Virginia
Selling a house after a death
After a death, the practical questions are who has keys, what is still on, and what personal property should stay or go.
The legal questions, including qualification, are in the probate article and in the Code.
We can look at the house when someone with authority lets us in. Call (540) 547-SELL with the address.
The first practical hour
Find the keys, the garage opener, and the alarm code. Note whether the power, water, and heat are on. Mail and newspapers piling up are a security fact. A neighbor with a key is enough for one walkthrough if the personal representative agrees.
Jewelry, papers, and photos are personal property. They can move out before we arrive, or stay. Tell us which rooms are off limits.
Then the two files
The estate file is qualification, notice, and the commissioner of accounts. The house file is condition, payoff, and whether you want one buyer or shoppers. A reverse mortgage, if there is one, adds a servicer payoff.
Local inherited-house articles cover Stafford, Fredericksburg, and Prince William. Other counties start on the location guide. We still need the street.
After a death
Practical column and legal column. We only do the house look.
| Task | Practical | Legal |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | Keys, opener, alarm. | Authority comes from the estate. |
| Utilities | Know what is on. | Keep them on if showings need them. |
| Belongings | Can stay or go. | Your choice before photos. |
| Papers | Deed and payoff if you have them. | Qualification is the probate article. |
Virginia questions
- Do I need to empty the house first?
- No. A path through the rooms is enough for one look.
- Can several relatives attend the visit?
- Yes, if they agree. One person with authority is enough to let us in.
- Where is the Code explained?
- In the probate basics article, with the section numbers.
Call (540) 547-SELL or start with the address on the home page. The location guides name the ZIP codes.