Is this a good time to sell the house you are managing for an estate? This is not an easy decision, because you are not simply selling your own home. You are dealing with a property that belongs to beneficiaries, while trying to make decisions that are fair to everyone.
Original Illustration by Avery Associates
There Is No Universal Good Time to Sell
There is no universal good time to sell the house in the current UK market. However, current trends give executors several reasons to consider selling rather than waiting indefinitely.
The UK Property Market Appears To Have Flattened Out
UK house prices were broadly flat in July 2026. Lloyds reported an average price of £299,253, just £143 lower than June. This was a mere 0.1% higher than a year earlier. Higher mortgage costs and uncertainty appear to be making buyers more cautious.
However, this does not necessarily mean that an executor should delay a sale. A property is usually worth more to an estate when it is sold at a realistic market price. Compared to when it sits empty for months while everyone waits for prices to improve.
There are also significant regional differences. Prices have been performing better in some northern areas and Scotland, while London and the South East have experienced falls.
Think About The House And Estate, Not The Market
Your responsibility is different from that of an ordinary homeowner. You do not necessarily have to wait until it is good time to sell the house. Your responsibility is to administer the estate properly, and act in the interests of the beneficiaries.
This can make waiting for a higher price particularly difficult to justify, if the property is costing the estate money. An empty house may require insurance, heating, maintenance, security, and council tax.
One beneficiary may believe the house should be sold immediately. Another may believe prices will rise if everyone waits. A third may want to keep the property.
The executor should avoid making the decision according to personal preference. They should consider obtaining professional advice instead.
Get An Honest Independent Valuation Of The House
Is this a good time to sell the house for what you can get? A professional valuation can provide a useful starting point. You already valued the property for probate. That was the market value at the date of death.
Obtaining an up-to-date valuation by a specialist can help the executor and beneficiaries understand what the property might realistically achieve now.
It can also reduce arguments within the family. Rather than debating what the house is worth, everyone can consider evidence from a qualified professional.
Don’t Chase An Unrealistic Price If You Want To Sell
One of the biggest mistakes an executor can make, is putting the property on the market at an ambitious price. Value is not what one family member believes the house could sell for.
A realistic asking price is more important than trying to achieve the highest possible price. Remember, if a property remains unsold for a long period, the estate continues paying its running costs.
Selling Now Can Simplify Family Negotiations
For an executor whose main concern is avoiding family disagreements, there is a strong argument for making the process transparent.
Explain to the beneficiaries why the property is being sold at the assessed value, and how you established it. Emphasize that, while this may not be a good time to sell the house, selling will allow you to distribute the proceeds of the sale.
If a good offer arrives, compare it with the professional valuation and current market evidence, rather than automatically rejecting it because an heir hopes a higher offer might appear.
Should You Sell The House With Money On The Table?
As executor, the best answer could be to sell when the property is properly prepared, and a realistic price is on the table. Trying to predict the perfect moment is unlikely to produce certainty.
The current market is neither a strong boom nor an obvious reason to panic. Prices are relatively stable nationally, but conditions vary considerably between regions and property types.
If the property is costing the estate money, and the beneficiaries want their inheritance distributed, selling now may be the sensible decision.
Most importantly, the executor should be able to demonstrate that the decision was made carefully, objectively, and in the interests of the estate.
That approach may not guarantee the highest possible selling price. But it can help achieve something equally important: a fair decision that is easier for the whole family to accept.
This article comes to you with the compliments of Avery Associates, bespoke property valuers that the UK trusts.
