Dealing with a parent’s house in Coshocton County? There’s a house full of decades of stuff, a family group chat full of opinions, and one big question: do we auction it or list it?

I’m Matthias Sterzer, The German Realtor® with Kaufman Realty & Auctions. I’m a real estate agent, not an auctioneer. But I work with Kaufman Realty & Auctions’ auctioneers, including Aaron Yoder, so both options are on the table and I don’t have a reason to push you one way.

Why I can give you a straight answer on auction vs listing

Most agents only list houses, so that’s what they recommend. Through Kaufman, I’ve got both under one roof: my team at Kaufman handles cleanouts, online contents auctions, and online or in-person real estate auctions, and I handle the listing side. Whichever fits better, I’ll tell you.

When listing your parent’s house usually makes sense

A listing gives you the most control over price. You set the asking price and decide which offer to accept. It usually fits when:

• The house is in decent shape after a cleanout.
• Nobody’s in a hurry and the family can carry taxes, insurance and upkeep for a while.
• Buyers can get a regular mortgage on it.
• It’s a typical house for the area, so recent sales nearby make the value easier to pin down. (More in my post on pricing your home in Coshocton.)

When an auction usually makes sense

With an auction, the seller decides the terms, and the buyers decide the price. You can set terms like an absolute sale, no financing contingencies, or sold as-is. Then buyers bid what they’ll pay. It usually fits when:

• You want a set timeline, especially with family driving in from out of state.
• The house needs real work.
• Several heirs are involved and want a process that feels fair.
• The property is unusual, like acreage or outbuildings.

In an absolute auction, the property sells to the high bidder no matter the price. With a reserve, the seller can decline a high bid below a set minimum.

How long does a real estate auction take in Coshocton County?

Here’s how it usually works with Kaufman’s auctioneers:

That set finish line works for many sellers, and you’ll know the plan from day one.

A real example: 532 River Street in Newcomerstown

Contents auction first, then list the house

Many families don’t know this option exists:

1. The family takes what they want first.
2. Kaufman’s auctioneers sell the rest in an online contents auction. That’s how we do cleanouts: I work with Aaron Yoder from Kaufman to auction off furniture, tools and what’s in the barn and garage.
3. The setup crew handles the cleanout, inside and outside. Your family doesn’t spend weekends hauling boxes.
4. Then I list the empty house, or, if it makes more sense, Kaufman’s auctioneers auction the real estate too.

Buyers see the house, not the stuff, and out-of-state family makes fewer trips home.

Auction vs list: a side-by-side look

	Listing	Auction
Timeline	Open-ended. Sells when the right buyer shows up.	About 60 days without a survey; up to about 120 days for multi-parcel properties that need a new survey.
Terms	Negotiated with each buyer.	The seller sets them up front.
Price	You set the asking price and accept or decline offers.	Buyers decide it by bidding.

Before you decide: who can legally sign?

This trips up a lot of families. Depending on how the house was owned, it could be:

• Your parent, if they’re living and able to sign.
• Someone with power of attorney, if the document covers real estate.
• The executor or administrator of the estate, through the Coshocton County Probate Court.
• A named beneficiary, if the deed had a transfer on death designation under Ohio Revised Code 5302.22.

I’m not an attorney, so call an estate attorney early. To see how the county has the property recorded, the Coshocton County Auditor’s real estate search is free.

Ohio rules worth knowing

• Selling real estate at auction takes two licenses. The Ohio Department of Agriculture says anyone selling real estate at auction must be licensed both as a real estate agent or broker and as an auctioneer (ODA Auctioneers Program FAQ). That’s why I don’t call auctions myself. You can look up any auctioneer’s license on the ODA Auctioneers Program page.
• Some transfers by an estate’s fiduciary skip the disclosure form (Ohio Revised Code 5302.30).
• An empty house needs attention. Call your insurance agent and keep the heat on in winter.

Selling a parent’s house in Coshocton, West Lafayette or Warsaw

I came from Germany in 2017, and I sell houses across Coshocton County and Tuscarawas County, and when an auction fits, I bring in Kaufman’s auctioneers. And if your family is more comfortable in German, wir sprechen Deutsch.

It’s tough to watch a family that just lost a parent go through all the personal items. Every box brings the emotions back up, and it’s just hard. That’s where our team comes in. We sell what’s sellable, help clean out the place and get it ready to sell. And in my experience, a decluttered house sells better than one that’s still full.

For the full process, see my complete guide to selling your home in Coshocton or Tuscarawas County.

Frequently asked questions

Is it better to auction or list a parent’s house in Coshocton County?

It depends on timing, condition and family. Listing fits a house that shows well when the family can wait. An auction fits a set timeline, a house that needs work, or several heirs. Many families do both.

How long does it take to sell a house at auction?

For a typical home that doesn’t need a survey, about 60 days: roughly 30 days of marketing, then about a 30-day close. Houses or land with more acreage that are offered in multiple parcels most likely need a new survey, especially if the property sells to multiple buyers. In that case it can take up to 120 days before we can close.

Who sets the price and terms at a real estate auction?

The seller decides the terms, like an absolute sale, no financing contingencies, or as-is. Buyers decide the price by bidding, online or in person.

Can you auction the contents and then list the house?

Yes, and it’s one of the most common plans. The family takes what they want, Kaufman’s auctioneers sell the rest in an online contents auction, the setup crew handles the cleanout, and then I list the empty house.

Do I have to go through probate to sell my parent’s house in Ohio?

Not always. A transfer on death designation, for example, can move the house to a beneficiary without the usual probate process. Talk to an estate attorney.

Not sure which way to go? Let’s talk it through

Matthias Sterzer, The German Realtor®, Kaufman Realty & Auctions. Matthias is a real estate agent, not an auctioneer; auctions are conducted by Kaufman Realty & Auctions’ auctioneers. This article is general information, not legal or tax advice.

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Thinking about buying or selling in Tuscarawas or Coshocton County? Call or text me at 740-610-8725 — I’m happy to help. Matthias Sterzer, Kaufman Realty & Auctions.