Selling an Inherited Home in Long Beach: Checklist

Working with the family and the estate

Documents to gather

• ☐Death certificate (order several certified copies)
• ☐The will or trust, and any amendments
• ☐The grant deed or trust transfer deed for the home
• ☐Latest mortgage statement, HELOC or reverse mortgage statement
• ☐Property tax bill and homeowners insurance policy
• ☐HOA contact and dues, if any
• ☐Utility accounts: water, power, gas, trash
• ☐Names and contact info for every heir or beneficiary

Family checklist

• ☐Choose one point person to talk to the attorney, me and the escrow officer
• ☐Agree early: sell, keep, or one heir buys out the others
• ☐Ask your CPA about taxes before you decide (stepped-up basis, Prop 19)
• ☐Set a date for family to pick up keepsakes
• ☐Put decisions in writing and share them with everyone

Preparing a home that may need work

Protect the house first

• ☐Change the locks and collect every key and garage remote
• ☐Call the insurance company. Many policies limit coverage when a home sits empty
• ☐Keep power, water and gas on for showings and inspections
• ☐Forward the mail and stop newspapers and deliveries
• ☐Keep up the yard and check the house every week
• ☐Keep paying the mortgage, taxes and insurance until escrow closes
• ☐Ask your attorney before you spend estate money

Get it ready to sell

• ☐Remove valuables, papers and keepsakes first
• ☐Book an estate sale, donation pickup and junk haul
• ☐Deep clean, then walk through it with me
• ☐Decide: fix it up, light refresh, or sell as is. I'll show you what each would likely net
• ☐Consider a pre-listing inspection so there are fewer surprises in escrow

Getting it sold without extra stress

What to expect

1. Talk to an estate attorney and confirm who can sign.
2. I visit the home and give you a value range for each option: as is, light refresh, fixed up.
3. Clean-out and any repairs.
4. Photos, listing and showings. I handle access so no one has to be there.
5. Offers. I lay them out side by side for the family.
6. Escrow. In probate, court confirmation may add time.
7. Close, and the money goes where the estate attorney directs.