One of the jobs that an executor must do after someone has died, and before any probate clearance service can be started, is to carefully list out all of the items that are in the property. This means every little thing, not just the large furniture and items that you think might be worth something. It is all the little knick-knacks and souvenirs and photo albums and clothes and everything else that a person will leave behind after a life well lived. As an executor, you are in charge of all of these items and it is your job to ensure they go where they are meant to go.
In many cases, you will want to organise a property clearance service to remove all of the things that just aren’t required. However, although that is something that should happen relatively quickly (especially if the house is a rented one), this cannot be done until the list of all the possessions is made. Of course, if there is a surviving spouse or partner then the majority of the items will likely stay in place, and a probate clearance service may not be needed at all.
It is part of your duties to stop people – family and friends of the deceased – from entering the property and removing things; everything needs to be catalogued, and anything that is of value will need to be valued by a professional and certainly shouldn’t be removed. This is true even if the item was promised to someone, and even if it is written in the will. Until the will is entirely executed, nothing should be passed to anyone as this will affect the value of the estate.
At the start of the task, it’s best to go through all the property and determine what is of value and what can be removed. Clothes will often go to charity, for example, and many items can be thrown out, even if the idea is an unpleasant one. Once you have separated the ‘good’ from the ‘no longer needed’, then you can call in a probate clearance service company to take the unneeded items and rubbish away.
Your job is to check in every corner of the house, ensuring that you don’t forget to checks lofts and basements, as well as any sheds and garages. If you aren’t sure about something’s value then keep it to one side and call an expert in to give you an idea of its worth – you can always dispose of it afterwards if it isn’t something that needs to be kept.
Another good ideas is to photograph or even video what you are doing so that if anyone wants to raise a dispute about something you may have moved or even voice suspicions that you have taken something you shouldn’t have, you have the proof that you did not.
If you are looking for a reliable, cost effective probate clearance service, please get in touch.