House Clearance

[LittleLlama]

A very close friend died of cancer nearly a year ago. Her husband died two years beforehand and her mother a year before that. She has three sons (Aged 19-26). I am the Executor on her will, have dealt with probate and distributed her money accordingly, sold her car, etc. The final decision is to sell the house, which her sons now feel ready to do).

Her son’s have been through a lot. They were close family and these three deaths have been devastating for them.

Does anyone have any tips on dealing with the house. We need to clear most of the stuff, but I want to do it in a sensitive manner. There is a lot of things (as her mother’s belongs are also in the house). Any thoughts on what worked well/not so well would be appreciated. Thanks.

Take photos of sentimental items that they don't actually have a use or need for and give away or sell.

Keep sentimental belongings to a minimum.

Once you've done that the easiest way is then to hire a house clearance specialist.

Have the boys taken what they want for themselves from the house?

If they have then I'd be inclined to sell anything of value (auction?), things to charity shop and house clearance for what's left over. I'd discuss this with them but you sound like you'd probably do that anyway

Two of them are still (partly) living in house - but that will change in March.

They also have different ideas and how much stuff they want to keep and I really don’t want to go down the route of purchase storage.

I'm sorry for your loss.

If her sons want to keep some items and pay for storage, is that not their decision at the end of the day?

The problem is that none of them really want to pay for storage.

I think one of her sons (kind of) expects me to store it for them (as they want to go travelling for a year or two). I don’t mind storing some stuff in my loft (but not the amount they want to keep).

The other two sons are much more practical.

That’s a tricky one. To have to close a home when no one is in a position to inherit/keep things out of it like a dining suite or some such.

I think the only way might be to guide them towards a cheap lock up or something and leave them to decide among themselves who pays. At 19, one of them in a particularly difficult position losing everything.

Is there any scope in the wider family for access to a shed for a few years?

Storage sounds a good option. They are adults and one of them can take the contract on.

Your job might be to explain to the two more 'practical' ones that rushing a clearance before their sibling is ready could emotionally impact them. They all sound young to have to deal with such a lot.

Sorry for your and their losses