As someone who may have to deal with the tying up of a deceased estate it is advisable to know what you may be in for when the time comes. The emotional side apart, if you are responsible for handling the matters of the deceased, then there are some important considerations for the possessions let behind that may now be your responsibility.

It would be unwise to leave the deceased’s possessions in an insecure state. They would need to be secured in some way. Normally though, an estate takes a long time to be concluded, and this always puts the assets at risk.

In addition, you may want to rent out the property of the deceased and store the contents for a limited time while you make arrangements. Self storage is one of the best options in this case as it offers you a great deal of flexibility and security.

What is the Process of a Deceased Estate?

The first permission required is a grant of probate. It is an official approval giving you the authority to be the Executor to deal with the tying up of the deceased person’s matters. Usually it will take 3-6 months.

Once granted it normally takes 6-12 months for finalize everything. This is surely an exceptionally long time to wait, particularly if you are facing a house full of possessions that need to be secured, stored, or cleared.

If you are facing the problem of a property containing a full compliment of household items and feel that it would be safer to store them, the self storage is the answer. It is a process followed by most in this situation. There may be an approval process to be followed, but it’s worth your while to pursue this route.

If you are the designated “executor” then it will be your duty to secure the assets and begin with the estate conclusion. This will be one easy solution for you and will solve a lot of problems in terms of security of the property. It will also help you clear the property and make it available for sale, renovation, or rental.

Getting prepared is relatively straightforward, here are a few pointers:

Deceased Estate Sorting and Storage

As executor, plan your timelines according to the approval processes that will take place. You have time enough to do this. Communicate the timeline to the beneficiaries, so that they don’t have any other expectations.

There are many things you can do in the meantime, starting with the assessment of the items that have been specified in the will that should be allocated to family members and other beneficiaries.

There is no harm in starting the sorting process as soon as you can, even before the legal authority has been given.

Here are some guidelines for packing up a deceased estate.

Valuables and Personal Belongings First

We at Stop & Store are conveniently based in Fareham offering a range of storage options, at varying sizes from 12 sq ft to 200 sq ft.  You can use any of these units for storage of the contents of the property.

While it could be an emotionally difficult time and it may be difficult, our experience is that the sooner it’s done the better.

Start by selecting all items of value. After you have done that separate all the household items that are going to be claimed by the family. As its likely that you still are waiting for authority to allocate for collection or dispose or unwanted goods, get authority to pack up and store everything.

Sort and Store

Starting with the small things, pack up and put into marked boxes. Clear all the cupboards of kitchen appliances and clothes, and decide which are to be kept, given away or sold. Pack into boxes clearly marking them.

These days everything you need, except maybe old family photographs is available online, so generally it won’t be necessary to keep the books magazines and old newspapers. These are easy to dispose of at nearby secondhand books stores.

The garden shed and garage are normally filled with all kinds of things that have accumulated there for some time. It’s advisable to separate the useful things from those that you intend throwing away. Store the useful items and leave the rest for later collection.

Moving on to the large items will advance your progress and once you’ve done that you can seek storage of the large items.

Upon completion you will have space to clean up the house.

Why use Storage of Deceased Estates Possessions?

  • Safe from vandalism and theft

Your responsibility is to keep the assets secure when the estate is being tied up. Self storage is a great, inexpensive solution.

  • Safe for persons with interest in the deceased estate

You will be showing your family that the items that they will be inheriting are secure while the process is being completed.

  • Safeguarding valuable items

Possessions that have value including jewelry, artworks, antiques, and photographs can be safely stored until you make alternate arrangements.

  • Securing items for sale.

With a 24/7 access, and great security provided by CCTV cameras, you can safely access and use your storage unit as a base from which to prepare the unwanted goods for sale. You will have time to market the goods, and at the same time you will not feel rushed and just accept the first offer that comes along.

Being the executor, you will have the authority to choose the storage option that is best for you. Our proximity and access in Lowestoft are a fine option for this purpose.

Final Thoughts 

When faced with the passing away of someone close to you, you may be required to assist with the wining up of the estate. If you are faced with a house full of possessions and need to make interim arrangements, seek approval to do so and secure the goods in self storage. It’s a move that will give you absolute peace of mind while you attend to the other estate matters.

As a bonus, there will be great deals offered by Stop and Store Fareham, so the move to a unit will be a very cost effective option.