Cleaning Out Your House is a Gift You Give Your Kids

Whether you’re in your forever home or plan to move into senior housing at some point, it’s important to have a plan for all the possessions you’ve accumulated along the way. Millennials – the generation that includes our kids and grand kids – have been pretty clear that they don’t have the space, ability, or desire to house everything Baby Boomers have accumulated.

One way to deal with this issue is to not deal with it at all. Just hold on to all of your stuff until you’re not around to hold onto it anymore. Then your kids can sort through everything, come up with a disposal plan, arrange for transport, and clean out your place – all while processing the grief that comes with losing you, their parent.

Sound good?

We didn’t think you’d say yes to that. Most parents say they’d prefer to spare their kids the heartache and hassle. Cleaning out the house is a gift you give your kids. Here’s what you need to know:

Start Early

While there’s certainly no rush, cleaning out a home is a big job. It will seem less overwhelming and emotionally fraught if you handle it in small chunks. Consider working room by room, or even drawer by drawer. Some areas of the home will be easier to deal with than others.

Recruit Professional Help

Professional organizers often help seniors downsize. They’re experts in the sorting, packing, and dispersal process. You can hire a professional organizer on an hourly basis, or contract with them to clear a specific area of your home. Professional organizers often recommend professional movers and storage facilities to transport and stage items that don’t need to live in your house anymore.

Look for Ways To Help Families Out

Your kids may have all the furniture, cookware and other home goods they’ll ever need. That’s not true for every family. Local churches and charitable organizations may know about families who would happily accept and use the items you don’t need anymore. Best practice is to call and let them know what you have available: they’ll let you know if they have a matching need.

Fund a Dream Vacation

The items you’re not using can be transformed into cash you can use for vacations, expenses, or things you’d enjoy. Explore your options, which include selling items online, via Craigslist or Facebook, or to local businesses. Keep your safety a top priority and research your items’ worth ahead of time to prevent anyone from taking advantage of you. When you’ve collected your money, use it for something fun!