When a parent or relative dies and leaves a house, the property needs attention long before anyone is ready to decide what to do with it. This is the order we suggest to families.
Secure and insure the house
Change or rekey the locks, forward the mail and tell the insurance company the house is vacant. Many homeowner policies limit coverage once a house has been empty for a set number of days, so ask about a vacancy policy.
Keep the utilities on
Leave power and water on and set the thermostat. A house with no air conditioning through a Carolina summer develops moisture problems quickly, and buyers will want working utilities for inspections.
Talk to the estate's lawyer early
Who has authority over the house depends on the will and on the estate file opened with the Clerk of Superior Court in the county where the person lived. That is a question for the lawyer handling the estate. We ask for their go-ahead before a listing agreement or a contract is signed.
Take your time with belongings
Families often feel they must empty the house before calling an agent. You do not. We walk estate homes exactly as they are, and we can arrange estimates for clean-out and donation pickup once you have taken what matters to you.
Get a value both ways
Ask for a written opinion of value as the house stands today and after basic repairs. Seeing both numbers side by side with the repair costs usually makes the decision clear, and it gives every heir the same facts to work from.
This article is general information about buying and selling homes in North Carolina. It is not legal, tax or lending guidance, and things may have changed since it was published.
