The days, weeks, or months after a loved one passes can be hectic and challenging. While grieving a family member’s passing, you suddenly have a to-do list added to your plate that often has attached deadlines. Below we will list tips to help make the process of cleaning a late family member’s home a little easier.
Handling an Estate Cleanout
Cleaning out a family member’s home is both emotionally and physically draining. Reach out to those you are close to for help. If you have a dependable support system, you can assign specific tasks to help break up some of the responsibilities. For example, one person can handle gathering bills and important documents, and another could look after changing locks on the doors.
Here are five tips for cleaning a late family member’s home:
Secure the Home
You might decide to take time cleaning out the home of a loved one after death, so you will need to secure the property as soon as possible. You might not be sure who has keys to their home. To protect the family and belongings, change locks immediately after your loved one’s passing. If they rented, contact the landlord to find the best option for securing the property.
Locate Important Documents
Before throwing out documents, you need to make sure that you keep important documents. Also, you will need to take care of bills or other affairs. When you have located records, store them in a safe spot to focus on cleaning the house. Vital documents that you need to hang onto include:
- Utility bills
- Credit card statements
- Passwords and usernames for online accounts
- Receipts, invoices, or paperwork for jewelry or art
- Mortgage payments, car registration, and deeds
- Pay stubs and tax forms
- Social Security card
- Insurance policies and wills
Review the Will
Suppose a family member’s death was expected. In that case, you may already be familiarized with their Will, but if it is a sudden loss, make sure you carefully read through the Will before beginning cleaning their estate. Wills are mainly straightforward, but some can be more complicated and might require a probate attorney’s counsel.
If a family member dies without a will, get in touch with legal professionals in your area to learn about how to handle cleaning out the estate.
Sort Through the House
When you begin cleaning out a loved one’s estate, start by going through each room and doing a rough sorting on your own before letting the whole family loose in the house. As you go through the house, sort any items you think might be of high-value for appraisal, even if you aren’t sure of their worth. Estate appraisers recommend getting estimates for larger pieces, including fine art, silver, jewelry, contemporary design or antique furniture, and antiques. Keep sentimental items, such as knitting supplies or an old sweater, in a separate pile.
- Eliminate junk as you sort through the house – you may be worried about throwing away items, but badly broken furniture, etc., should be thrown away. Hire a roll-off dumpster for the driveway to make getting rid of junk easier, and help you keep the home as clean as possible.
- Set a time limit – rather than being vague on the timeline for handling an estate cleanout, make a plan. Choose a specific date after the initial rough sort, and inform the family. Setting a firm date will help with getting the home cleaned and on the market faster.
Hire an Estate Liquidator
After sorting and cleaning a late family member’s home, you need to sell valuable items. If there are numerous items to sell, consider hiring an estate liquidator for help. An Estate Liquidator will know the market to sell, the value of the pieces and the correct way to quickly sell personal property.
Final Thoughts
After you’ve cleaned and sorted through a loved one’s estate, you are one step closer to getting the home on the market. Give yourself the time you need, and ask for help along this journey. You, yourself, are grieving your loss. Setting timelines, working at your pace, and asking for help are essential for cleaning a late family member’s home.
