5 Tips to Help Clear a loved one’s Home
Taking on the task to clear a loved one’s home can be a daunting task, particularly during periods of emotional upheaval such as bereavement. Our advice would be to contact us to help you through the process so that you can focus on family, friends, and memories.
However, you can make the process easier by following these helpful tips:
1. Do a tour of the house
Before starting the project, take a slow and careful tour of the house. This will help you familiarise yourself with the house’s layout and contents and will allow you to process any emotions. Take note of specific rooms and items that you’d like to examine more closely or allocate to another family member or friend. It’s also important to take note of the condition of the house and its contents, as this will impact the home’s value when selling or subleasing.
2. Locate important documents
Depending on the nature of the cleanout, certain documents will need to be located and securely stored. You’ll need to find wills, insurance policies, bills, usernames and passwords, mortgage payments, vehicle registrations, pay stubs, and tax forms. These documents should be found and stored before any sorting or disposal can begin. This step will also help you determine what legal action may need to be taken, especially with regard to wills.
3. Set a deadline
Planning specific dates to work on and complete the task will help you stay on track and motivated. Be sure to communicate with family and close friends to collaborate on a set schedule. Clearing out your loved one’s home can take more time and energy than anticipated, so make sure to allocate specific time to the task instead of waiting for opportunities to arise.
4. Organise and distribute belongings
Taking time to distribute and organise belongings before cleaning can begin will alleviate much of the stress. If parting with the belongings of a deceased loved one, it may be best to bring in a small group of immediate family first and then work with the outer circle of close friends. Emotions can run high during times of crisis, so it’s important to keep this in mind and have everyone clearly mark what they would like to take.
5. Sell, donate, discard
Once family and friends have chosen their items, it’s time to address what remains. Go from room to room and sort into sell, donate, or discard piles. Large items like furniture, appliances, and decorative pieces can usually be valued and sold. Do keep in mind, however, that when considering the value of a second-hand item, you cannot consider what was paid for it or what the replacement cost would be to buy new.
Donating is also an excellent option for items that are too valuable to throw away but are unwanted by family. If you find that there are a large number of items to be discarded, it may be easier to rent a dumpster.
For information about our estate clearing services, visit this page: https://www.clear-path.co.za/estate-clearing/