Is your garage becoming a dumping ground for everything you haven’t yet dealt with? It can be easy to store things in the garage and soon find you have a messy build-up of clutter. When a loved one dies, you may be faced with clearing their property. Here we look at tips for clearing a garage after a death.
Prepare
Supplies
The first thing to do is to make a list of the supplies you may need. This could be cleaning products, brooms, sponges, bags, boxes and products to tackle weeds or insect infestations. You may also need dust covers, tape, tools, shelves and other materials.
Get Everything Out
Plan ahead, choose a day with friendly weather, and pull everything out of the garage and into the garden or driveway. This will help you to take stock of what is in there, what needs to be in there and what can go. It will also allow you to assess the space, what needs attention and any floors.
Clean
Tackle and treat any areas of dampness or mould. Thoroughly clean and ensure any insect infestations are treated. You may want to mop or even jetwash the floor and walls and eradicate cobwebs. If possible, try to air the garage as much as you can before placing items back. Hard-bristled brooms are great for sweeping garages.
Sort Through the Items
Make Lists
When dealing with a loved one’s belongings, you may not always know what you will find. You are likely to need to list anything of value for probate purposes, and it can also help you keep track of everything when it comes to distributing items to beneficiaries and also ensure that anything you want to throw, recycle or donate is covered.
Throw, Donate, Sell, Keep
The next task is to sort everything into four categories: throw away or recycle, donate to charity, sell or keep. Anything of value should be counted towards the estate, including anything that sells. Sentimental items should be kept together, and it always helps to have another family member or friend to help you sort through these things, as it can be challenging emotionally. Many charities welcome donations of all sorts, so it is worth calling a few local ones to check with them first. Be sure to recycle as much as you can.
Tidy
Anything that is to remain should be sorted into safe storage boxes or organised sections of the garage so they can be easily located. If the property is being sold, you may need to clear the garage entirely; therefore, the items should go to their selected beneficiaries or into storage.
Contact National Clearances on 0203 9859552.