After They’re Gone Part 4

Creating Space

Welcome back to our 7-part series on 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. Having, on behalf of the executor, secured the property, and having created a data base of useful businesses to assist with your task, it’s now time to create the space to sort. This is because, whether the items you’re removing from the house are valuable, recyclable, or destined for the landfill, they all need to be kept dry for ease of handling, and in many cases, they also need to be kept secure. Before you start creating space, gather up from the house all items of bequest specifically mentioned in the will. Use masking tape to label them with the name of the person they have been bequeathed to, and deliver them, in person, to the deceased’s executor for distribution (ask for a receipt for the items you have handed over). And now, it’s time to create the space you need:

Garages are great!

If the property comes with a garage and a car, you’re in luck. Providing the garage is dry and lockable, remove the car, and you have instant storage space. If there is no garage, or it is already full to the brim, removing large items of furniture from the home is the next best option. Don’t try to sort through cupboards and draws – instead, simply remove the contents of furniture into boxes, and store them temporarily wherever you can. Photograph the items of furniture, and email the photos to relevant family members to see if they want the items. Be sure to state it’s a case of ‘first-in-first-served’ and give a cut-off date for replies and uplifting of the items so there is no cause for complaint further down the track. Any unclaimed furniture can be picked up by a charity offering this service (list the items the charity is taking away and have the driver sign off on them). Note: when creating space for sorting, retain a few pieces of furniture. Land agents prefer that some items are left so the property doesn’t appear completely lifeless in advertising photos.

Sort first, dispose later

The hire of dumpsters doesn’t come cheap, and is usually charged out on a daily rate. So you don’t want to order one until you have assembled everything you want to load into it. Arm yourself with rubbish sacks, cartons and gloves, and begin an initial cull of general household belongings and clothing (leave the sorting of personal effects – papers, photos, jewellery etc) until a later date. Sort everything else into four piles: give-aways (for items of little or no value or which may be of use to special interest groups), landfill (broken or badly damaged items that will go in the dumpster), recycling, and ‘items of value.’ Items in the last category are those which are likely to be of sentimental or financial value to family. Set them aside to deal with later.

Safety first

When sorting through medicine cabinets and dealing with prescription medicines, always use gloves. Place the materials into a sealed container and phone ahead to a pharmacy regarding how best to deliver these items for safe disposal. When working in outbuildings which may harbour materials that could post safety issues, always don appropriate safety protection such as safety glasses, protective gloves, stout footwear, and mask (a pharmacy will be able to advise what kind of mask is best to wear). Don’t handle any containers (decaying or otherwise) of materials you cannot identify or which pose safety risks. Instead, take photos of the containers and any spills, and contact the NZ Poisons Centre or Hazchem for advice on safe handling and disposal. If it is deemed safe for you to dispose of the materials yourself, take them, in the manner stipulated (for safety reasons, some household chemicals should not come into contact with each other) to a recognised collection centre – do not place them in a dumpster.

If you’re feeling weary, we understand. But take heart, because much of your mammoth job is behind you. So, take a break until we return with Part 5 of our ‘After They’re Gone’ articles, when we’ll be helping you dispose of those piles you’ve sorted so well!