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The California probate seller checklist.

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1. 01Confirm who has authority to sell: executor, administrator, or trustee — and obtain Letters or the trust instrument.
2. 02Locate the will, trust, death certificate, and any existing listing or loan documents.
3. 03Identify all real property: situs, title, mortgages, reverse mortgages, HOA, and property tax status.
4. 04Order a confidential estate valuation before setting an asking price. Do not rely on a Zestimate.
5. 05Ask counsel whether the sale requires court confirmation or proceeds under IAEA (full authority).
6. 06Inventory personal property. Do not spend money remodeling unless counsel and the numbers support it.
7. 07Secure the property: locks, insurance, utilities, and if needed, a vacancy/security plan.
8. 08Notify the insurance carrier of the death. Vacant-home coverage is often time-limited.
9. 09Gather keys, remotes, gate codes, and any tenant information if the property is occupied.
10. 10Flag liens, judgments, property taxes, and family loans before the listing goes live.
11. 11Decide whether the property will be sold as-is — most probate properties should be.
12. 12Align heirs on communication. One point of contact with the broker keeps the file clean.
13. 13Ask about overbid procedure if court confirmation will be required.
14. 14Keep receipts. The court, the referee, and the tax preparer will want a paper trail.