Grief is a never-ending bouquet of emotions that cloud your every thought. It forces you to squeeze your fists and bite your knuckles until the ache is as unbearable as your sorrow.
Losing a loved one is an unmeasurable pain. Once the proceedings of laying them to rest are done, you have to deal with the hard part of packing their life away.
Nobody tells you this; the agony of folding a sweater that still holds their scent or pruning the rose bush they so carefully tended to.
You might not see it now but a kind of catharsis comes with going through every item in their home and attaching memories to them.
Below, we’ll explain how to pack up a deceased loved one’s home with care and respect.
Gather Support
You don’t have to go at it alone. Invite close family and friends to help you. Instead of viewing the process as a chore, reframe it as a celebration of their life.
Grief support specialist Elizabeth Lewis tells Remembering A Life that when her sister died from cancer, she and her siblings cleaned out her personal belongings from her rented home.
Besides crying, they saw it as an opportunity to take care of one last thing for their beloved sister.
Every item carried a memory, encouraging them to share their stories. Lewis says the activity was a healing step on their shared grief journey.
Locate Important Documents
They teach you in school about drawing up a budget or the difference between stalagmites and stalactites. What they don’t equip you with is how to wrap up a deceased estate or write a will.
These are important things to know when you’re going through mounds of paperwork with no idea of what can be trashed or kept.
Check the safe or lockbox for insurance policies, bank account statements, stocks and bonds and the will. Copies of these documents should ideally be in the possession of the executor of the estate.
Consider Getting Professional Help
Logistics-wise, you aren’t able to pack up your loved one’s possessions. You could be in another city or state.
For instance, If you live in California and your loved one’s belongings are in Virginia, it’s safer to employ Virginia movers specializing in long-distance projects and packing services. Employ full-service movers that offer the best customer service.
Get on board with a local moving company familiar with the area and have experience moving items from a deceased’s home.
Given the choice, also ensure they have storage facilities or storage solutions in the event that wrapping up your loved one’s estate takes longer than planned.
495 Movers says this option gives you peace of mind knowing that their belongings are in good hands with a professional moving company.
Categorize Items
Sorting through items takes a level head. To make it easier, divide them into categories to keep, donate, sell, discard, etc.
It streamlines the process and takes the guesswork out of what should be thrown away or kept. However, when deciding on sentimental objects, make it a joint decision with all family members.
Some may want to hold onto certain items while others will suggest donating or selling them. In this case, pick a charity or cause your loved one was passionate about or have a yard sale.
Have Valuable Items Appraised
Before the yard sale, you should have jewelry, art and antiques appraised or you’ll end up living in regret.
An unidentified individual scored big at a garage sale in Minnesota a few weeks ago. According to CNN, the painting sold was a previously unknown portrait by Vincent van Gogh. Experts say the Dutch artist painted it during his stay at a psychiatric hospital in 1889.
See what we mean about regret? If anything of value is discovered, you’ll have to discuss whether to sell or keep it.
Secure the Property
Depending on whether the house will be occupied or not, it’s important to secure the property. Check all locks and doors and ensure they are working correctly.
Throw away any perishable food, organic waste and household chemicals. Change the locks if you are unsure who has a key to the house.
Rehoming their pets can be an uncomfortable task. Unless you or other family members are adopting them, ask for help from the local animal shelter.
Final Goodbyes
Finding comfort is especially hard when knowing this is the last time you’ll set foot in their home or smell the familiar scent of freshly baked cookies.
Unfortunately, it’s a job that has to be done. Count on the support of others to give you strength to get through this difficult process.
Ensure you’ve located all the important documents. If the burden becomes too much, get professional movers for a stress-free experience. Sort items by category. Have valuables appraised and secure the property.
