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. Last time, we delved into how people find themselves tasked with this kind of responsibility. Now we take stock of some of the very first essential jobs requiring our attention.
Practicalities first
In our last article, we advised you first visit the decease’s lawyer to find out where your house winding-up duties begin and end. What follows is based on an assumed list of duties you’re assigned, but bear in mind every situation will be different.
Pets
Living things require immediate attention – and these include pets and any other domestic animals such as chickens or livestock. If the deceased has not left instructions re new animal ownership, it can be tempting to take on these animals, yourself, but think long and hard about this. You already have a lot on your plate. If a family member is agreeable to taking animals into their care, first check this wish doesn’t conflict with the wishes of other family members. If there is conflict, your best option may be to temporarily house a pet with a neutral person such as a neighbour, friend, or a cattery or kennel (in the latter case, check with the decease’s lawyer to see if there are funds in the estate to cover this).
Securing insurance
Home and contents
The home and contents you’re winding up will often be the greatest asset in an estate. As you are now solely responsible for the property, attend to insurance straight away. Advise the insurer of the change in circumstances as vacant homes (as opposed to occupied homes) have different requirements in order to be covered. For instance, water and electricity may need to be switched off, grounds kept in a tidy shape, mail collected, and regular checks on the home undertaken. Outbuildings will need to be secured.
If you are not able to attend to these tasks, you will still need to project manage them. You may need to engage a trusted other (such as a long-term neighbour), or a professional security company, to conduct regular checks on the home. If there is not a neighbour or local teen to undertake lawn mowing, Mr Green (or another garden company) will need to be called. Even if you can redirect mail to your own home, you’ll still require a neighbour to regularly remove junk mail from the letterbox. Arrange with the lawyer to pay any associated invoices, or if doing so yourself, keep receipts. Keep a mileage log of your comings and goings as you may be able to claim from the estate for your travel expenses.
Vehicles
Check with the decease’s insurance company regarding continuing insurance on any vehicles on the property. Often, security, registration, and WOF are required if vehicles are to remain insured while a property is unoccupied.
Valuables
Talk to the insurance company regarding what you should do about items of significant value (such as artworks, musical instruments, and jewellery) which are in the house. They may require you to lodge these with a bank or secure storage facility off the premises. Take photos of any items removed from the home for this purpose, and always ask for receipts.
Perishables
Dry goods are not so much of an issue but if the home’s insurer requires electricity to be switched off, you will need to empty fridges and freezers. You may find a food bank able to take frozen goods not opened or expired. Alternatively, look for a community garden able to compost the goods rather than have them taken to landfill. Wherever possible, arrange for the goods to be collected. Check pantry items still suitable to be donated to food banks, and ask for these to be collected. Avoid taking home goods yourself as it will put you in a conflict-of-interest situation.
Return of equipment
It is often the case a deceased person has been given the use of specialist equipment such as a hospital bed or occupational therapy seats and bathroom equipment. Arrange for these to be collected or to have them returned as soon as possible as others may be waiting for them.
Access
Take all keys away from the property, label them carefully, and store them securely. Don’t be tempted to give keys to friends or relatives. If they have a special need to visit the home (for sentimental reasons, for example) accompany them yourself or arrange for a security person to do so. Gardens can also hold significance for friends and relatives. As with the home, these are off limits in terms of removing items, until you can establish the deceased’s wishes.
Once you have secured the deceased’s home, outbuildings, vehicles, and gardens, you have removed the urgency from the situation. You now have time to think carefully about your next steps.
