So, your loved one passed away and left you her real estate and all things in it. You may have known she was a collector, but it isn’t until you were faced with looking at the piles of things to go through that the reality hits you … my (fill in the blank, i.e.- mother) was a hoarder. So what you may ask is the difference between a serious collector and a hoarder? We won’t look it up, but rather will talk about our experiences. Hoarders have so much collected in either singular-type items of a collection or things of all nature including garbage and other automatic throw away items that take up space. The stuff is usually densely stacked with walkways through the residence … and garage … and yard … and basement … etc. It can be tempting to simply call someone to come haul it all away to the dump, but you never know when the next box you open will contain a gem. Some of the stuff may have aged sufficiently to have gained antique status and value. Many hoarder situations are dominated by sanitary deficiencies as they are by the stuff that fills the space. Walls and floors typically can’t be seen so you can’t show your house to prospective buyers until you get it cleaned out and organized. There are people that will come and help you organize and sell your personal items, but you have to get it sorted, cleaned, and organized before they can even begin to see what is going on. You might connect with a small private “picker” that can help you start to make a dent in the piles so you can widen the paths. The more you dive in, the better you will understand what is there for their collecting style will pervade the entire premises. Get a peek and you’ll get an idea of the task at hand. If there are one or two main collectible areas, i.e.- electronics, materials and patterns, toys, etc. you might find a specialist to help you get an idea of what you have. Start by getting things sorted into types of things and areas of interest before you call them in. Don’t look to save every nickel’s worth of things. You may be tripping over dollars to save a nickel and that can catch up to you. Likely, you will find yourself wearing out as you delve into the process of picking, sorting, cleaning, disposing, etc. As you get tired, the decisions will be quicker, and you will find yourself freely throwing things out rather than finding a new home for them. There is, too, the emotional aspect of this situation which cannot be overstated. These were the things that your loved one saved and cherished for many years. You will no doubt be remembering how they acquired, shared, stored, and enjoyed so many of the items, it can be hard to simply dispose of them. Facing reality once again, you must determine if there is value – financial or emotional – to you or someone that may want those things for a price or simply to cherish. The quicker you get yourself to this point, the quicker you can make good decisions for you and yours. Make an effort to set up a process to eliminate garbage and junk, and to sort valuables into financial and emotional piles. If it means a lot to you, move it to a safe area and keep it. If it has value but not to you, sell it. If its junk or garbage, toss it. You will ultimately find the walls, be able to ascertain the condition of the real property and make decisions about the biggest asset of the estate you are working with, the home. At that point bring in your realtor to formulate your real estate plan. This scenario occurs more often than one might think. It is not uncommon for people to have accumulated things along the way in their life, especially if they inherit multiple family estates and hang on to things. You are doing what they didn’t do as things were passed along to them. It’s your turn – what are you going to do? When it comes to choosing professionals to assist you with your Real Estate needs… Experience is Priceless! Jim Valentine, RE/MAX Realty Affiliates, BS.3481, 775-781-3704. dpwtigers@hotmail.com
