How to Clean Up Deceased Loved One's Home Ahead of Sale
One of the most difficult responsibilities after a loved one dies is to have to clean out their home before it can be sold. You’ll encounter memories everywhere. Here’s how to get the job done.
When a loved one dies, it will hit everyone in your family pretty hard. Before and after the cremation services in Chaska, MN, you and your loved ones will have a lot to do even as you make your way through the early stages of the grieving process.
But if your deceased loved one owned a home that now needs to be sold, you may have some more work on your hands before its ready to hit the market. Here are some tips to help you get your deceased relative’s home ready so that it can be put up for sale.
Know What’s Required
How big a task awaits you when you arrive at the residence to start the cleaning? Factors that will determine the extent of the task will include the size of the house, the number of possessions there, how many people will assist, and the amount of time you all have to dedicate to the task. You can bet that it will be an emotional affair since you'll see reminders of the deceased everywhere you turn. When you figure out what's involved in the task, you can give yourself enough time to get the job done without stressing yourself out too much.
Get Family and Friends to Help
Many hands make light work. It’s an oft-repeated saying, but it’s nonetheless a truism. Don’t think that you have to do everything on your own. After you decide what’s required to clean up the house, you’ll need to decide how many people are needed to do the job. Perhaps you have enough family members who are willing to help. You may need to reach out to friends as well. As a general rule of thumb, it’s best to have too many helping hands than too few.
Make an Inventory
It’s important to make an inventory of what’s in the home so that you can decide what to do with the various items. You’ll want to start by listing things based on the following headings:
- Things to Give Away
- Things to Donate
- Things to Throw Out
Did the deceased make known who should get their car, bedroom set, or fine silverware? If this is the case, then make arrangements for the intended recipients to pick up what’s reserved for them. Otherwise, you may have to negotiate with family members to decide who gets what. You’ll also want to decide what to give away. Are there things you want to donate to a thrift store in the neighborhood? Are there people in the community who would appreciate some of the things you and your family don’t want for yourselves? Figure out what to donate and then do so. You’ll no doubt find stuff that you don’t want and that won’t serve anyone much good. Make arrangements to bring these items to the garbage dump.
Get Paperwork in Order
Hopefully, you have all the paperwork needed to actually sell the home. A lawyer or a realtor can assist. Once you have the documents and the home is ready, you’ll be ready to put the home up for sale.
You may very well find that there’s a lot of work to do after the cremation service in Chaska, MN. This will certainly be the case if you and your loved ones have to clean up a deceased relative’s home before selling it. As far as planning a cremation, you can get in touch with us at Scott County Cremation for the help you need in making the big and small decisions. We can be reached at (952) 402-9000. You can also visit us at 833 S. Marschall Road, Shakopee, MN 55379.
