quietly transitioning ownership following a death. For forward-thinking agents and investors, this is a path to early contact with motivated sellers—and low-competition opportunities.
What Are Pre-Probate and Inheritance Leads?
Pre-Probate leads are triggered when a property owner dies, and the title begins to shift before a probate case is filed. These homes often move outside the legal system through:
- Living Trusts, which allow property to transfer directly to heirs
- Joint Tenancy with Rights of Survivorship, where a co-owner receives full ownership
- Spousal Transfers, where the title remains with a surviving spouse
Also called Inheritance or Trust-Owned Properties, these leads have one core benefit: you discover the opportunity before it hits public records or attracts agent competition.
How SuccessorsData.com Uncovered This Opportunity
Since 2012, SuccessorsData.com has combined obituary data with deed and tax records to detect properties quietly shifting hands due to inheritance. While originally focused on probate cases, they found something powerful: many inherited homes never go to court at all.
That discovery led to the creation of Pre-Probate leads—a now-national category featured by Inman News and trusted by major brokerages like Century 21.
Why Pre-Probate Leads Are Especially Valuable in Vermont
Vermont’s probate system is managed at the county level, and public access varies greatly across the state. In populated counties like Chittenden (Burlington) and Washington (Montpelier), court filings can still be slow to appear. In rural counties like Orleans, Windsor, or Rutland, filings may never make it online at all.
And yet, families continue to transfer real estate—often privately and quickly.
Imagine:
- A couple in Brattleboro holds a portfolio of duplexes in joint tenancy. After one spouse passes, the surviving owner inherits everything and begins simplifying their finances—quietly and off the record.
- A ski cabin near Stowe, held in a living trust, is passed down to heirs scattered across the East Coast. Maintaining it from a distance isn’t realistic, so two siblings decide to sell without probate or court involvement.
These are real Vermont scenarios—and Pre-Probate data puts you in the conversation long before the property gets listed.
Probate vs. Inheritance-Based Sales
| Lead Type | Speed & Complexity | Probate Involved? |
| Probate Sale | Slow, court-supervised, legally complex | Yes |
| Trust/Inheritance Sale | Fast, private, standard closing process | No |
| Remainder Spouse Ownership | Immediate ownership transfer | No |
How to Engage Vermont Sellers Early
Step 1: Use a Direct Mail Letter That Resonates
This message works well from Middlebury to White River Junction:
Dear Property Owner,
Would you consider selling your property located at [XYZ Street] in Montpelier, Vermont to us?
I can be reached at (909) 315-5330.
Sincerely,
Morry Eghbal
P.S. If not today, please keep this letter for future reference.
Step 2: Automate Personalized Outreach with PostCardCity.com
PostCardCity.com sends locally styled mailers that look handwritten and are stamped with first-class postage—ideal for building trust across Vermont’s tight-knit towns. You can launch a full campaign without printing or mailing anything yourself.
What to Say When a Seller Calls
Many Vermont heirs aren’t sure where to begin. Here’s how to keep it simple:
Caller: “Hi, we got a letter about my mother’s house in Barre. Why did you send it?”
You: “Thanks for calling. I came across the home through public tax data and wanted to reach out in case your family was thinking about selling. If that’s something you’re open to, I’d love to hear more about your plans.”
Then ask:
- Is the property vacant or occupied?
- Are you the only one involved, or are other family members part of the decision?
- Do you have a price or timeline in mind?
- Will the home need repairs or cleanup before closing?
- Do you own or manage any other properties locally?
Step 3: Use Skip Tracing to Find the Right Contact
Obituaries don’t include contact details—but skip tracing solves that. For only 6 cents per lead, you can access:
- Up to 7 linked phone numbers
- Valid email addresses
- Co-owners or next of kin
This dramatically increases your odds of a live, meaningful connection—before the family hires an agent or posts online.
Step 4: Call at Scale with IQdial.com
IQdial.com is a triple-line dialer for real estate professionals. With it, you can:
- Reach more decision-makers in less time
- Drop voicemails automatically
- Keep track of calls, notes, and follow-ups
Whether you’re targeting leads in Bennington or Addison County, this tool helps you build momentum fast.
Alternate Terms You May Encounter
- Inheritance Leads – Properties passed to heirs after death
- Trust-Owned Properties – Assets held in living or revocable trusts
No matter the label, the goal is the same: connect early, offer real solutions, and build trust before the market is even aware.
About Morry Eghbal
Morry Eghbal is the founder of SuccessorsData.com, the nation’s most trusted provider of Pre-Probate, probate, and inheritance leads covering over 43,000 ZIP codes and 500+ counties.
He also leads LeadCruncher.com, a real-time data platform that delivers verified, actionable seller leads to real estate professionals.
With 30+ years in real estate outreach, negotiation, and automation, Morry helps professionals in Vermont and across the U.S. connect with motivated sellers early, close more off-market deals, and make the process smoother for families in transition.
Want help launching your Vermont campaign? Call Morry directly at (909) 315-5330
