My Late Dad's house

I'm concerned that the house price will continue to drop and that they will buy it, tidy the garden ,have the inside cleaned and sell it on at a profit.

This is probably the key to it. Mabel suspects her brothers of pulling a fast one.

I hope you've got legal help now, Mabel.

Time to confront your brothers , they have no right to exclude you, have they always treated you this way? as others have suggested you need a legal representative . Good luck , don't allow them to railroad you?

My DB and SIL did a lot of work painting and recarpeting her late DF's house last year and it sold immediately at a good price. They gained much more than the investment. Surely your DBs would appreciate making more money for all of you?
However, some parts of the country, house prices have dropped this year.

It sounds as though the price is too high - some estate agents significantly overvalue. This happened to my DM's house - we got 2 valuations and they came in £65,000 apart! The house sold at the lower. Perhaps getting more valuations would give a more realistic price

The external condition may also put off buyers - can you not suggest to them that ordering a skip and spending a day there together (or paying someone) cleaning and clearing would get the house sold quicker?

Katey Visit the CAB (Citizen's Advice Bureau) and ask them how you can set about getting information from a family member about the unwinding and distribution of an estate that is too small for probate.

There must be a method of disputing anyone acting in a potentially criminal or dishonest way over small estates. You may have a right to demand that small though the estate be, it should go to probate.

There was no probate as it was a very small estate.

What is the situation regarding probate?

Wills are public property, Katey - she had no right to keep it from your husband.
If it were me, I'd certainly get a copy and challenge her - with a solicitor's letter if need be.
If she has deliberately kept a bequest from him, then it's surely a criminal offence. Maybe she's not aware that it's possible for anyone to obtain a copy of anyone's will?

If probate has been granted you can get a copy of the will. But sounds like your husband has just decided to let it go.

My hubby and his sister were execs of their Dad's will, she kept the will, wouldn't show it to hubby, there wasn't a house involved but there was cash/savings and insurances. Hubby would have liked his Dads watch. He will not even contact her to discuss it. It really festers with me, but its hubbys decision. The thing is that, if he had been given a share of the money he would have given it to her children and ours. I am just annoyed that my kids have missed out on a little something, but hey hoy. Apparently, the will left everything to him and her.

Thank you ,really good advice, I had asked the executor for the key and he ignored my request.

I shall see a solicitor and ask them to contact the executor.

I would like to have tidied the garden and given the inside of the house a lick of paint in the summer when I had free time.
I shall contact a solicitor.
Thank you

Mabell you need to get a little bit cross. I'd be asking the executor "Why are you ignoring me when I ask for a key?" Maybe remind him that the first task of an executor is to be scrupulously fair. Or as Grumppa suggests get a solicitor to remind him. Tsk.

It's possible, though, that a bit of cleaning inside and tidying of the garden could make the house more attractive to buyers.

Don't leave this to your brothers and their friend. You are as entitled to be involved as they are.

Don't know what happened there!
If there have been only 2 viewings since February it may well be that the house is overpriced. I say this because a similar thing happened with a deceased relative's house - it was on the market for ages. The executors believed the estate agent's valuation, which was far too high at the time. In the end - over a year later - it sold for a lot less than the original valuation.
Estate agents do overvalue sometimes, in order to get the business - they are apt to say what they think people want to hear. What is the market like in your area?

A brother in law recently had to significantly reduce the price of an aunt's house in order to sell it. After several months on the market with hardly any interest the agent admitted that the local market was 'dead'. My BiL did not live close enough to do any maintenance, and keeping the garden tidy was becoming a headache.

If you want a key to the house there is surely no reason why you shouldn't have one. I would insist, and make a bit of a nuisance of yourself to your brothers if necessary.
I do hope all this will be resolved in a way you're happy with.

Been in a similar situation mabell. Sadly we didn't seek legal intervention. grumppa gives sound advice, no harm in an initial conversation with a solicitor. No matter who the executor is he or she has to act properly.

You have an equal right to the keys to the house as your two brothers have. The executor must deal fairly on behalf of all three of you.

There may be a fine balance to be drawn between spending money on the house to raise its value, and simply selling it for what it will fetch.

I would be inclined to seek legal advice and get a solicitor yo write to the excutor reminding him of his obligations.