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My wife's parents got stuck cleaning out my wife's grandparents house when they moved to assisted living. It was enough of an eye-opener that they did a huge p

My wife's parents got stuck cleaning out my wife's grandparents house when they moved to assisted living. It was enough of an eye-opener that they did a huge purging when they got back home and ended up moving into a sparsely-furnished garden home. Even after slimming down, they continue to divest themselves of things. We are very grateful to know that we won't have a nightmare on our hands when it is time for us to help them move. My family is another story. My dad is a collector of all sorts of things: vintage toys, LGB trains, 1930s radios, fine guitars... He has a 40' long storage unit just full of stuff. I dread the day we have to deal with it all.

KGIII 9y ago
I have so much stuff. It's not hoarding, really. I get rid of junk. I just have several houses and a few storage units. I've scads of music gear, tools, vehicles, etc. My kids jokingly lament the need to go through it after I die. Meh... At least it is organized. I kinda like the idea of leaving them a giant task. Much of it is nominally valuable. They will be busy for quite a while. This makes me smile. Knowing them, they will enjoy it as well.
- Blackthorn 9y ago
  It's really interesting to watch that TV show, American Pickers, because you can see in different episodes all sides of this equation. Some people are just straight up hoarders. Some people have very meticulously cataloged collections, they're just big. And sometimes you have people who have been left one of the above by their parents, and invariably just want to get rid of it and find it extremely emotionally trying. Take that last one to heart, and think of how it's not just a big task for your kids, but it's a really emotionally difficult and painful one for them as well.
  - KGIII 9y ago
    Oh, I want it to be a big task for them. It's well organized. I'm leaving them significant wealth. They might as well do something to earn it.
- tonyedgecombe 9y ago
  My kids jokingly lament the need to go through it after I die. They might not be joking, I'm dreading dealing with my parents estate when they go and that's just one house.
  - KGIII 9y ago
    In this case, it is well organized and much is already appraised.
Trundle 9y ago
If he's got it in a storage unit then that makes it really easy for you. There's a market for buying the contents of storage sheds with vague itineraries. I'm sure one full of collectables would sell and plenty of the stuff would find its way to people that would care about it.
Powerofmene 9y ago
I posted earlier about having to help clean out my grandmother's stuff and helping my parents do the same. Both experiences inspired me to deciliter. I will say that for those of us who have to help our families go through this, be prepared for your family trying to "gift" things that are important to them on to you and when you decline because you do not want more stuff you may be accused of having no sentimentality. I went through this with my parents and I simply had to hold my ground. I accepted two things that did hold special meaning to me, but all other items I declined. I refused to allow their things to become my obligation to house for the next several decades.
dagw 9y ago
My father-in-law had to clean out his brothers house. As soon as he was done with that, he went home and started "death cleaning" as he calls.

KGIII 9y ago

I have so much stuff. It's not hoarding, really. I get rid of junk. I just have several houses and a few storage units. I've scads of music gear, tools, vehicles, etc. My kids jokingly lament the need to go through it after I die. Meh... At least it is organized. I kinda like the idea of leaving them a giant task. Much of it is nominally valuable. They will be busy for quite a while. This makes me smile. Knowing them, they will enjoy it as well.

Blackthorn 9y ago
It's really interesting to watch that TV show, American Pickers, because you can see in different episodes all sides of this equation. Some people are just straight up hoarders. Some people have very meticulously cataloged collections, they're just big. And sometimes you have people who have been left one of the above by their parents, and invariably just want to get rid of it and find it extremely emotionally trying. Take that last one to heart, and think of how it's not just a big task for your kids, but it's a really emotionally difficult and painful one for them as well.
- KGIII 9y ago
  Oh, I want it to be a big task for them. It's well organized. I'm leaving them significant wealth. They might as well do something to earn it.
tonyedgecombe 9y ago
My kids jokingly lament the need to go through it after I die. They might not be joking, I'm dreading dealing with my parents estate when they go and that's just one house.
- KGIII 9y ago
  In this case, it is well organized and much is already appraised.

Trundle 9y ago

If he's got it in a storage unit then that makes it really easy for you. There's a market for buying the contents of storage sheds with vague itineraries. I'm sure one full of collectables would sell and plenty of the stuff would find its way to people that would care about it.

Powerofmene 9y ago

I posted earlier about having to help clean out my grandmother's stuff and helping my parents do the same. Both experiences inspired me to deciliter. I will say that for those of us who have to help our families go through this, be prepared for your family trying to "gift" things that are important to them on to you and when you decline because you do not want more stuff you may be accused of having no sentimentality. I went through this with my parents and I simply had to hold my ground. I accepted two things that did hold special meaning to me, but all other items I declined. I refused to allow their things to become my obligation to house for the next several decades.

dagw 9y ago

My father-in-law had to clean out his brothers house. As soon as he was done with that, he went home and started "death cleaning" as he calls.