Losing a parent or another loved one is difficult enough without having to work out what to do with the family home.
For many families, the house is filled with decades of memories and belongings. There may be furniture, paperwork, clothing, photos and personal possessions to sort through, while at the same time you’re trying to work out what needs to happen with the property.
If the decision is made to sell, it can feel like there is an enormous amount to organise.
This is where Downsizing by utterDECLUTTER can help.
We’ve worked with hundreds of families in this situation, and we understand that clearing and preparing a family home after a loss is very different from an ordinary house clean-up.
You don’t have to sort everything out at once
One of the first things we tell families is not to feel that everything has to be dealt with immediately.
There can be a lot of emotion attached to possessions, and different family members may have different ideas about what should happen to them.
We can help you work through the practical side of the process at a pace that suits the family.
Together, we can sort belongings into what family members want to keep, what can be donated or sold, what needs to be stored and what can be responsibly disposed of.
Sometimes the family lives nearby and can be involved. Other times, children or sibling’s live interstate or overseas and can’t be there to help.
Either way, having someone experienced and independent to help manage the process can take a huge amount of pressure off the family.
Preparing the house for sale
Once the belongings have been sorted, there is usually still quite a bit to do before the property is ready to go on the market.
Depending on the condition of the home, this might include:
- Removing unwanted furniture and belongings
- Organising rubbish removal
- Cleaning the house thoroughly
- Cleaning windows and carpets
- Painting and carrying out minor repairs
- Tidying gardens and outdoor areas
- Replacing tired carpet or other flooring
- House washing
- Organising professional styling
- Preparing the property for photography and inspections
Rather than the family having to find and coordinate different people for every job, Downsizing by utterDECLUTTER can manage the process and coordinate the trades and services required.
We know what needs to happen and, importantly, what doesn’t necessarily need to happen.
Preparing a deceased estate for sale isn’t about spending money on everything possible. It’s about making the property clean, presentable and ready for the market without unnecessary expense.
What happens with the legal side?
There are legal and estate administration matters that need to be dealt with when a property is being sold following someone’s death.
In NSW, an executor named in a Will may need to apply for a grant of probate, while other circumstances may require letters of administration. The executor is responsible for administering the estate, including dealing with assets and debts.
The exact process depends on the individual circumstances of the estate, so we always recommend that families speak with their solicitor or licensed conveyancer about the legal requirements.
Downsizing by utterDECLUTTER doesn’t provide legal or financial advice. Our role is to take care of the practical side of preparing the property and to work alongside the family’s solicitor, conveyancer and real estate agent where required.
The NSW Government has a useful Guide for Executors covering the responsibilities involved in administering an estate.
What if there are several family members involved?
This can sometimes be one of the more difficult parts.
One person may want to sell quickly, another may want to keep the house, and everyone can have different ideas about what should happen to the contents.
We can’t make those decisions for you, but we can help take care of the practical work once the family has agreed on what needs to happen.
Having a clear plan and keeping everyone informed can make a big difference.
It can also help to have the family’s solicitor or other appropriate professional involved when there are disagreements about the estate or the instructions in the Will.
Giving the home the care it deserves
A family home isn’t just another property.
We’ve been in many homes where you can immediately see that a family has spent decades building a life there. There are photos on the walls, cupboards full of memories and furniture that has been part of family life for years.
We treat those belongings and the home itself with respect.
Our job isn’t simply to empty the house as quickly as possible. It’s to help the family work through what needs to happen, while making sure the property is eventually presented in the best possible way for its next chapter.
From a full house to a home ready for sale
The transformation can be quite remarkable.
A property that initially feels overwhelming can, step by step, become a clean, organised and presentable home ready for the real estate agent to photograph and take to market.
And for the family, it means one less thing to organise during what is already a very difficult time.
At Downsizing by utterDECLUTTER, we can coordinate the practical work involved in preparing a deceased estate for sale, from sorting and removing belongings through to cleaning, repairs, painting, gardening, carpet, house washing and styling.
We work with your chosen professionals where appropriate and can help keep the whole process moving.
Most importantly, you don’t have to do it all yourself.
We get your house ready to sell, so you can focus on your family and what comes next.
Helpful resources
- NSW Government – Guide for Executors – Information about the responsibilities of an executor and administering a deceased estate.
- Supreme Court of NSW – Probate – Information about probate applications and current processing information.
- NSW Government – Selling Property – Information about the NSW property sale process and legal requirements.
- Service NSW – Deaths, Wills and Deceased Estates – Government information and services relating to deceased estates.
