There’s nothing worse than losing a loved one except for having to handle that grief and also deal with all of the logistics that come with them passing away at the same time. After all, there are already so many complicated emotions that you’re experiencing that to add on what feels like an entirely new job on top of everything can make the whole process even more overwhelming. So, what can you do to make this process a little bit easier? We’ll be the first to tell you that it will never be easy, but there are a few ways to help make it so that you can focus on the sadness and the grieving rather than getting lost in all of the decision making that comes with being an executor.

Don't Do It Alone

Grief can feel very isolating, but you don’t have to do this alone. In fact, building a team you can lean on and trust is one of the best things you can do to make the estate sale process as easy as possible. Who do you need on your team? A great agent is a good start since they’ll be able to give you an idea of what the house might sell for in the current market, but even more importantly, they’ll be able to give you advice on who you can get in contact with and what you need to do to get the house ready to go on the market. Examples of other people you might want to reach out to or ask your agent for help finding include:

Take time to feel your emotions.

Just like any other home sale, the process of selling a place full of memories can be a difficult and emotional one. Add to that process the grief you likely feel over losing a loved one, and you may find that the process of letting go of the home or the possessions in it is more difficult than you would have anticipated. This is natural and healthy. Give yourself grace and the space you need to feel all of the complicated emotions that are going to come to you throughout the process. Just make sure that you don’t get lost in this process or get to a point where you feel taken advantage of. That’s part of the main reason completing step one will make such a big difference. Having a strong team of people who will consistently advocate for you will make a huge difference in how the process goes for you. 

Set aside time to visit the property and look through their items yourself.

For many people, their homes become a testament to who they are, so taking the time to visit the home they left behind and sort through items can be a hugely important step in the grieving process. Going through photos, joking about weird stuff they loved and left behind, and even just being in their space will likely elicit some strong emotions for you, but most people regret not taking the time to do it if you only leave an estate sale manager to handle things from day one. 

If you have any more questions about the right steps to take when you are in an estate sale situation, please feel free to reach out, and we will be happy to help however we can. This process will never be easier, but it can be much easier when you are informed and have a great team by your side. Send us a text or call us any time at (678) 242-9981. You can also send us a message directly through our website by clicking the messenger icon at the bottom right of our website. We look forward to helping you in any way we can.