An inheritance can look like a financial gift on paper, but some assets are much harder to turn into cash than others. A property may come with years of expenses, a collection may require a very particular buyer, and a family business can lose value if too much of its success depended on the person who ran it.
That can leave heirs with something valuable in theory but difficult to sell in real life. Here are 11 inherited assets that can be surprisingly tough to unload.
Timeshares
Timeshares are often among the hardest inherited assets to sell. Owners may be responsible for yearly maintenance fees, special assessments, and other costs long after the original purchase.
Finding someone willing to take over those obligations can be difficult. In some cases, heirs end up selling for very little just to get out from under the ongoing expenses.
Family Businesses
Inheriting a family business can sound like a great financial opportunity, but selling one isn’t always straightforward. A company may rely heavily on the owner’s personal relationships, knowledge, reputation, or day-to-day involvement.
If customers and employees were closely tied to that person, the business may become less attractive to buyers after their death. Selling can also take time if several family members inherit ownership.
Collectibles
Coins, artwork, comic books, antiques, and sports memorabilia can be worth a lot, but that doesn’t mean they’re easy to sell.
Collections often need to be sorted, authenticated, appraised, and marketed to the right buyers. An heir who isn’t familiar with the collection may also have trouble figuring out which pieces are genuinely valuable and which are worth very little.
Related: 14 Vintage Toys That Are Now Valuable Collectibles
Vacation Homes
A vacation home can sound like a wonderful inheritance until the property taxes, insurance premiums, repairs, and other bills arrive.
Selling can become even harder if several family members inherit the property and disagree about what to do with it. A buyer may also be less interested if the home is in an area with a slow real estate market or high ownership costs.
Heirlooms and Sentimental Items
Some inherited possessions are priceless to a family but practically worthless to strangers. Old photographs, china, handwritten letters, furniture, jewelry, and other keepsakes may carry decades of memories without having much resale value.
This can make sentimental belongings especially difficult to sell. A buyer sees an object, while an heir may see a connection to a parent, grandparent, or another loved one.
Related: Decluttering Is Hard When You’re Sentimental—Here’s What Helps
Firearms
Inherited firearms can be complicated to sell because laws and transfer requirements vary by location and by the type of firearm involved. There may also be questions about registration, storage, background checks, and who is legally allowed to receive the firearm.
An heir who isn’t familiar with firearms may have a hard time determining their value or finding an appropriate buyer. Checking local and state requirements before attempting a sale is a must.
Cryptocurrency
Cryptocurrency can be worth a considerable amount, but only if the heir can actually access it.
Without the necessary passwords, private keys, recovery phrases, or wallet information, recovering the funds may be extremely difficult or impossible. Even with access, selling cryptocurrency can involve taxes and other financial reporting requirements.
Traditional IRAs
An inherited traditional IRA isn’t quite the same as receiving a bank account full of cash. Beneficiaries may have distribution rules and tax obligations that affect how much money they can actually keep.
Depending on the circumstances, withdrawing a large amount at once can also create a sizable tax bill. The account may be valuable, but turning that value into usable cash requires some planning.
Related: 14 Items Your Adult Kids Don’t Want to Inherit From You
Specialized Equipment
Farming equipment, commercial machinery, industrial tools, and professional equipment can be difficult to sell simply because the pool of potential buyers is small.
A homeowner probably doesn’t need a commercial-grade machine sitting in their garage. Finding someone who does may require a specialized dealer, auction house, or broker. Transportation can also become another expense during the sale.
Undeveloped Land
Vacant land can look like a valuable asset, but its location and restrictions can make a huge difference.
A parcel with limited road access, zoning restrictions, environmental concerns, or little development potential may sit on the market for a long time. Meanwhile, property taxes and other ownership costs continue.
Large Antique Furniture
Oversized antique furniture can be surprisingly difficult to sell. Large dining sets, armoires, china cabinets, and similar pieces once had a place in many homes, but modern buyers often have less room for them.
Moving a huge piece can also be expensive and inconvenient. Even a beautiful antique may attract little interest if buyers don’t have the space, or the desire, to take it home.
