The first 14 days at a vacant inherited home

Day one: the door

• Change the exterior locks (a $200 line item; rarely a regret)
• Note who has keys; ask for them back diplomatically
• Confirm the alarm system is on, and you have the code

Days 1–3: insurance

Most homeowners policies treat the property differently after death — sometimes adversely. Call the insurer, declare the property vacant or unoccupied as appropriate, and confirm coverage. A vacancy endorsement may cost more but is much cheaper than discovering the standard policy excluded a freeze-up loss.

Days 1–7: utilities

• Keep the heat on, especially in winter — a freeze-up in an unoccupied house is expensive and almost entirely preventable
• Switch utilities to estate billing where possible; otherwise keep them current
• Stop newspaper and mail forwarding to executor address

Days 1–14: belongings

Walk the home with a beneficiary or witness present. Photograph everything before moving anything. Identify items that are uniquely valuable, sentimental, or contested early — these are the items most likely to disappear if the home is later opened to many visitors. Lock them in one room with one keyholder.