# What to Do First When You Inherit a Loved One

URL: https://estateclearingtoronto.ca/guide/what-to-do-when-you-inherit-a-house/
Last-Modified: 2026-10-02
Tags: what to do when you inherit a house, inherited house toronto first steps, executor first steps house

Decision Guide

# What to Do First When You Inherit a Loved One's Home in Toronto

Updated October 2, 2026 | 6 min read | Reviewed by Catherine Delacroix, Estate Clearing Division Lead

![Two crew members and a family member at the front door of a Toronto home](/images/featured/two-crew-members-and-a-family-member-at-the-front-.webp)

## Take a Breath First

Inheriting a parent's home, or being named executor of one, often arrives in the same week as a funeral. It is normal to feel overwhelmed. The good news is that very little has to happen immediately. The first weeks are about protecting what is there, not dealing with all of it.

This guide sets out an ordered plan. When you are ready for help with the contents, professional 

deceased estate clearing

[/deceased-estate-clearing/ →](/deceased-estate-clearing/)

 can take on the physical work while you stay in charge of decisions.

![Notebook with a handwritten first-steps list on a kitchen counter](/images/content/notebook-with-a-handwritten-first-steps-list-on-a-.webp)

## Your First Weeks: An Ordered Plan

### Week 1: Locate the will and confirm the executor

Find the will, if there is one, and confirm who the executor is. If you cannot find a will, or there are questions about it, speak to an estate lawyer. Avoid making decisions about the home until roles are clear.

### Week 1: Secure the home

Lock doors and windows, account for every key, and consider changing locks if many people have had access. Collect the mail. Make sure heat stays on in cold months.

### Weeks 1 to 2: Secure valuables and papers

Jewelry, cash, watches, important documents, firearms and anything the family has named as precious should be secured and recorded. Leave the rest where it is.

### Weeks 1 to 2: Call the insurer

Tell the insurer the owner has died and ask about vacancy terms, which can affect coverage.

### Weeks 2 to 4: Meet an estate lawyer

Your lawyer will explain the probate process, the 

probate timeline

[/guide/deceased-estate-timeline-ontario/ →](/guide/deceased-estate-timeline-ontario/)

 and when it is appropriate to begin dispersing contents.

### Weeks 2 to 6: Book an estate clearing consultation

Even if clearing will not start for months, an early consultation gives you a plan, a price and a schedule to share with your lawyer and family.

> **Do not throw anything out yet**
> 
> The most common regret we hear is an early bag of papers or a box of photos that went to the curb. Wait until papers are found and the family has reviewed keepsakes.

## What the Free Consultation Covers

The consultation is free, takes about 90 minutes, and we arrive in an unmarked vehicle. Catherine Delacroix or a senior crew lead walks the home with you, room by room. We talk about:

-   Items the family already knows it wants.
-   Papers your lawyer has asked you to find.
-   Rooms or storage areas with heavy volume.
-   Possible auction candidates.
-   Any listing, closing or filing dates.
-   Who the decision-maker is and how beneficiaries will be kept informed.

![Crew lead and executor walking through a living room during a consultation](/images/content/crew-lead-and-executor-walking-through-a-bright-to.webp)

Within 48 hours you receive a written, itemized quote with three scope tiers, in a format your lawyer can use. There is no pressure to book.

## Typical Price Ranges

| Home | Tier | Range |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1-bedroom condo or single floor | Partial | $2,500 to $4,500 |
| 2-3 bedroom home | Standard | $4,500 to $9,000 |
| 4+ bedrooms with auction | Large | $9,000 to $18,000 |
| Antiques, art or hoarding overlap | Premium | $12,000 to $25,000 |

## Common Mistakes in the First Months

Even careful families make the same few mistakes after inheriting a home. Knowing them in advance makes them easy to avoid.

1.  **Letting relatives take things informally.** A cousin takes a lamp, a neighbor takes the patio set. Months later no one remembers who has what. Keep a simple list from day one.
2.  **Throwing out papers.** Old statements and envelopes can point to accounts, policies and investments. Keep them all until your lawyer has seen them.
3.  **Leaving the house unattended.** An empty house in winter can freeze, flood or be broken into. Keep heat on and visit regularly.
4.  **Forgetting the insurer.** Vacancy can change coverage. Call early.
5.  **Rushing to list.** A house full of contents is harder to sell, and a rushed clear can lose value and keepsakes.

## Questions to Ask Yourself Before the Consultation

| Question | Why it helps |
| --- | --- |
| Who has keys to the house? | Security and access planning |
| Is there a will, and who is the executor? | Confirms who gives instructions |
| Which items has the family already mentioned? | Protects keepsakes from day one |
| Is there a date the house must be empty by? | Sets the schedule |
| Will the house be sold, rented or kept? | Shapes how much needs clearing |

Bring your answers, even partial ones, to the consultation. They help us give you a realistic quote and schedule.

## What Comes Next

Once your lawyer is comfortable with the timing, the clearing follows a simple order: keepsakes, valuables, donations, disposal, broom-clean handoff, documentation. Our 

executor checklist

[/guide/executor-estate-clearing-checklist-ontario/ →](/guide/executor-estate-clearing-checklist-ontario/)

 walks through each step so you can see the whole process.

You do not need to have every answer in the first weeks. You only need to protect the home, find the important papers and get good advice. The rest can wait until you are ready.

Questions

## Questions Families Ask

### Should we throw things out right away?

No. Wait until valuables are secured, papers are found and the family has reviewed keepsakes. Early clearing is where most regrets and disputes start.

### What happens at the consultation?

It is free, takes about 90 minutes and we arrive in an unmarked vehicle. Catherine Delacroix or a senior crew lead walks the home with you, notes priority items and asks about your timeline and paperwork needs.

### When do we get a quote?

A written, itemized quote with three scope tiers arrives within 48 hours of the consultation, in a format your probate lawyer can use.

When you are ready for help with the home

Estate Clearing Toronto works at family pace, with unmarked vehicles and a documentation package your lawyer can use. The consultation is free and confidential.

Learn more about Deceased Estate Clearing

[/deceased-estate-clearing/ →](/deceased-estate-clearing/)

 

Request Consultation

[/contact/ →](/contact/)