How To Clean Out A House After The Death Of A Parent

Cleaning out the home of a recently deceased parent can be an emotionally and logistically challenging task. As you sort through a lifetime’s worth of possessions and make decisions about what to keep, sell, donate, or discard, the process can feel overwhelming. Having the right tools, plan of action and help can make this difficult job more manageable.

What Items or Tools Will Be Needed?

Before diving into cleaning out the house, gather the following necessary supplies and info:

• Boxes, trash bags and bins for categorizing items
• Valuable item appraisal resources
• Estate sale pricing guides
• A scanner or scanner app for digitizing important documents
• Comfortable clothing and shoes for the long days ahead

You’ll also need emotional energy after your loved one's death. Lean on friends or another family member for moral support during this time. Consider hiring an estate sale service as well.

Organize an Estate Sale

Holding a sale can help clear out many possessions while earning some money for the estate. An estate sales service advertises and handles pricing, display, selling and collecting payment for household goods. Before having a sale organized, make sure to carefully read over your loved one's will, as certain items may be designated to specific inheritors. Many companies also donate unsold items after the sale to help ease the estate cleanout process.

Before the sale, members of the entire family should remove any personal possessions they want to keep. The entire house will need to be organized and prepared for the sale. Next, go through what’s left and assign these categories:

• Sell: Valuable collectibles, jewellery, art, antiques and other quality furnishings. An estate sales consultant can appraise and price such items.
• Donate: Older but usable furniture, home goods, clothing and more. These can raise money for charities.

The proceeds from the sold belongings go to the deceased parent’s estate after paying the service fees.

Put Aside Any of Your Loved One's Personal Belongings That Family Members Might Want To Keep

While cleaning out a house after a death, put aside any items you think other family members might want to keep for sentimental reasons. These could include:

• Bank statements
• Sentimental items such as photographs and family films or videos
• Life insurance policy
• Unwanted items should also be set aside to be discarded or donated later

Reach out to extended family about these potential heirlooms. Let loved ones know when they can stop by to collect special items or ship pieces to them.

Call an Experienced Junk Removal Company To Help Remove Any Leftover Items

After the sale ends, you’ll likely be left with many remaining household goods and personal items. Clearing these out of the parent's house after a death involves difficult decisions about what goes and what stays. Calling a professional junk-hauling company like Super Junk can make this process much smoother.

Clearing away the possessions left behind after a parent's death requires deep emotional resilience paired with pragmatic organization. Cleaning out a parent's home after the death of a parent can feel overwhelming, but having the right plan in place is key. Break this enormous job down into small, manageable steps rather than becoming overwhelmed. Seek support from family, friends, and professional estate cleanout services during your grieving process. With time and guidance, the fond memories of your loved one’s belongings.