Most real estate agents avoid probate. Claudia Cencelli, San Diego’s probate real estate specialist, chose it — and has spent over 20 years doing this work exclusively.

She has closed hundreds of probate and trust sales across San Diego County — from La Jolla to Escondido, Spring Valley to Encinitas. She knows the probate court, the referees who appraise estate properties, and the attorneys who handle the cases. When a client calls, she has almost certainly seen a version of their situation before.

What that looks like in practice: she explains what’s coming before it arrives. She coordinates with the attorney, the Probate Referee, and escrow. She arranges the cleanout crew, the document shredding, the estate sale professionals. She has managed complex negotiations, an unexpected plumbing problem affecting neighboring properties, and HOA discrepancies the seller stated incorrectly. She tells clients the truth about the timeline — including when it changes.