An inherited house becomes sellable in a predictable sequence: open probate, get authority, secure the property, then close through a title company. This checklist walks you through all nine steps in order.
KEY FACTS FROM THIS GUIDE
- Executor authority (letters testamentary) usually issues 4 to 8 weeks after filing
- You can typically sell before probate fully closes once authority is granted
- Inherited property gets a stepped-up tax basis to date-of-death value (IRS Pub. 551)
- Remote signing and mobile notaries let out-of-state heirs close without traveling
Steps 1 to 3: authority
File the probate petition in the county where the deceased lived, obtain letters testamentary from the court, and confirm whether the will grants power of sale. In Fulton, Franklin, Harris and most metro counties this takes 4 to 8 weeks. Nothing else can happen without it, so start here even if the family has not decided what to do.
Steps 4 to 6: protect the asset
Secure the house: change locks, maintain insurance (vacant-home coverage if empty), and keep utilities minimally running to prevent winter pipe damage. Collect whatever documents surface: deed, mortgage statements, tax bills. Do not start clearing out belongings until the family has agreed what happens to them.
The estate can have a real number this week. Written numbers, licensed title company closings, zero pressure.
Steps 7 to 9: decide and sell
Get a written as-is cash offer to establish the real baseline value, compare it with an agent’s net sheet if the house is market-ready, and let the estate attorney review whichever contract you choose. The title company handles payoff of any mortgage and records the sale; proceeds go to the estate account for distribution.
Get a free written cash offer here, or book a free consultation if you want to talk it through with a real person first.