Once you analyze each piece of property you own, you must evaluate the cost of maintaining that property. You need to consider whether it would be practical for your family to own the property jointly after you are gone. You may be surprised to find you would like to instruct the executor to sell that particular piece of property. The proceeds will then be distributed as you instruct.

Even if you have given your executor full discretion as to the sale of your property, she has a duty to make prudent financial choices about your property during the course of administering your estate. Your executor may decide that it will cost too much money to maintain the property during the estate administration, and that the property should be sold. Or your executor may feel that the property might go down in value and, therefore, decide it is best to sell the property and distribute the cash proceeds before the decline in value.

Of course, if you don't want a particular property sold, you can also stipulate this in your will. Sometimes it is difficult to decide between sentiment and practicality. However, if you don't make these tough decisions yourself, someone else will have to.