Jeanette DiLuco CPRES - A GUIDE TO NAVIGATING YOUR INHERITED HOME SALE

mother-in-law’s and mother’s homes—said, “it is not a bad idea to swiftly sell inherited properties. Making a quick decision on an estate property early is always better than later because of the carrying charges you have.” Maintenance costs and taxes on the property continue to add up and when there is an unoccupied or empty property, there is the additional expense of special vacant home insurance that must be paid for by the owners. This will require substantial financial endurance for as long as the will is probated and until the official naming of the executor completed. This can be a tedious process. It is recommended that the heirs of inherited properties retain a lawyer who is familiar with both real estate law and estates in general. The process of searching for this lawyer and the expenses involved can be stressful, but if there is no such estate lawyer to stand as a representative for the inheritor, expensive legal mistakes are far more likely, and may prove far more costly as well. In many circumstances, inherited houses have problems, as they have been lived in for a long time and maintenance may have been neglected. Elderly homeowners do not always maintain their homes. A home that was pristine when your parents moved into it in 1965 and was last updated in the 1980s will need attention prior to marketing. It makes things difficult for the heirs when things like heating, plumbing, septic systems, and carpets are outdated and need updating. A pending sale of a house might not go through if, after inspecting the house, an oil tank is leaking underground and needs to be repaired. In such circumstances, you might have to sell the house at a much lower price to compensate for the maintenance issues and concerns. This may require an inspector who will recommend repairs for both present and potential threats before selling the house. Hiring an inspector can, like everything else, be time- and resource-intensive, especially for heirs who live far from the inherited home.

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