Estate real estate should be secured, insured, valued, and reviewed for ownership, mortgages, occupants, condition, taxes, title issues, and the will's instructions before sale or distribution. The fiduciary's authority and any required court process must be confirmed first.
Confirm what the estate actually owns
Verify title before assuming anything. Obtain the deed, title search information, mortgage and lien records, tax status, leases, co-ownership terms, transfer-on-death documents, and any trust or entity records before treating the parcel as probate property.
Protect value during administration
Address locks, heat, water, snow, utilities, insurance vacancy rules, occupants, repairs, personal property, rent, and records. Keep expenses and decisions separate from a fiduciary's personal funds.
Evaluate sale versus distribution
The will alone may not answer every operational question.
- Authority and approvals
- Appraisal or market evidence
- Beneficiary agreement or objection
- Liquidity for debts and taxes
- Capital-gain and basis questions
- Broker, buyer, and conflict disclosures