As executor of a will, you will have to clean out and sell the house which might be located very far from where you currently live. Much of the work falls on the executor. Look for a real estate agent with estate sale experience, who is up to speed on probate, knows what repairs are needed, and tells the tenant who had been staying in the house for below-market rent that he needs to move.
There are a ton of things that the executor will have to do that are completely new to them and it can be overwhelming. Dealing with the death of a parent is challenging, but selling their home can be fraught with land mines, particularly if they die without a will. Family members consumed by grief may be unable to make decisions, leaving homes that may have already languished to fall further into disrepair. Siblings may harbor emotional attachments and have unrealistic expectations about what the property should sell for.
The task can be a difficult and long process — or relatively quick and painless. Much depends on the heirs’ ability to ask for help and hiring a professional who knows the local housing market. Experts say the sooner the process begins, the easier it will be.
