No one ever wants to think about how to clean out their parents’ house after death, but with one in six Americans now 65 and over, it’s a topic more and more of us will have to address. Whether you were the caregiver of a loved one or you’re an adult child figuring out what to do with belongings left behind, Compass Self Storage is here to help you navigate this often challenging experience.
Steps for House Cleaning After Death
Before starting the deceased estate cleanup, take the time to process the emotional weight of packing up the belongings your loved one left behind. Whether you reminisce with family members or friends, journal on your own, or seek counseling, the grieving process looks different for everyone. The more emotional stability you can give yourself before cleaning out a loved one’s home, the better you can address the practical aspects of the journey.
When you’re ready to start the estate cleaning process, we recommend the following steps to stay on track and cover the essentials.
Step 1. Locate Important Documents
Unless your loved one was much older or in hospice care at the time of their passing, it’s likely they didn’t have their insurance policies or credit card statements neatly gathered and easy to find. Check their home for a safe, lockbox, or other safekeeping post for important documents you’ll need to notify organizations and close accounts for your loved one:
- Bank account statements
- Stocks and bonds
- Will
- Life insurance policy
- Home insurance policy
- Bill receipts
If you can’t find certain documents, don’t panic—this situation is common. You can often contact the office of origin to request copies or print out documents from websites. Laws and regulations vary by state, so the sooner you can contact organizations to request copies or originals of documents, the better.
Step 2. Forward Your Loved One’s Mail
If you’re wondering how to stop or forward mail for the deceased, the process is universal in the United States. Visit your local United States Postal Service office in person, present documentation—typically the death certificate—to confirm you’re in charge of your loved one’s estate, and submit a change of address.
We want to reemphasize you must visit the post office in person. USPS will not accept an online address request for a passed loved one, and you must have proof of authority when you visit. In addition to a death certificate, other acceptable documents include court orders and letters of testamentary.
In the situation where you’re the executor of your loved one’s estate, you can still forward individual pieces of mail by crossing out their name on the envelope and writing “Forward to” with the new address. You can also stop junk mail addressed to your loved one with the Deceased Do Not Contact Registration form.
Step 3. Change Locks on the Home
Changing the locks on your loved one’s home is vital if they lived alone or possibly gave out keys to neighbors or professional caregivers. We recommend connecting with a local, reliable locksmith to change the locks to keep the belongings inside secure until you can go through them. Remember to communicate with other relatives that the locks are changing if they previously had access.
Step 4. Tour the House and Process Everything
Giving yourself time to process the emotions of walking through a house that may hold years of memories is completely understandable. Once you’ve reminisced, however, you need to shift into a practical mindset. If you’re not sure where to begin with taking inventory, find free estate planning checklists online to get a better idea of where to start. Remember, estate planning requirements often vary by state.
Step 5. Connect With Estate Cleaning and Sale Services
As we’ve mentioned, house cleaning after a death can be an overwhelming process. Fortunately, you don’t have to go through it alone. Estate cleaning and estate sale services take the mental load off your shoulders so you can process your loved one’s passing while taking care of their home and belongings.
Questions To Ask an Estate Cleaning Agent or Estate Sale Company
If this is your first time working with an estate cleaning agent or estate sale company, it’s similar to working with other vendors like a real estate agent or insurance provider. You want to choose one that’s reputable, affordable for your budget, and respectful of your loved one’s home and belongings.
Do you have a written contract?
A written contract is non-negotiable for your estate sale or cleaning. This agreement should spell out several terms, including:
- The timeline of the estate clearing services or sale
- The company’s responsibilities and yours
- Commission and fees
- Payment information
- The state of your loved one’s home after the estate sale or cleaning
Are you insured and bonded?
If an estate sale company or cleaning service is not insured or bonded, do not hire them. If something happens during the sale, such as damage to the home or any belongings, you will carry the liability and can’t legally hold the company responsible for their actions.
How often do you do estate sales?
You want experienced professionals to conduct your estate sale. A good rule of thumb is to choose a company that holds a sale every two to three weeks. If their sales are less frequent, ask them why. It may be because they specialize in antique estate sales and are more particular about the clients they accept.
Do you have employees with W-2s?
Be wary of companies that say they use subcontractors or volunteers. Improperly classifying employees as subcontractors can create legal headaches for you as a client if the government seizes the company’s finances. Volunteers are also harder to vet and hold accountable while they’re handling your loved one’s belongings or working around the home
Give Yourself More Time To Plan Your Estate Sale or Estate Cleaning
When you need to process your emotions or assess estate sale companies or estate cleaning services but need to empty your passed loved one’s home, give yourself time with self storage. A storage unit, especially a climate-controlled one, provides a home away from home for your loved one’s belongings while you figure out which to keep, sell, or donate.
Self storage units vary in size, from 5×5 spaces for vintage clothing or boxes of photographs to larger 10×20 or 10×30 storage units for furniture and even vehicle storage. A quality storage facility will also offer month-to-month leasing to help you stay flexible during the estate sale and cleaning process.
Navigate Cleaning out a Loved One’s Home With Compass Self Storage
You don’t have to face the estate sale or cleaning process on your own. With our wide range of storage units and flexible month-to-month leasing, we’re here to help you organize and store your loved one’s belongings for as long as necessary. For any questions about our storage solutions, visit a Compass Self Storage facility near you or explore our FAQ page today.
