For attorneys: this guide is built to hand to a newly appointed personal representative. It prints clean.
Professional Resources · Client-Ready Guide
The First 30 Days as
Personal Representative
What to Do When the Estate Includes a Home
A practical property checklist for the first month after someone passes away.
The first 30 days after someone passes away are when the estate's real estate is most at risk and when the most consequential property decisions get made. This checklist gives a newly appointed Personal Representative a practical, week-by-week path for the property: protect the home, understand what it costs and what it is worth, and build a plan before anything major is decided.
Use it alongside your estate attorney, who handles the legal steps this guide does not cover. Estate documents may use the older term "executor"; this guide uses "Personal Representative."
Week 1
Protect the Property
Goal: Protect the property and prevent avoidable damage while you get organized.
If the Home Will Be Vacant
If the home will be vacant, contact the insurance company or agent promptly. A standard homeowners policy may have different requirements or coverage when a property becomes vacant.
Ask your estate attorney about who has authority to make decisions concerning the property while the estate is opening.
Week 2
Understand the Property
Goal: Know what the estate owns, what the house costs each month and what needs attention.
Printable Checklists for This Week
Both open directly as PDFs so an attorney can forward them without any form in between.
Week 3
Understand the Property's Options
Goal: See the property clearly before deciding anything.
Resources for This Week
Do not authorize major renovations simply because the house looks dated. First determine whether the work is likely to increase the estate's net proceeds.
Week 4
Build the Property Plan
Goal: Build a property plan with realistic numbers, responsibilities and timing.
Resource for This Week
Cleanout and Preparing the House for SaleAsk your estate attorney about authority to act, probate filings, court requirements, creditor issues, distributions and any legal deadlines that apply to the estate.
A Warning
Don't Rush These Decisions
Each item below has cost the estate money when done too quickly. Take the time to understand the property's options before acting.
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Don't empty the house immediately. Important documents, family property and potentially valuable items can easily disappear.
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Don't start major renovations just because the house looks dated. Some improvements can increase the estate's net proceeds. Others simply cost the estate money.
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Don't shut off utilities without considering the property. Heat, electricity, water, security systems and other services may be important to protecting the home.
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Don't assume the existing homeowners insurance automatically covers a vacant house the same way. Contact the insurance company or agent and explain the situation.
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Don't sign a listing agreement, sales contract or other real estate documents until you know who has authority to act for the estate.
Finish Line
At the End of 30 Days, You Should Know:
You do not need to have everything solved in 30 days. The goal is to protect the property, understand the options and avoid expensive decisions made too quickly.
Next in the Series: The Visual Timeline
The House During Probate
A printable one-page visual timeline that follows the house from protection through strategy, sale and closing. Hand it to a client and walk through the whole real estate journey in about 60 seconds.
View the Visual TimelineOptional
Get these checklists plus a personal walkthrough
Marc Cormier sends a free next-step checklist with his personal walkthrough of your situation. No cost, no obligation, and it never affects your free checklists and guides above.
Optional: also get Marc’s next-step checklist
No Obligation, No Pressure
Have a Property You're Not Sure What to Do With?
I can take a look at the property and help you understand the real estate options, including selling as-is, preparing it for the market, expected value, carrying costs and likely timing.
Prefer to talk now? Call during business hours, or use the form and you will be taken straight to Marc's calendar to pick a time.
General Information
This checklist provides general real estate information for families dealing with estate property. It is not legal, tax or financial advice. Probate requirements vary by estate and jurisdiction. Questions about authority, estate administration, taxes, distributions or court requirements should be discussed with the estate's attorney or other appropriate professional.
