Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans according to the American writer Allen Saunders – and life events have a habit of happening when you least expect it.

With people living longer and the increase in ‘blended’ families through people remarrying, financial and family arrangements can be a complex web. And when a loved one passes, all those complications are revealed and consequences for decisions made many years before are suddenly exposed.

When you’re grieving for a loved one and coping with your own emotions, navigating through the choppy waters of wills, estates and property ownership can be tough. Dealing with financial issues, knowing what to do and making important decisions at a challenging time isn’t easy, not to mention time consuming and confusing.

This is where our free Selling in Unexpected Circumstances resource can help.

Written in plain English, our guide is a step-by-step guide of what do to in the event of a loved one passing away. It clearly explains what documents you need, who you need to notify, what to do if there is no will and much, much more.

Property assets

When it comes to sorting property assets, our guide takes you through the process, explaining what the legalities are between the different types of ownership and, what you should consider if the property is tenanted.

We also include some frequently asked questions around insuring the property, valuation, and what to consider when selling the property.

Our guide also explains some of the taxes and what implications you will need to consider.

Preventing heartache

Hindsight is a powerful thing. Our resource book also explains what you need to think about with estate planning, such as:

• Draw up a Will
• Share bank account details, names of lawyers and lists of assets with a trusted person
• Communication between family members. Keep a folder at home with important information such as legal papers, Wills, and financial documents.
• Consider having an Enduring Power of Attorney and Enduring Guardians

Having these details to hand will make sorting your estate far easier – and will ensure your wishes are carried out correctly.

Our guide, aims to give you information only so you know what to consider. We strongly recommend you take legal and financial advice from specialists in the field of estate management, who can advise according to your personal situation.

You can get our guide straight to your phone. Simply text the word ‘UNEXPECTED’ to 0488 884 520 and we will send you a link so you can download it.

From explaining property tax, valuations and selling a property to explaining power of attorney, dealing with debt and what to do if there are disputes, our Selling in Unexpected Circumstances resource will help you through a challenging time and give you the knowledge to make informed decisions at an emotional time.

We do more than simply sell or manage property – we’re here to make your life easier, particularly when in crisis; our compassionate and experienced team will make sure your real estate experience is exceptional.

This is why, with nearly 50 years in the business, we are one of Newcastle’s longest established real estate offices, so give us a call on 02 4956 9777, send us an email at mail@newcastlepropertymanagement.com.au, or pop into our office in Cardiff for a personal chat.