Sorting through inherited belongings can be a difficult process. If the possessions belonged to a close loved one, there could be sentimental value attached to many of the items. Even if you don’t feel attachment to many of the items, you could feel guilty disposing of items. But of course, you can not keep it all. So how do you decide which items go? And just how should you dispose of them?
There are a few steps you can follow to guide you through the process. This post outlines those steps and details a few of the options you may have along the way.
Important note: before you start rummaging through someone’s belongings, make sure that you have been granted authority to do so. You will need to apply for probate and wait for a grant of probate to be issued. This time it can take to be granted authority can vary depending on whether the person had a will and the complexity of their estate.
Schedule time to sort
Once you have been granted permission to sort through belongings, you should try to schedule time as soon as you can to get stuck in. Ideally, you want a couple full days to sort through everything. Consider whether you need to schedule childcare, a pet sitter or take time off work.
Sort room by room
The easiest way to sort through a home is often room by room. Consider starting with the most cluttered rooms and working your way to the least cluttered rooms. Getting the biggest clutter zones out the way will make the rest of it less daunting.
Get a helping hand
You’ll likely need someone to help you sort through all the belongings to speed things up. This could be a fellow friend or family member who knew your deceased loved one well. Alternatively, it could be an outsider that didn’t know them at all – such a person may be able to help you think more clearly and be brutal about what you actually need.
Prioritize what you need
The items you have a practical need for should be your priority. This means that if you need a new toaster or new wardrobe – and your loved one has left behind these items – you should set these aside first. This helps you to separate what you want and what you need. Too many people focus on the items of sentimental value first and can sometimes end up throwing away items that they actually had a need for.
Find out what family and friends need
It’s worth asking your friends and family if they are in need of anything – you may be able to give some of the inherited items to them. Young people who are in the process of moving out into their first home could have use for all kinds of stuff ranging from cooking supplies to furniture. Consider whether you have any friends or family in this stage of their life. To find people who may want items, you can also create WhatsApp groups with family and friends in, or post items on Facebook.
Explore donation options
There are many items that are in good condition that you may be able to donate to strangers. This is a way to extend the life of items instead of throwing them away – which can help to reduce bad feelings associated with getting rid of them. Items to consider donating include clothes, toys, ornaments, furniture and appliances. Local charity shops are a good choice when donating large amounts of items. There are also sites that you can donate items through. Some of these sites may even be able to arrange someone to pick up the items for you free of charge.
Know which items to value
There could be some inherited items that are worth a lot of money. Instead of donating these items, it could be better to sell them. Knowing exactly which items to value isn’t always easy. Paintings, jewelry, old books, antique furniture, silverware, china, old electronics, old toys and old holiday decorations are just some of the things that could be of value. It’s worth starting by valuing items like this that you have no desire to keep onto. Valuing items that you may otherwise want to cling onto out of sentimental value could be worthwhile too, as it could prompt you to sell some of these items instead of keeping onto them and letting them gather dust.
Explore selling options
Once you’ve valued items, you can decide on the best ways to sell them. Items that turn out to be quite valuable could be worth selling through eBay or through specialist platforms where you’re likely to find buyers that understand their value. You may be able to sell less valuable items in bulk to certain consignment stores or by hosting a yard sale. There are also sites that you can sell bags of clothes to or crates of books to.
Use storage units wisely
If you want to take your time sorting through possessions but need to sell their property quickly, you may want to consider temporarily moving items into storage units – and then taking your time to sort through items in these units. Just make sure that you’re not moving items into storage units and then putting off sorting them out, as you’ll be paying ongoing storage fees. It’s also important to choose the right type of storage unit. Climate controlled units may prevent certain items like furniture getting damaged.
Reduce sentimental clutter by keeping digital memories
It’s possible to clutter up your home with sentimental objects. When preserving a memory of these items, it could be more practical to take photos and videos. You can then look back upon these photos and videos and still remember what items looked like. You could even carry out a digital tour of their home via video while all their possessions are still in it. Donating or selling these items could then be easier as you’ll feel you’re not completely letting go of them.
