How to Sell a House After a Relative Dies

5 Easy Tips to Follow

The passing of a relative is never easy. It’s important to take time to grieve. However, it’s also important to not completely put off the real world duties that go along with the passing of a relative. Putting it off could result in even more stress and worries. 

When a relative dies, selling their home is referred to as an “estate sale.” This type of sale includes some extra considerations to know about. Below is a list of the best tips and things you should give thought to for smoothly selling a relative’s house after they pass.

1. Transferring Property after the Death.

It is possible that you may have to go through court probate for the assets of the deceased individual. [ See link to what is probate ] If the person had a will, one of the first things that need to be done is to find out if the executor of the will has the power over the real estate property. If the executor does, then they would have to be the ones to sell the property. However, if the executor does not have power over the real estate, then the beneficiaries can sell the property(s) without the executor’s consent. Make sure to look into Utah state laws on how an estate needs to be sold, especially if the property has a reverse mortgage. Contact a real estate agent to receive the best knowledge. 

2. Don’t forget the Bills

It is very important to make sure you are continually paying any and all bills for the property(s) to ensure there are no further complications. These include utilities, mortgages, and any maintenance done on the property. All these payments should be done through the estate. Make sure you never personally pay for any bills as you more than likely won’t get your money back. 

3. Gather Important Documents

Another important thing to think about is finding all financial documents pertaining to the property ranging from a will, receipts from bills, insurance documents, bank account and investment documents, and any personal documents. These will become essential in the sale of the real estate. If you cannot find these documents, ask other family members if they know where hiding spots could be. These locations can range from attics, garages, home offices, and possibly even under the mattress. Spend time looking for these documents because it could save you time and problems in the future. Once you believe you have all of the documents, look through to find exactly which seem important or pertain to the estate. After the sale of the property goes through, you can shred other papers if you want. However, never discard of anything that you may think is important because it definitely could be. 

4. Clean out the House

Now’s the time to really go through the house to see what you do and don’t want. It’s a good time to remove anything that has personal significance. It might be helpful to have an estate sale if you want to try to sell some things. The main goal in this process is to prepare the house for it to be listed. In some instances, it’s best to stage the house professionally, but you should weigh the pros and cons of doing that. Don’t rush yourself as you are cleaning out the home. Removing a loved one’s possessions can be a very difficult and emotional process so make sure you take time. 

5. Preparing the Home to be Listed

After you have cleaned out the home, it is now time to actually prepare to list the property with a real estate agent. Click here to get an easy and fast value of your home. [Value of home link] We are very experienced agents with over 20 years of real estate skills. Contact us to help you get started. [contact us click this link] 

Sometimes it is better to sell your home as is or update certain things. Your main goal is to net the most money. Depending on whether the home is older or not, some upgrades may be beneficial. These upgrades can range from removing wallpaper, installing updated fixtures to changing carpet and flooring. Our qualified agents will be able to determine if you will net more money by selling it as is or if you should do simple and inexpensive repairs. We do have a smart seller loan [link] giving certain sellers money to help upgrade to sell for more at no cost. Talk to our agents and they can help you decide if it’s worth the extra expense. After making the changes you want with the advice of your real estate agent, you are now ready to list the home. If there are multiple children or beneficiaries, the money will be split up to multiple families. One person shouldn’t do 100% of the work.