Estate & inherited property

Executor checklist

For the family or executor handling a house after a death. Practical steps, in order, and the questions to take to your attorney and CPA. Go at your own pace; nothing here has to happen all at once.

The first two weeks

  • Lock the house. If keys are unaccounted for, consider changing the locks.
  • Keep the utilities on. A house with no heat or power can freeze or grow mold.
  • Call the homeowner's insurance company. Many policies limit coverage once a home sits vacant, so ask what they need from you.
  • Forward the mail, and watch for property tax, mortgage, utility and HOA statements.
  • Gather the paperwork you can find: the will or trust, the deed, mortgage statements, tax bills, the insurance policy, HOA documents, and any warranties.
  • Leave the paperwork in place until someone has gone through it. Important documents turn up in drawers, books and garages.

Questions for the estate attorney

  • Does this house need to go through probate in Kansas, or does a trust, a transfer-on-death deed, or joint ownership change that?
  • Who has the authority to sell, and what document shows it (letters of administration or testamentary, a trustee certificate)?
  • Do all the heirs need to sign, or approve the sale in some other way?
  • How are the sale proceeds held and divided, and what has to be paid first?
  • Is there a mortgage, a reverse mortgage, or a lien we need to handle before closing?
  • Are there any court deadlines or approvals the sale has to wait for?

Questions for the CPA

  • How is the sale taxed for the estate, and for each heir?
  • What records should we keep from the date of death through closing?
  • Do repairs, clean-out costs or ongoing bills paid by the estate matter for taxes?

Taking care of the house

  • Walk through and take photos of every room before anything is moved. It helps with insurance, the inventory, and family questions later.
  • Keep up the basics: mow, shovel, change the furnace filter, and check for leaks. In winter, ask about winterizing the plumbing.
  • Hold off on repairs or updates until you know how the house will be sold. Some sales go as-is.
  • Keep every receipt for anything the estate pays, in one folder.

The contents

  • Family takes keepsakes first. Agree on how that happens before anyone starts.
  • Sort the rest into piles: keep, family, donate, sell, and toss. Work one room at a time.
  • For items worth selling, a personal property auction or an estate sale can handle it in one event.
  • A clean-out crew can take what is left. Nothing has to be empty before the sale process starts.

Deciding how to sell

  • Get an honest read on the property: what it would likely bring at auction, on a traditional listing, and as a cash sale, with the net for each.
  • Share the numbers with the heirs and the attorney so the decision is made together and on paper.
  • Ask about timing. Auction sets a firm date; a listing depends on the market; a cash sale is fastest and usually the lowest number.
  • Write down why the estate chose the path it did. Executors are often asked later.

Closing and after

  • Make sure the title company has the attorney's contact and the documents showing authority to sell.
  • Cancel the utilities and insurance only after closing, not before.
  • Keep the closing statement with the estate records.

This checklist is general information, not legal or tax advice. Your estate attorney and CPA answer the legal and tax questions for your situation.

When the family is ready

We walk the property, give the estate an honest written read on auction, listing and cash, and coordinate with the attorney directly. No obligation.

Tell us about the property or text or call 316-364-7500

TurnKey · Keller Williams Hometown Partners · 316-364-7500 · turnkeywichita.com