OT/ House deeds and probate advice needed

Hi good folk of NSC, I am looking for some advice from the noble sages of NSC. My wife and I recently lost a good friend and she left everything to her father and as such made him executor to her estate. He is 86 and has little or no knowledge in dealing with this type of matter. She has left him her house and some cash. He needs to know how to transfer the deeds into his name and would it be better just to instruct a solictor to act on his behalf for this and also with dealing with any insurance policies and utility companies or is it straight forward enough to do oneself? Many thanks in advance.

Co-op probate service is very good. Used it when my Mum died. They give a fixed fee and take it from the estate on finalisation.