Photo by Blue Bird: https://www.pexels.com/photo/couple-going-down-the-stairs-with-box-of-books-and-plants-7218670/

One of the hardest life experiences anyone can go through is the loss of a loved one, not only because of the obvious emotional harm and tragedy of losing someone important, but because what follows this is a fair amount of life admin. Planning their funeral as a respectful send-off, helping to organize the family, and putting any affairs they have in their right place can take time.

After a good amount of this is said and done and any inheritance is divided out, you may need to manage the property they live in. Some decide to sell it. 

In this post, we’ll discuss how to carefully and respectfully empty and categorize their belongings, and how too overcome the emotional strain of such a process:

Take Your Time & Work In Small Steps

There's no rush to get through everything at once, and trying to clear out a whole house in a weekend will likely impede you emotionally and practically. Start with one room or even just one area of a room, and give yourself permission to take breaks when you need them. You might find that you can only handle an hour or two at a time, and that's perfectly normal.

It helps to have family members or close friends with you, not just for the emotional support but also because they can help you make decisions about what to keep or what might be meaningful to other family members. Having someone there who knew your loved one can also help you understand the significance of items you might not recognize.

Sort Items into Clear Categories

Creating a system for sorting belongings makes the process less confusing (it’s a whole house or living area after all), and helps ensure that important items don't get ignored or dismissed. You might use categories like keep for family, donate, sell, and discard, with separate areas or boxes for each category. This way you can see your progress and feel like you're making decisions thoughtfully rather than just randomly getting rid of things. 

Important documents, jewelry, and items with sentimental value should be set aside immediately so they don't accidentally get donated or thrown away, especially because they may be part of your split inheritance. Family photographs, letters, and personal mementos often mean the most to relatives, even if they don't have monetary value, so place them somewhere secure. You can use storage solutions for items you're not ready to decide about yet, as rushing these decisions can lead to regret later.

Handle Practical Matters Gradually

Some belongings will need special handling, like valuable items that might need to be appraised, or just electronics that contain personal data, and almost certainly furniture that's too large to move easily. 

If there are any larger items or things you're not sure about, use that aforementioned storage. Then over the nexty weeks, take time to research values, find appropriate charities for donations, or talk to your family members who might want certain items. Remember that some things might seem important now but feel less so after you've had time to process your grief.

With this advice, we hope you can deal with the house emptying process with care.