Sorting Out Your Parent's Estate

“Facing the overwhelming challenge of what to do about a parent’s home and belongings while grieving the loss, is a heart-wrenching scenario for members of the family, especially if you live out of state,” said Benevia Co-founder Eric Rovner. “For example, to ready the home for a sale, the house must be properly emptied of contents, minor repairs may be required, a realtor chosen, and much more. Benevia provides a turnkey solution by coordinating all of the details and transforming the process from overwhelming to manageable.”

Imagine a 90-year-old woman lives alone in Seattle and her adult child lives out of state. She has a series of health challenges, suffers from a fall in her home and sadly passes away shortly thereafter. The adult child takes time off to travel to Seattle for several days and then must return home for work and other responsibilities. Still, the out-of-state adult child is faced with the challenge of determining what to do with the parent’s home and belongings, while in the midst of grieving such a devastating loss.

Steps to alleviate the stress of sorting sort out an estate

• Create a master plan with achievable goals and a defined schedule.
• Locate your parent’s personal documents (legal, financial, insurance, etc.) as soon as possible and use them as a guide for the sorting process.
• Pace yourself. This allows time to make good choices and avoid headaches.
• Ask yourself if it is possible to wait a few months to tackle the project, until you have had a chance to grieve and get your bearings again.
• Prioritize activities starting with the most time sensitive (usually financial related).
• Consider taking the opportunity to experience and enjoy the memories brought back by spending time with your loved one’s home and belongings.
• Do not be afraid or ashamed to ask for and arrange the help you need. Reach out for support from friends or neighbors in the area where your parent(s) lived. Consider hiring a professional service like Benevia to help you coordinate the process.

Tips for clearing out the home

Begin with items and locations that require little or no emotional energy, such as a pantry, utility closet, plants, personal paperwork, books and clothing. Ask yourself the following questions as you consider items:

Emotional: Does it have sentimental value to you or your family?
Life enhancement: Would the item enhance the quality of your life or the lives of other family members
Use/activity: Would you or other family members use it?
Fit: Would the item physically fit in your home?
Dollar value: Does it have a significant dollar value?

• Use adhesive colored dots to sort items into one of the following five groups: Keep, Sell, Donate, Give Away, Discard.
• Return all borrowed items and ask family members and friends to remove any belongings they stored at the home.
• If you think something has value, have it appraised.
• Consider alternatives for transporting belongings, such as shipping, charitable pick-up and delivery, etc.

Donating

Donating can be financially advantageous in the form of tax benefits. Yet, everything you want to donate may not be accepted.
If you are committed to donating as many items as possible, consider creative giving, such as donating tennis balls to the local Humane Society for dogs to enjoy, or old army uniforms to a local repertory theatre.

Selling

• Identify your selling priorities – highest value, quickest sale, easiest method.
• Market values may be lower than you thought. 
• Estate sales often require a minimum value, typically $3,000 - $4,000.
• Selling online can be done on your own or with the help of a company.
• Auctions typically are an easy method but yield lower returns.

Disposing of trash and hazardous waste

• Plan for the disposal of hazardous materials, such as paint and gas, and large appliances.
• Check with the local county about curbside pick-up.
• Some items may be recyclable. Check with the local solid waste department.
• Shred all outdated personal, financial and insurance documents.

How Benevia’s service can help

A dedicated Benevia Transition Coordinator creates a personalized project plan and expertly coordinates the related details with Benevia’s network of screened service providers, at no cost to the consumer or caregiver.  Benevia can recommend and coordinate estate closure services related to;

• Moving and Home Needs – moving, estate sales, storage, home repair, realtors, trash hauling, and many more 
• Professional services – elder law attorneys, financial planners, and estate planning services

About Benevia

Founded in 2003, Benevia (www.benevia.com) is dedicated to transforming the way older adults and their families navigate later life transitions. Through both personal and professional experiences, Benevia's founders identified that although there were numerous services to assist families with a specific healthcare or housing need, most families have multiple service needs. With this in mind, Benevia was formed to provide a holistic and personalized approach to the transition process. The Benevia team has successfully simplified transitions for hundreds of families and our clients appreciate the unique blend of expertise, genuine caring, and respect we bring to each and every transition we support.

In 2008, Benevia was acquired by Hansen Bros. Moving & Storage, one of the oldest and most highly respected service providers in the Greater Seattle area. Hansen Bros. Moving & Storage was founded in 1890 and has been owned and operated by the same family for four generations. After 118 years, Hansen Bros. Moving and Storage remains committed to the original mission: “To be the most trusted provider of moving and storage services whether down the street, across the country, or around the world.” For more information about Hansen Bros. Moving & Storage and the related portfolio of companies, please visit www.hansenbros.com.

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Media Contact:
Eric Rovner
1-888-BENEVIA (1-888-236-3842)
info@benevia.com