Property
Maintain or prepare to sell real estate
An empty house keeps costing money — taxes, insurance, utilities, upkeep. Decide early whether you're keeping it, renting it, or selling it.
- When to do it
- Within the first 60 days; before any major weather season.
- Estimated time
- Ongoing for the duration of the estate
What you’ll need
- Deed and recent property tax bill
- Insurance policy — confirm the carrier knows the home is now vacant
- Mortgage statement, if any
Steps
- Notify the homeowner's insurance carrier the home is vacant. Many policies change or lapse.
- Keep utilities on so the building isn't damaged.
- Collect mail and protect the property from break-ins.
- Decide on selling timing. A probate-experienced realtor (often CPRES-certified) can advise.
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Related tasks
- Clear out the home and distribute personal propertyGoing through a parent's home is the single most emotionally draining task most executors face. Pace yourself. Don't throw anything away in the first week.
- Transfer or sell vehiclesEach state's DMV has its own process for transferring a vehicle from a deceased owner. Some allow transfer outside probate up to a value threshold.
- Order certified copies of the death certificateYou'll need certified copies of the death certificate for nearly everything else — banks, insurers, the court, the Social Security Administration.