Maryland Personal Representative Property Checklist: What to Do With the House
Last reviewed: September 4, 2026
If you have been appointed personal representative of a Maryland estate, the house can become one of the most time-consuming assets to manage. This checklist focuses on the practical property side of the job.
First 72 hours: protect the property
- Confirm doors, windows, garage doors, and gates are secure.
- Identify who has keys and consider changing locks if access is uncertain.
- Locate homeowners insurance information and confirm appropriate coverage.
- Keep utilities on as needed to protect plumbing, HVAC, security, and the structure.
- Arrange a local property check if the home is vacant.
- Photograph every room before anything is moved.
Preserve records before cleanout
- Wills, deeds, titles, insurance, tax returns, bank statements, and investment records
- Vehicle records and keys
- Safe, storage-unit, and lockbox information
- Receipts and prior appraisals for valuable property
- Family photographs and documents that may be sentimental or historically important
Document contents before removing them
For a regular Maryland estate, the inventory is generally due within three months after appointment of the personal representative. Because household contents and other tangible property may be relevant to that inventory, document the home before a major cleanout and identify anything that may require independent appraisal.
See How to Value Household Contents for a Maryland Probate Inventory.
Keep the house maintained
- Lawn and exterior maintenance
- Seasonal heating and cooling checks
- Leak and moisture checks
- Trash, mail, and visible vacancy concerns
- Minor repairs before they become major repairs
- Photo updates if beneficiaries live elsewhere
Plan the cleanout in stages
Separate belongings into retain/distribute, sell, donate, and dispose categories. Do not rush to discard items before the estate’s inventory, appraisal, and beneficiary needs are understood.
Also read Can You Clean Out a House Before Probate Is Finished in Maryland?
Evaluate the property’s next use
- Sell: compare as-is value with the cost and likely return from preparation.
- Rent: evaluate market rent, licensing, management, maintenance, vacancy, and carrying costs.
- Hold: preserve the property while the family decides.
- Transfer: confirm legal and tax implications with the estate professionals involved.
For a fuller comparison, see Inherited a House in Maryland: Should You Sell It, Rent It, or Keep It?
Use one local property coordinator when possible
A single accountable coordinator can simplify cleanout, repairs, cleaning, lawn care, vendor access, property checks, photography, and preparation for sale or rental.
Bluebeam’s estate property services are designed to help with that coordination role.
This checklist is general property-management information, not legal, tax, or appraisal advice. Confirm estate-specific requirements with the Maryland Register of Wills and your attorney.