Please note: This checklist is meant to help an executor organize the property side of an estate. It is not legal, tax or financial advice, and your situation should be discussed with your estate lawyer, accountant and financial advisor. If you do not have an accountant or financial advisor, I would be happy to make some introductions — call or text me at 647-584-7782.
A practical preparation sheet for an estate home or investment property.
Protect and identify
- Notify the insurer of the owner's death and actual occupancy. Request written coverage and inspection requirements.
- Arrange appropriate property checks, maintenance and security. Respect tenants' and other occupants' rights.
- Locate the will and obtain legal advice about who may act.
- Identify registered and beneficial ownership, mortgages and any other claims with the lawyer.
- Keep a log of property decisions, expenses and documents.
Gather the property information
- Historic photographs, maintenance records and known condition issues.
- Purchase closing documents and improvement invoices.
- Existing date-of-death valuation, if any. (Why a date-of-death value is not an asking price.)
- Current property expenses and mortgage details.
- For rentals: leases, rents, deposits, operating expenses, CCA schedules and tenancy issues.
Know who handles what
Agree early on who handles each part, so nothing is missed.
- Estate lawyer: authority to act, probate, title transfer, reviewing agreements before you sign, and beneficiary questions.
- Accountant (CPA): tax owing, final tax returns, and tax choices for the estate.
- Appraiser: a formal date-of-death value, if your lawyer or accountant needs one.
- Real estate broker: today's likely sale price, what to fix before listing, and marketing and selling.
- Financial planner: whether keeping, selling or reinvesting suits an owner's or beneficiary's wider finances.
Before committing to a sale or transfer
- Confirm the legal route before signing.
- Compare preparation cost and delay with the likely sale benefit.
- Confirm how occupancy affects access and possession.
- Obtain the CPA's tax and liquidity estimates.
- Distinguish a beneficiary distribution from a beneficiary purchase.
- Confirm how sale proceeds and reserves will be handled.
Bring these five answers to the property consultation
- Where is the property?
- Is it a house, condo, rental building or another type?
- Who occupies it?
- What is your role and legal stage?
- Which decision needs help first?
Estate property help in Durham Region and nearby GTA: request an estate property sale review, call 647-584-7782 or email [email protected].
For the underlying rules, see Ontario's estate guidance and CRA's information for legal representatives.
About the author
Carmine Cupelli is a Broker with RE/MAX Hallmark First Group Realty Ltd., Brokerage, and leads The Carmine Cupelli Team. He has worked in Durham Region real estate for over 30 years, across Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa, Clarington, Scugog, Uxbridge and Brock, and has followed the region's power of sale and estate market throughout that time.
Carmine holds the Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES) designation, along with SRS, ABR, CLHM and RENE. He helps executors, beneficiaries and owners planning ahead understand the real estate side of an estate: what a property is worth in today's market, how to prepare it, how to handle tenants, and how to sell. He works alongside each family's estate lawyer and accountant, never in place of them.
Call or text 647-584-7782.
This is general preparation guidance for Ontario executors, beneficiaries and owners, not legal, tax or accounting advice. Every estate is different. Obtain individual advice from an estates lawyer and a CPA.
Updated November 3, 2026.
Carmine Cupelli, Broker, SRS, CLHM, ABR, SRES, RENE — RE/MAX Hallmark First Group Realty Ltd., Brokerage · 647-584-7782
