When an elderly loved one passes away and you’re assigned the job of cleaning out his or her home, you might feel both sad and overwhelmed. Depending on how long your loved one has lived in the house, you might have quite a task on your hands even as you’re still grieving. Read on for some tips about how to smooth out the process.
Follow Wishes
Your loved one might have left some specific wishes about his or her possessions and what should be done with them. If so, follow these as closely as possible. Make sure relatives and friends receive items designated for them, and donate pieces earmarked for charities.
Be Fair
Occasionally, you may have to deal with disputes between two or more people who want the same item. If it is designated for one of them, then calmly explain your loved one’s wishes to the others. If it is not, then suggest drawing lots for it. You might also ask each claimant to explain why he or she wants the item so much. Perhaps there are special memories attached, and when the others know about these, they might give in.
Get Help
Sometimes you might need help cleaning out your loved one’s home. Recruit some family members, and get teams working on various rooms, especially if your task includes cleaning, painting and/or repairs. You might also call in a professional appraiser if your loved one has valuable antiques or collectibles or even a cleaning service if the job is simply too much.
Let Go
Finally, there will come a point when you will have to let go of your loved one’s things and home. Hold a garage sale. You can also donate items to local charities. Eventually, you’ll have to list the home on the market or have a residential auction Dothan AL and say goodbye one last time.
Cleaning out a loved one’s home is never easy. You will, however, always have your memories and a few keepsakes.