Estate cleanouts often take place after a lifestyle modification, divorce, or loss of a loved one. A cleanout after the death of a loved one requires the agonizing —but necessary —procedure of arranging a loved one’s private items. In this article, we have laid out a step-by-step guide for cleaning out a loved one’s home, with tips from estate cleanout experts, to help you tackle the job with as little stress and emotional agony as possible.

Take a look at their last will

If your loved one’s death was expected, you may have already seen and familiarized yourself with their will. But if their loss was sudden, make sure to carefully read over the will before starting the estate cleanout. Many wills are straightforward, but some are more complicated than others. Some may require a probate attorney's counsel. Note that the executor of the will should choose the attorney if one is needed.

Secure the home

While you might not immediately clean out the house after their death, it is important to do your due diligence and secure your loved one’s property as soon as possible. You never know who may have an extra key to their home. Make sure to change the locks ASAP, or contact their landlord for the best solution for securing the property.

When a relative dies without a will, it means they have died “intestate.” Intestacy laws vary by state (check here for Oregon’s). This will determine how their property is allocated after their death.

Find important documents

Make sure you have the essential documents needed to take care of your loved one’s bills and other affairs. Check in the safe or in a lockbox for the important documents listed below. You'll need the account numbers on hand when you communicate with these institutions. Once those are located and placed in a secure spot, then you can turn your focus to cleaning out the property.

• Home insurance policy

• Life insurance policy

• Credit card statements

• Pay stubs and tax forms

• Utility bills

• Any passwords or usernames for online accounts

• Mortgage payments, deeds and car registrations

• Social security card

• Bank account statements

• Stocks and bonds

• Invoices, receipts, or paperwork for art or jewelry

Mail forwarding

Important documents and billing statements should be forwarded to a different address. Choose a primary custodian to receive the mail and handle any issues that may arise. All principal records should be channeled to the custodian’s mail address. That way, any incoming mail will be received and sorted by the custodian.

In order to get important mail forwarded, like billing statements, an individual must be the court-appointed executor of the estate. To stop junk mail from being sent to your deceased loved one, you can file with the Deceased Do Not Contact Registration.

Starting slow

Taking an initial tour of the property will help you process your emotions. Take your time with this, and it also helps in making you gradually come to terms with your loss. Matt Paxton, Founder of Wayforth, explains that “there is no firm timeline on this entire process. Grief does not start, does not end at any time. Period. There’s no right way to do this.”

When a loved one passes away, it’s important to recognize the connection they had to their space and belongings. Painstakingly check the items in the house from clothes to furniture. You will find photographs, and these are valuable memoirs that you might want to keep in safe storage.

Create a timeline

Choose a specific date and time and make sure this is passed across to all family members. This is important especially if the property is rented and a time limit has been placed by the property owner. Putting a deadline will not only help you keep focused to complete the task, but will also help you get the property on the market sooner.

Doing the cleanout

When kicking off your estate cleanout, don’t let the whole family loose on the house right off the bat. Go through each room and do a rough sort —open every box, empty every pocket, and look in every cabinet. Once you have an idea of what’s in each room, it’s time to start the actual estate cleanout process.

It is often simplest to start with the pantry or refrigerator. Toss out any expired food, and put what’s usable in a cooler to take home. If you cannot take what’s left, call a food rescue organization to pick it up. Set aside any items that may be high-value for appraisal, even if you’re not sure what they’re worth. Keep other, sentimental items like an old sweater or knitting supplies in a separate pile.

Once you’ve started the main job of cleaning out, invite other relatives to help ease the process for you. But because emotions are high, be cautious of how many people are in the house at one time. In the largest open area, designate zones for items to donate, sell and toss. You should also set up a zone or room for sentimental items that either you or your relatives would like to keep.

Anything that cannot be sold or donated should be recycled or thrown away. Depending on how much is left, it may be necessary to rent a home dumpster to quickly clear out the house. This step in the process can be emotional, but remember these items likely weren’t the most important to your loved one. After everything is removed, deep clean the entire house and do a final walk-through. Open up the closets and cabinets to make sure nothing was left behind, and take the time you need to say goodbye. At this time, you can begin the process of listing the home or hiring a realtor.

Part of cleaning out a house after the death of a loved one is learning how to work through your own grieving process. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all strategy for coping with these emotions. Be kind to yourself in whatever ways you can, allow yourself to take breaks as often as you need and lean on your support system as much as possible.

If the estate you’re working on is in the Portland, OR area, we would like to lend a helping hand. If you are already thinking of listing the home or hiring a realtor, we may be able to save you the hassle of prepping the property for photos and open houses.

Source: https://www.budgetdumpster.com/blog/how-clean-relatives-house/