Clients contact Out of Chaos to clear out a house after the owners have moved to a smaller home. Sometimes the homeowners have passed away, and the heirs need to sell the house quickly. However, they don’t have the time or ability to handle all the work that the estate clearing process involves. It is a challenge to manage the legal hurdles, especially when dealing with the emotions of downsizing. Out of Chaos can help with decluttering and removing goods from the estate so you can focus on the big picture.
The Legal Stuff
Firstly, you can’t clear an estate without permission. If you are the owner, the estate clearing process is straightforward. But suppose you represent the owner as a power of attorney (the estate owner is still alive) or executor/administrator (the estate owner is deceased). In that case, the process is a little more complex because there are specific legal requirements that you must meet before you can remove anything from the estate.
The Emotional Stuff
Regardless of how or why family members downsize, the Out of Chaos team knows it is emotional for everyone. It isn’t easy for people to let go of the past and face an uncertain future. Sometimes tempers flare, and tears flow. We understand those challenges. And we act with compassion to help manage the personal effects, household goods, and the myriad of details involved in the estate clearing process.
Sort, Categorize, and Inventory
The first step is to ensure that the homeowners have identified everything they want for their new home. Ideally, they should move to their new home with their belongings first, then start clearing their old house. However, if it isn’t possible, the Out of Chaos team can tag and separate the items the owners want to move to their new home.
Next, we sort, categorize, and, if required, inventory the estate’s contents. We look for and set aside essential paperwork such as insurance policies, vital records (e.g., birth certificates, etc.), and financial and legal documents (e.g., stock certificates, wills, etc.). We bring these documents to the homeowner’s (or their legal representative’s) attention because they are vital to the administration and management of the estate.
In the estate clearing process, sorting and categorizing take the most time. We go through everything carefully and do not throw anything away. The team looks through old newspapers for mail or other important documents, and we check in secret hiding places to ensure we find and secure all of the family treasures.
Distributing the Estate
When the sorting and categorizing are complete, we work with the homeowners to determine who receives specific items. If the owners are deceased, nothing gets removed from the estate until the will passes probate and the executor grants authorization. If the owners are still living but unable to make decisions, we take direction from their legal representative. We tag any bequeathed items and coordinate pickup or arrange to ship them if the heirs cannot collect them in person.
The final step is creating a strategy to remove the excess household goods. There are three basic ways to get rid of surplus goods – consignment, cash, or charity. High-value, brand-name items often sell on consignment. Many families feel comfortable donating to charities, but charities may not be able to accept certain things. Selling items for cash through online classified sites is an option, but this method is labour-intensive, and it might take time to sell certain items (No one looks for snowblowers in July). We often propose online auctions through MaxSold to many downsizing clients because it is fast and effective. It takes less than 14 days, and in the end, almost everything is sold.
If the estate clearing process is causing you stress, contact the Out of Chaos team for a consultation. With experience since 2002 in decluttering and move management, we have the knowledge and compassion to handle your needs with care and respect.
