How Walker Laird Strengthened Probate Property Protection with Estatesure
Helping Solicitors Protect Probate Property with Confidence
Walker Laird Solicitors LLP supports clients across Renfrew and Paisley with a wide range of legal services, including executry and probate matters. Denise Mennie, Paralegal in the firm’s executry department, recently introduced Estatesure’s unoccupied property insurance into the probate process to help safeguard vacant estate properties and reduce risk for both clients and the firm.
With probate property often representing one of the most valuable assets within an estate, ensuring appropriate insurance cover is in place quickly is essential.
The Importance of Unoccupied Property Insurance
Denise explains:
“When we sit down with relatives who have lost a loved one to discuss the estate, the number one priority is unoccupied property insurance. Often clients don’t realise the importance of making sure a property, which is often the largest asset within the estate of the deceased, is fully protected if no one is living in it anymore. The existing insurance policy may have become invalid and naturally the risk of water damage or theft increases if a property is empty.”
For solicitors and executry professionals, arranging suitable cover quickly can be critical. Delays may expose estates to unnecessary financial and legal risks.
Overcoming Delays in Arranging Vacant Property Cover
Denise continues:
“As a legal firm, the challenge we have faced in the past is ensuring unoccupied property insurance is put in place rapidly enough to mitigate any risk. Previously, it has taken several weeks to obtain quotes from different insurance companies or through a broker and provide this information to the executor.
A few years ago, a cold snap just two days before Christmas really highlighted the issue when pipes burst in multiple properties. Only half of these were covered by standard property insurance due to the gap between the property becoming empty and being able to secure the correct policy cover. Where the executors hadn’t informed the incumbent insurance company that the property was unoccupied, they were just not covered.
This experience highlighted the importance of having access to a straightforward and responsive insurance solution designed specifically for probate and executry cases.
How Estatesure Streamlines Unoccupied Property Insurance
Estatesure helps legal firms access probate property insurance quickly through a simple online process, helping reduce administrative burden while ensuring properties remain protected.
Denise explains:
“With Estatesure (an FCA authorised and regulated division of the Estatesearch Group), I simply log on to the secure Estatesearch online portal and request four quotes, which arrive within minutes. On confirmation from the executor about which quote they would like to go ahead with, I log this on the system and the job is done. It’s quick and easy and saves so much time. It also mitigates any risk of a ‘gap’ where the house is not fully protected.”
Delivering Cost-Effective Insurance Solutions for Clients
In addition to improving efficiency, Estatesure also helped Walker Laird secure more competitive insurance cover for clients.
Denise shares:
“Estatesure’s unoccupied property insurance is also a cost-effective option. One of our clients, who has multiple rental properties, was paying £1,000 per year for insurance on one property which was taking time to sell. Estatesure provided a new quote of £700 for 12 months with the option of a pro-rata rebate if the property sold earlier.
Our client couldn’t understand why his broker had not been able to get this price. The client is now far more confident in our ability as a firm to service his needs, which is a positive outcome for us.
By providing fast access to competitive probate property insurance quotes, Estatesure helps firms enhance client confidence while supporting better estate outcomes.
Reducing Administration and Risk for Probate Professionals
Traditional vacant property insurance applications can often involve extensive property-specific questions, creating delays for executors and legal teams.
Denise explains:
“The other challenge with gaining quotes for unoccupied property insurance through other firms is the high degree of detail they need, right down to the types of locks on windows. Often we have never visited the house and so just don’t have this information. If executors are based abroad, it’s not easy for them to check. Therefore, it can be frustrating and time-consuming for both us and our clients.
“Estatesure just needs confirmation of when the property was built and the type of boiler/heating that’s installed, and that’s it. Honestly, dealing with Estatesure for unoccupied property insurance has been life-changing for our working practices!”
Supporting Solicitors with Flexible Probate Property Cover
Another practical benefit for Walker Laird was the flexibility of Estatesure’s policy requirements.
Denise notes:
“A further benefit is that properties insured through Estatesure don’t need regular weekly inspections, which always seems to be the case with other firms. Weekly inspections are difficult if we are executors, and impossible if lay executors don’t live nearby or are out of the country.”
This provides added reassurance for solicitors, executors and beneficiaries managing estates where properties may remain vacant for extended periods.
A Trusted Partner for Probate Professionals
For Walker Laird, Estatesure forms part of a wider customer-focused approach to probate and executry administration.
Denise concludes:
“At Walker Laird, our aim is to protect our clients but we also need to protect ourselves too. We offer a one-stop shop including home sales and work on estates with a wide range of property values, from flats to high-value residences. During a bereavement, it is important to provide practical advice without pressure and be able to offer clients all the information they need to make informed decisions about the best way forward. At the same time, we need to demonstrate our due diligence throughout. Estatesure helps us achieve this through probate property insurance.
“We also use Estatesearch for share valuations, share sales and financial asset searches. Our account manager, Allan Hume, is really helpful and is always able to answer any questions we have. Working with Estatesearch supports our customer-led approach and means we can work together to achieve better outcomes for our clients.”
Looking for Probate Property Insurance?
Estatesure provides specialist unoccupied property insurance designed specifically for solicitors, probate professionals and executors managing estate property.
Whether you need fast quotations, reduced administration or flexible cover during probate, Estatesure helps protect vacant properties with confidence.
Originally published in Today’s Wills and Probate: How Estatesearch supports Walker Laird with unoccupied property insurance | Today’s Wills and Probate
