How To Stay Positive When Clearing Out a Deceased Loved One’s Home

Clearing out a loved one's home after they've died will never be a completely happy affair, but it doesn't have to be a dark and depressing task either. Take a look at these three ways to keep your positivity up while clearing out your late family member's estate.

Prepare Well in Advance

One of the best ways to keep your mood up when clearing out your loved one's home is to prepare well in advance. You're already going to be feeling emotional about sorting through their belongings; the last thing you need is to feel stressed and overwhelmed on top of that.

The first step you should take when preparing is to create a realistic schedule. One of the most common reasons why people get overwhelmed when clearing their loved one's estate is that they set themselves an unrealistic goal. You may want to get through everything as quickly as possible, but when you have a lifetime of belongings to sort, you won't be able to complete the task in a few hours. Instead, plan a schedule that allows you to tackle one or two rooms a day.

On top of time management, bringing the right supplies will also go a long way in keep stress levels down when you're clearing the house. Bring storage boxes to put keepsakes in, and don't forget labels and markers to keep everything organised. You'll also need bin bags for belongings that need to be thrown away, and you may want to bring gloves and cleaning supplies too.

Don't Feel Guilty

When sorting out items to throw away or donate to charity, it's important that you don't make yourself feel guilty. Often, loved ones feel they're disrespecting their family member by throwing away items they once used. However, you should remember that all those belongings were there to be used at the moment, not to be kept forever.

Above all else, the only important things you need to keep are memories. Whether they come in the form of photographs, particularly special items, old diaries, jewellery or something else entirely, these memories are what your loved one would want you to hold dear. Discarding items that don't hold sentiment or meaning is nothing to feel guilty about; it's simply part of moving on.

Donate Some of the Cash

If your loved one had valuable belongings that don't hold enough sentimental value to keep, the best thing to do is sell them via a deceased estates clearance company. However, some people find themselves feeling guilty about 'profiting' off of their loved one's belongings.

It's important to remember that your loved one would be happy for you to have that money, but if you're still feeling uncomfortable, why not donate some of it to charity? Choose your family member's favourite organisation or pick one that relates to their life or passing in some way, and pass on a portion of the estate proceeds to them. That way, you can feel positive about doing something good with the money.


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