Tips for Cleaning out Your Estate | Cleanouts Middlesex

Cleanouts with a little help from the pros...

There are many life events that can lead to the need for cleaning out an estate: losing your parents, downsizing for retirement, divorce, bankruptcy and other major lifestyle changes. Whichever life event has hit you, it’s time to get focused and clean out the estate with a little help from the pros.

Professional estate cleanout and junk removal companies like Got Trash? can lessen the burden on your shoulders by hauling away all the appliances, household goods, old clothing, broken equipment, and furniture. This way, you don’t have to risk personal injury doing it yourself, or pay for transportation or storage. Heed these estate cleanout tips.

1. Take your time. In your grief or haste, you may overlook things that could yield a special memento or financial windfall. Many older adults tuck money and valuables away throughout their home, such as under mattresses, in coat pockets, on high shelves and in crawlspaces. Take the time to go through everything in case you come upon something of value.
2. Work with your siblings and other family members. It’s too easy to fight over who gets what from an estate. However, this is already a stressful time; don’t add to it by fighting over petty possessions. One way to combat this is to ask each sibling to come up with a list of what they would like. Work together to make those wishes happen. If you can’t come to an amicable exchange, hire a lawyer or outside mediator.
3. Save important financial documents. From receipts that may be needed for taxes to life insurance documents, keep any and all financial documents you come upon. Don’t throw out those old papers because you’re in a hurry or don’t think you need them any longer. Keep and organize 401(k) records, tax returns, stock certificates, deeds, bank statements and wills.
4. Donate or sell clothing. Unless it’s vintage (before 1960), your dad’s shirts and pants probably don’t hold a lot of value. However, you can sell them for a little extra cash online, particularly if they are in excellent condition with the tags still on. You could also bring the clothing to a consignment shop or just donate the clothing to a homeless shelter or church charity.
5. Hold onto those photos and memorabilia. Outside of a family, photos and trinkets don’t usually possess much resale value. Keep all those photos to show your kids and their kids so that the memory of the person who died can live on. Even in a divorce situation, don’t toss photos and mementos out of anger. The day will come when you will look back on that time in your life as a part of you and you will be glad you kept everything.
6. Call in a professional. You may need to separate this emotional situation and take a more critical eye to the task at hand, which is where the value of a professional comes in. Give us a call at Got Trash? for assistance, and we’ll be happy to haul away all your junk, trash and debris for one low price.