If you are selling someone’s house under a power of attorney in Pennsylvania, the first step is reviewing the authority to act for the owner.
That comes before pricing, repairs, photography, and putting the property on the market.
Why I ask for the document early
A power of attorney identifies the person authorized to act and the powers they have been given. Pennsylvania law requires an agent to stay within the authority granted by the document.
For a home sale, the attorney and title or settlement professionals need to review whether the document supports the proposed transaction. Saying “I have power of attorney” does not answer all of those questions.
Who reviews what?
As your Realtor, I coordinate the real estate process and help bring the right people into it. I do not provide a legal interpretation of your power of attorney.
- Your attorney: Addresses legal questions about the document and your authority.
- Title or settlement professionals: Review their requirements for the transaction and identify the documentation they need.
- Your Realtor: Coordinates those early steps with the plan for selling the home.
In Philadelphia, I want the settlement side involved early enough to identify requirements before we reach the closing stage. The same practical approach is useful elsewhere in Pennsylvania; this is not a claim that Philadelphia has a separate blanket POA approval rule.
What should you do first?
Provide the complete power of attorney document for the appropriate review. Let us identify who needs to see it and how to send it securely.
If a question arises, get it resolved with the attorney and settlement team before relying on the document to move the sale forward.
Once the authority is confirmed, we can discuss the home itself: its condition, preparation, pricing, and the steps leading to the market.
Keep the owner’s voice central
Helping with a sale should still reflect the owner’s wishes and participation as circumstances allow. A clear process helps the people involved understand their roles before decisions begin stacking up.
You do not need to arrive with every answer. Start with the document and a conversation about the next step.
Learn about selling a home or helping an aging parent with a housing decision.
Jess Carpenter, REALTOR®, Elfant Wissahickon Realtors, serves Philadelphia, Montgomery, and Bucks County. Understand your options before making your decision.
General Pennsylvania real estate information, not legal advice. A qualified attorney should address questions about a particular power of attorney.
Legal reference: Pennsylvania powers-of-attorney law, Title 20, Chapter 56.