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Home Cleanout My dad lived in the same house for almost 50 years at the time of his death, and in some ways the house felt more like an antique shop than a normal home.

This made the prospect of cleaning out his home incredibly daunting as, on top of all of the objects with a lifetime’s worth of personal meaning, there were many items in the house that were potentially collectible and therefore required more attention during the cleanout process.

This isn’t to say that there wasn’t also a large amount of items that could be donated or even simply thrown away, but the antiques and valuable made the process feel more complex than originally expected.

CALL TO ACTION Developing A Plan While home cleanout can be both logistically and emotionally daunting, there are a few steps that can be taken at the outset to help make things feel more manageable

Identify any time-sensitive factors: consider the cost of maintaining utilities payments, impact of local weather, and existence of perishable items, when deciding where to start. If there is a specific date by which you need to sell the house, this may also influence your approach Break things down into more manageable tasks: Consider focusing on one room at a time, and starting with the smallest or easiest room first. Quick progress can lend itself to more motivation, and you’ll need an empty room as storage space for the items you plan to keep as you continue to clear out the home. Focus on things that can be disposed of or recycled first Junk Removal Clearing out items that can be disposed of one action that can help make it feel like you are making progress in the home cleanout process.

If you have a large volume of trash to dispose of, you may need to rent a dumpster. Contact your local waste management company to schedule the dumpster to be delivered to the house Some cities may also require you to get a permit if the dumpster will be in the street There are many junk removal services available to help with large volumes of trash, as well as with heavier objects (old appliances, furniture, etc). Services to consider: 1-800-GOT-JUNK Junk King Go Load Up Local Yelp Reviews Additional Factors You may need to keep certain necessary utilities active (power, water, gas) Look for bills, statements, paperwork that may require attention. This may provide valuable information to help as you take inventory of assets and financial accounts. Donating Items Donating items such as old clothing, kitchenware, household goods, etc. can be a great way to clear out items in bulk while also contributing to good causes.

Organizations to consider Salvation Army Goodwill Local Children’s Hospitals Veterans Organizations BuyNothing Selling Items List items online for sale.

Recommended platforms include Craigslist OfferUp Facebook Marketplace Hold a garage sale or yard sale

Make sure to advertise this in the local neighborhood by putting signs at major intersections and include the house address This can also be a great way to connect neighbors who knew your parent and share stories and memories Hold an Estate Sale- Please check out the Estate Sale section of this site for more information

Valuables And Antiques Be aware of antique and potentially valuable items that your parent may have accumulated over the years. There may be items with significant value that could be overlooked by the untrained eye. If you believe there may be valuable items, it may be worth hiring an Antique Appraiser to visit provide a professional opinion.

Storage Depending on how much you plan to keep, it may be necessary to rent a storage unit while you continue to clear out the home.

Companies to consider ExtraSpace Storage Public Storage Warning: If you do rent a storage unit, read the contract and be aware that many companies reserve the right to be able to increase rent at any time after you have moved in. This expense can add up quickly What Do I Do With Personal Items That I Would Like To Hold On To? Prioritize sentimental items: Start by identifying items that hold sentimental value to you or your family members. These could include family heirlooms, photographs, personal letters, or items with special memories attached to them. Communicate with family: If there are siblings or other family members involved, it’s important to communicate openly about who wants to keep what. Try to come to a consensus about who gets which items to avoid any potential conflicts. Create keepsake boxes: Designate special boxes or containers for the items you want to keep. Take your time: Cleaning out a parent’s home is not something that needs to be rushed. Allow yourself time to grieve and process your emotions as you go through the belongings. It’s okay to take breaks when needed.