Clearing out a deceased parent’s house can be an emotional and overwhelming process, but having a checklist can help make it easier. Here’s a checklist you can use:
Gather important documents.
Look for important documents such as wills, deeds, insurance policies, and bank statements.
Contact a probate attorney.
If your parents had a will, you may need to work with a probate attorney to distribute their assets according to their wishes.
Notify government agencies.
Notify government agencies such as the Social Security Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, and any other relevant agencies of your parents’ passing.
Cancel services and accounts.
Cancel services such as utilities, phone, and internet, and close any bank accounts, credit cards, and investment accounts.
Determine the value of items.
Determine the value of items in the house, such as jewelry, art, and collectibles, and decide what to do with them.
Contact charities.
If you want to donate items, research charities and schedule a pickup.
Arrange for an estate sale or auction.
If you have a lot of items to sell, consider arranging for an estate sale or auction.
Hire a professional cleaner or disposal service.
If the house is cluttered or if there are items you don’t want to keep, consider hiring a professional cleaner or disposal service.
Decide what to do with the house.
Decide whether to keep, sell, or rent out the house.
Document your actions.
Keep a record of all the actions you take and the decisions you make during the clearing-out process.
This checklist is not exhaustive and the specific steps you need to take may vary depending on the situation, but it should give you a good starting point.