A relative passed away in June. At the time there was a clock in the repair shop. It still is. Now there is a light fixture in the house that needs replacing since the ballast is bad and a fire hazard. Since the house is still in the name of the deceased, who should pay for these two repairs?
1. the estate account set up to pay estate bills, etc.
or the person who will inherit the clock, in the case of the clock.
or the person who will inherit the house, in the case of the light fixture.

The estate account has already paid for a plumbing repair.

There are two beneficiaries. One of them will inherit the house (and the other will inherit the other parent’s home in due time). The 2nd beneficiary has placed the antique clock on their “desired to have” list from the contents on the house, that will be divided as evenly as possible by comparing want list.

I know my opinion and I know the opinion of the two beneficiaries. I’ll edit my question with those opinions once some answers come in from a few people. I’ll award the points to the person who agrees with my opinion, or who makes a good enough case for the opinions of the beneficiaries. HOWEVER, you won’t know these opinions before you answer, so make your best case with your first answer. Pretend I’m the will executor and convince me who should pay for these repairs.
legally the personal representative(s) or executor(s) can do anything they wish with the estate’s assets as long as they do not infringe on the rights of any beneficiary, they meet all probate court deadlines and if there are two of them they do not disagree and have to get the judge’s help. I have an Uncle who was a rep. and gave away some money before the claims period was over, with the approval of the two beneficiaries of course. The judge jumped down his throat. The Uncle pointed his finger in the judge’s face and said sue me. Know what the judge did? Nothing. The personal rep. or executor has all the power as long as they meet the above criteria.
to Lady Luck……I agree but in this case we are talking about things that do not function as they should. ex: There is a hole in the hallway where an old thermostat was located. This is an imperfection for the new owner to fix if they desire but not a needed repair. Currently the insurance company is balking on a vacant house policy pending the light being fixed and paid for by someone.
the beneficiaries are in the house from time to time to divide contents, sort through trash, junk, etc. The clock was in the shop before the death. The light fixture looks to have been non functional too, before the death since it has not been turned on until now to check and see that everything in the house works. The water leak occurred after the death but before the deed was transferred and the deed has yet to be transferred and the estate paid the water leak repair out by the meter.
It is not a factor, but the clock repair is $175 and the light fixture is $47 plus licensed electrician to install it to satisfy the insurance company that some dumb home handyman did not botch a job that causes a fire down the road.
I’m going to select an answer. I am a co-rep. with my sister. We are also co-beneficiaries but not on the house. Since she wants the clock I was not sure who should pay for that in my mind. Really half the estate account funds are mine and half hers, so if the estate pays for the clock, then I’m paying 1/2 of the clock repair for an item I’ll not inherit. Since she has no reason to want to pay any home repair she is balking on the fixture. It’s not a light bulb, the whole fixture has a bad ballast that has browned the white ceiling tiles indicating over heating. Fire hazards are greater in vacant houses than non vacant. The reason the deed is not in my name is my sister is dictating the rules and we both have laweyrs. I’ll have to pay this light repair with electrician to satisfy the insurance company out of my pocket and hope to be re-imbursed by the estate. She says the house is vacant and not needed to repair. Clock not needed now either. I’m choosing the answer by Rosebud.

Okay, for those who read Book 2, does it strike you as odd that in Harry Potter Chamber of Secrets that the secret entrance to the chamber of secrets was through the bathroom and specifically through a water faucet. Supposedly this has been there for several hundred years? How is it that in that book the bathroom fixtures would be hundreds of years old, especially since the faucet would have been there for centuries.

Does that seem odd to you or how can you explain that the faucets were there centuries before indoor plumbing (and faucets) were invented?

Want to get dealer pricing rather than contractor discounts on appliances, plumbing fixtures and other items necessary for new homes. What steps do I need to take to become a dealer (if necessary)?

Plumbing projects can get messy from time to time. Whether you are upgrading an appliance or fixture, installing new plumbing, or repairing old plumbing, it is important that you research what your options are and prepare for a plumber. If you are in need of a repair there are tricks to solving the problem without having to call in a plumber. And if you do have to call in a plumber it is important that you carefully select one.

Plumbing consists of the pipes and fixtures for the distribution of water or gas in your house. Some of the most common and not so common types of plumbing appliances and fixtures include lavatory sinks, pedestal sinks, utility sinks, a shower/bath, a toilet, a whirlpool, a steam shower, a tankless water heater, solar water heaters and a septic tank. In addition to these fixtures and appliances, you may want to consider the following ideas for your next plumbing project:

Freeze protection for your pipes.
Insulated pipes.
Insulated water heater.
A circulating hot water pump.

Often times a plumbing problem arises in your home, such as a drain problem, a leaky faucet, or a faulty fixture that needs replacement. Many homeowners instinctually call a plumber before taking the time to think about the ways in which the problem could be solved without spending so much money. For example, if you have been wasting money on an annual drain-clearing procedure then you may want to stop for a second and think about what the cause of the problem is. Simple cost effective solutions can be used on almost all plumbing issues. Make sure to review the problem, search for the cause and try attacking the source on your own before calling in an expensive plumber.

In addition, you may be able to save yourself some pennies by purchasing your own plumbing fixtures. Often times you end up paying more for a fixture if you purchase one from your plumber. This is mainly because plumbers sell you toilets, sinks, and faucets that they get at a discount and charge you full price for. The rack up in price is meant to cover the costs of dealing with purchases, returns, and storage. Fortunately, home center stores are now charging you prices that are even lower than the contractor prices that plumbers pay their suppliers. It never hurts to shop around at your home center first because you might just catch yourself a deal.

If and when you do decide to hire a plumber, be careful doing so. Hiring a plumber is very similar to purchasing a car. In both situations, it isn’t wise to go to the yellow pages and choose a dealership/plumber at random. You never know what you are going to get that way. It is best to shop around and get at least three price quotes. The best advice to offer when it comes to hiring a plumber is to do your research and find a qualified plumber who can suit your needs the best.