Inheriting a Home: What No One Tells You

When someone you love passes away, the emotional toll is often followed by an unexpected legal and logistical reality: you’ve inherited their home. At first, the house might just sit there, untouched. Maybe you’re planning to sell it later.

Maybe a family member wants to move in. But while it’s vacant, that home still demands attention—sometimes even more than if someone were living there.

From the very first days of ownership, you're responsible for securing the property, keeping up with maintenance, managing insurance, and avoiding legal pitfalls. Most people aren't prepared for this level of responsibility. That’s why understanding what to expect—and how to plan for it—is essential if you want to protect your loved one’s legacy and avoid unnecessary financial stress.

Security Risks Start Immediately

The moment a home is known to be vacant, it becomes a potential target. Sadly, criminals do monitor obituaries and funeral announcements to find opportunities. Break-ins during services are more common than you’d think. Even if no one is watching the obituary pages, an overgrown lawn, an empty driveway, and no lights at night all signal that no one is home.

If you’re in this situation, your first steps should include changing all the locks and updating alarm codes. You may not know who has keys—friends, caregivers, or even cleaning crews could have copies. Talk to trusted neighbors and let them know who’s allowed on the property. If you can, have someone physically present at the house during funeral services.

Be sure to remove valuable, portable items like jewelry, cash, small electronics, firearms, and prescription medications. Even things that don’t seem high-value—like tools or collectibles—can attract theft. You don’t need to clear out the whole house immediately, but anything easy to steal should go.

Vacant Homes Require Constant Maintenance

Unlike occupied homes, empty ones don’t alert you to problems. No one’s around to notice a water leak, a flickering light, or signs of pests. And the longer a problem goes undetected, the more damage it causes. A minor roof leak might turn into serious structural damage if no one inspects the property regularly.

Climate control is another major factor. You can’t just shut off utilities. In winter, pipes can freeze and burst if the heat is off. In humid seasons, poor air circulation can lead to mold that ruins walls, floors, and belongings.

The outside of the home matters too. An unmowed lawn or a pile of newspapers on the porch is an invitation to vandals. Depending on your city, you might also face fines or citations for neglecting basic upkeep. Pest control is just as important. A few mice or bugs can multiply quickly in a space no one is cleaning or checking.

Simply put, you need a system for regular inspections, lawn care, snow removal, and general upkeep. Otherwise, the property can become both a liability and a money pit.

Insurance Gaps Can Be Devastating

One of the most overlooked problems with inherited property is insurance. Most homeowner policies have a vacancy clause. If no one’s living in the house after 30 days, coverage may be reduced—or canceled entirely—without notice.

Families often learn this the hard way. Imagine the home catches fire, only to find out the insurance company won’t cover the loss because the home was vacant. That could leave you liable for hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The solution is to contact the insurer immediately after the owner’s death and disclose the vacancy status. Some policies can be adjusted to cover vacant homes, often at a higher premium. Others may require you to purchase new coverage altogether. Don’t skip this step, even if you plan to sell the home quickly—real estate sales can take longer than expected, and a single uncovered incident could ruin your finances.

The Power of a Legacy Planning Session

All of these issues—security, maintenance, insurance—can be anticipated and addressed in advance through a Legacy Planning Session. Unlike traditional estate planning that only focuses on wills and legal documents, a Legacy Planning Session also considers the practical side of passing down property.

During this session, we create a full asset inventory that includes key information like the deed, mortgage details, utility providers, insurance policies, and maintenance contacts. That means your loved ones won’t have to dig through filing cabinets while grieving, just to figure out who to call or what’s covered.

We also address how to make funds available to maintain the property without delay. Without proper planning, your family may have to pay out-of-pocket for repairs, utility bills, or taxes—sometimes for months—while the estate is tied up in court.

Most importantly, your family won’t be left guessing. When they have someone to guide them, someone who understands both the legal and emotional landscape, the stress of managing inherited real estate becomes manageable.

Plan Now to Protect What Matters

If you want your family to know exactly what to do with your home—and have access to the resources they need to manage it—a Legacy Planning Session is the best place to start. We help clients create personalized legal plans that ensure their wishes are honored, their property is protected, and their loved ones are supported.

You'll begin with a Legacy Planning Session where you’ll get more financially organized than ever before. Together, we’ll map out what happens to your home, your family, and your assets if you become incapacitated or pass away.

We’ll build a plan that reflects your values and goals—at a price that works for your budget.

Book a free 15-minute discovery call and let’s begin building a plan that truly works for the people you love—no matter how many that may be.