HELP! I am one of 4 beneficiaries (siblings) who inherited a house from my father. There was an appraisal done after his death to establish a cost basis for the home. Home has not been sold yet due to family who thought they wanted to buy it, then indecision of executor to sell with realtor or auction. Executor and 2 siblings are spending estate money to 'fix up' the house for sale. It is solid and well built and in a highly desirable neighborhood, but the landscaping is overgrown and the plumbing is old and could probably use some repairs. The walls are plaster and have mostly never been painted. Carpeting is well worn. Their 'fix ups' include new draperies and new carpet. Dumb, yes, but not the question. My question is, I have asked to receive a copy of the written appraisal and the executor and the appraisal company have refused to send it to me. I am in another state. Executor and 3 other beneficiaries are in same state as the house. One sibling wanted to buy house but has recinded his offer. But he saw the appraisal on the home, other sibling is wife to executor and she has seen the appraisal. I have been refused. Can an executor do this? What is his legal standing? What is my legal standing?

If I have a right to get the appraisal, what legal language do I need to mention to make my point?

The attorneys handling the estate tell me they work for the executor and not the beneficiaries and that the executor has no obligation to consult with the beneficiaries on how to dispose of the property, simply to turn it into cash, pay the bills, and distribute the assets.

I guess I don't declare any gains or losses on the home until it is sold, so don't need the cost basis until then, but I am interested in possibly selling my share of the home to another individual since the only thing I want is not so much money but OUT of this family situation. (Usual dysfunctional family tales... ) If I sold my 1/4 share of the home based solely on the appraisal and current market trends in the neighborhood, I could probably find a buyer (on Ebay?) willing to wait out the executor's indecision on selling it and/or take the investment risk that it will sell and won't burn down, etc. But I can't do that without a written appraisal to show what the home is possibly worth and it's condition description.

First, I'm not sure whether you are entitled to a copy of the appraisal until the house is sold and then all beneficiaries would be entitled to a full accounting.

Second, the only thing you can sell is a flyer on the inheritance. Any buyer would have NO standing with the executor. Once sold the proceeds would go to you and then you would forward them to the buyer. Might be hard to sell under those circumstances.

Any realtor will tell you that a house will sell faster and for more money if its fixed up, even cosmetically. So it sounds like the executor is makling resaonable moves. However, I don't understand the refusal to send a copy of the appraisal, even though they may not be required to. Probably something else going on you aren't telling use (nor do we need to know).

Lets think about this, why would someone on eBay want to buy into a situation where they will have even less to say in it than you? An investor might be interested for say 50 cents on the dollar of the appraisal. Where else would they ever dirive a profit if they bought it at 1/4 of the appraisal.