Danehurst Estate Agents
A considered approach to probate estates
Support with valuing, preparing and selling a property after a death.
Property decisions at a difficult time
Dealing with an estate can bring property responsibilities that are unfamiliar, time-consuming and closely connected to personal memories. We offer a patient, practical service for executors, beneficiaries and solicitors who need help with a property in Dorset or the New Forest.
You may need an initial conversation about value, a valuation instruction for the estate, advice on preparing a home for sale or support deciding between marketing routes. We begin by understanding the circumstances, who is authorised to give instructions and which other advisers are involved.
Formal written Probate Valuation Reports
We provide a formal, written Probate Valuation Report, carefully prepared to establish the property’s open market value at the date of death. This is a separate instruction from an informal market appraisal intended to guide a future sale.
Each report includes a detailed property assessment, supporting market evidence and a clear explanation of how the valuation has been reached. It provides solicitors, executors and estate administrators with a useful written reference when dealing with probate and estate administration.
Before we begin, we agree the purpose and scope of the instruction and discuss any requirements raised by your solicitor or estate adviser.
Sarah Oliver and Stuart Warnock are directly involved in our probate property work. Their combined industry experience supports considered advice about the property, its presentation and the market, with clear communication for the people administering the estate.
Understand the available sales routes
If the property is to be sold, we can discuss an open-market sale and whether an auction could also be suitable. The condition of the home, likely buyer interest, the estate’s priorities and the applicable terms all deserve attention before choosing a route.
Where a property includes a large garden, a separate plot or other possible development potential, we can discuss a land and development appraisal as part of that wider picture. Potential should be assessed on its own merits, with specialist planning advice where required.
Prepare and progress the sale with support
We help plan the agreed marketing, coordinate property information and viewings, and communicate offers with the buyer’s circumstances explained. We can work alongside solicitors, surveyors and other professional advisers, helping with access and enquiries as the sale moves forward.
Our role is to make the estate agency work easier to follow, while the appointed legal and tax advisers deal with their respective responsibilities. You can expect a confidential conversation, a clear point of contact and an approach that recognises the people behind the property.