Welcome back to our After They’re Gone series, where we talk you through the art of winding up a home that’s not your own i.e. the home of a deceased person you may or may not be related to, or even know well. Last time we left you, you were probably feeling weary from the huge task of quitting large items of furniture from the house, and sorting household items into piles of landfill material, recycling, charity-shop items, and items of value (you’d set aside personal effects such as personal papers, photographs, and jewellery for dealing with, later). Now, it’s time to find homes for everything in those piles!
First and foremost, don’t be in a hurry to call your skip-provider. No matter how hard you try, you will always be left with landfill items at the conclusion of a clean out. So wait until everything else is disposed of before you call in the skip. Recycling of items clearly of little value should be a no-brainer, but before you take them to the op-shop, take photos of everything. This doesn’t have to be done in detail – just a snap of individual piles of items will be enough – all you are after is a memory jogger of what has gone from the house should family make an enquiry. Next, give some thought to the various charities the deceased would want you to support. If they were an animal lover – head to the SPCA shop. If they were a supporter of Red Cross – you know where to go. Always phone ahead to let op-shops know you are calling in with a significant load of items, as there will be times of day when they are best available to receive them. If you have more than a carload, and your vehicle has a tow bar, enquire at local garages for the day hire of trailers (and if you do hire a trailer, be sure to keep the receipt for its hire or, better still, use your phone to take a photo of it).
Your ‘valuables’ pile requires close attention and, potentially, diplomacy in dealing with those who wish to claim ownership (after all, even the most amicable of families can ‘fall out’ where possessions are concerned). To keep the process of ‘claiming’ as swift and calm as possible, photograph each item of value, and use the editing tool on your phone’s camera app to label it. Email the photos to immediate family members and ask for expressions of interest to be emailed or text to you rather than communicated by phone. This enables you to keep a record of requests. Where requests overlap, refer family members to each other for discussion. If they cannot come to an agreement with each other, refer the matter to the executor to make the call, or if you are the executor, send a tactful email to the family members concerned, explaining your decision (which can often be made on the basis of ‘balance’ where their receipt of other items is concerned).
If there are unclaimed items in the valuables pile, you have two options for disposal. The first is to take the items to a reputable second-hand shop or antique dealer for sale or auction. Photograph or otherwise retain evidence of payments received (you will later need to pay this into the account of the deceased’s executor or lawyer). The second option for dealing with unwanted items of value is to keep them aside and offer them as gifts to close friends of the deceased’s as mementos or keepsakes (family members may be able to suggest which of the deceased’s friends would prefer what, but if not, make the call yourself or, where you feel comfortable to do so, ask friends to make a time to call in to choose their gift).
By now, there will be little left in the house apart from items to go to the landfill once you call in the skip. Your next task is a very onerous one – the sorting through of personal papers, memorabilia (including photos), and jewellery. About which we will talk about in Part 6 of our ‘After They’re Gone’ series – see you then!