“We Thought We Inherited a House. Turns Out, We Inherited a Headache.”

“We Thought We Inherited a House. Turns Out, We Inherited a Headache.”

Why Jeff and Brandi's Story Is a Wake-Up Call for Anyone Using a Quitclaim Deed

When Jeff’s father passed away, he left the family home in Austin to Jeff and his partner Brandi.

They were grieving, of course — but also grateful. The house had no mortgage. It was paid off, in good condition, and full of family memories. With the help of an online legal platform, they filed a quitclaim deed to move the title into their names.

That’s when the problems started.

What Is a Quitclaim Deed?

A quitclaim deed is one of the simplest ways to transfer ownership of a property. It's often used between family members, in divorces, or when inheriting a home. You can file one in minutes using platforms like eForms.com.

But here’s what most people don’t realize:

Over 90% of people who file quitclaim deeds never check the actual title records before transferring ownership.

That means no one’s verifying if the previous owner still had liens, easements, or boundary disputes on the property. And unlike a traditional sale, there’s no title insurance, no formal review, and often no warning signs.

Back to Jeff and Brandi…

Three weeks after filing their quitclaim, they went to update the locks — only to find out they legally owned the house, but couldn’t access it. A neighbor had a recorded easement giving them shared access to the driveway. The garage was technically on a separate parcel. And to top it off, an old lien from a 2009 tax issue was still active.

“We inherited the house,” Jeff said. “But we also inherited legal baggage we didn’t even know existed.”

What If You Could See Everything Before You Sign?

That’s where Title App comes in.

Before you transfer a property using a quitclaim deed, you can order a Blockchain Property Report through Title App. It shows:

  • Current and past ownership
  • All open liens and encumbrances
  • Easements and boundary flags
  • Recorded mortgages, deeds, and subdivision maps

And it doesn’t stop there. With Title App AI Analyst, you can get:

  • A plain-English summary of the report
  • Green / Yellow / Red flag alerts
  • Visual map overlays showing neighboring parcels
  • Custom recommendations based on your purpose (inheritance, dispute, sale, etc.)

It’s like having a title attorney, real estate agent, and blockchain specialist — in one smart assistant.

Don’t Sign Blind

Transferring title without a property report is like buying a used car with no history — it might drive fine, or it might be hiding a wreck under the hood.

With Title App, you can verify everything before the ink dries.

Order a Blockchain Property Report: Explore Reports
Use AI to Review Your Deed: Launch AI Analyst →
Partner With Us via API: Contact Our Team

 

Back to blog