Blog > The Mistake Many Families Make When Handling a Deceased Estate
Nobody ever really feels prepared to deal with a deceased estate. Of course, this isn’t just about going through things, it’s about opening drawers, going through old photographs, and finding things that you never even knew existed.
There’s also other pressure too, like the home may need to be sold, and there may be legal issues that need to be attended to.
As a result, many families try to get through things as quickly as possible. While this may be the easiest way out at the time, it can ultimately cause more stress.
When you’re trying to accomplish everything at once, it’s easy to get overwhelmed, especially when emotions are already at a high point:
What is supposed to be a meaningful process may start to feel like something you simply have to get through.
It can be frustrating to feel like there’s no time to slow down, but there is value in having some breathing room.
You don’t have to declutter the whole house in one day. You don’t have to declutter the whole house in one weekend. Decluttering one room at a time is perfectly fine. Some days will be better than others. That’s okay.
Many families start the process themselves and that’s completely fine. Sometimes you want to be hands on, at least at the beginning. Sometimes it helps just to make a start. But if you reach a point where it becomes too much, that’s not a failure. It’s simply the point where a little outside help can make a real difference.
The slower pace of the process will allow you to think more clearly and make better decisions.
It is a common assumption that the big things will be the hardest to cope with. This is not necessarily true.
It is the smaller, more personal things that require time and effort to deal with:
It is moments like these that force you to stop and think. They should.
There is no right or wrong in how to do this.
One might prefer to have a plan, while others might prefer to do it step by step.
That is perfectly all right. A simple system such as keeping, giving away, donating, or throwing out may help, but it doesn’t have to be an inflexible one.
You can always change your mind as you go along. If you’re doing this with others, patience is the key. People deal with things in different ways, and not all will necessarily do it the same.
The bottom line is that it isn’t just about cleaning up the house.
It’s about that individual’s life and everything they’ve accumulated and left behind. It’s perfectly fine if it takes longer than you think it should.
It’s perfectly fine to stop and think about a decision you’ve made. You don’t have to rush into anything. It can make the entire process much more manageable and much less overwhelming if you take your time.
It’s something we see regularly with Adelaide families going through deceased estate clearances and there’s no shame in asking for help when it gets to be too much.
We’re also happy to step in at whatever point makes sense for you. If you’ve made a start and hit a wall, we can pick up from exactly where you are. You don’t need to have it all figured out before you call us.
If you’d like to talk through your situation, we’re here to help. Contact us here or visit our Deceased Estate Clearances page to learn more about how we work.
