Well this sucks.

[Intrinsic]

My neighbour was killed by a drunk driver. His family is on the other side of Canada.
They asked me to deal with his belongings as we have known each other for almost 20 years.

The neighbour had quite the collectog of things, let's just say he could have been on the hoardings shows.

Does anyone here know of any clean crews that are good, reliable and reasonably priced?

Thanks

 

[Ceiling Cat]

This is a job for U-man.

 

[shack]

My neighbour was killed by a drunk driver. His family is on the other side of Canada.
They asked me to deal with his belongings as we have known each other for almost 20 years.

The neighbour had quite the collectog of things, let's just say he could have been on the hoardings shows.

Does anyone here know of any clean crews that are good, reliable and reasonably priced?

Thanks

What does "deal with his belongings" mean? Dump everything or something more involved?

 

[unassuming]

Does anyone here know of any clean crews that are good, reliable and reasonably priced?

Thanks

Not cheap, but they are reliable and very thorough in their cleaning, leaving no trace

 

[Butler1000]

First thing is I would google up a service, or ask the funeral home being used for a recommendation. Then send the price to the family, and get them to pay upfront. There are plenty of legal issues here as well so make sure you have proper permissions in writing from the family. Specifically the executer of the Will.

Once you have the permission you can go on to removing valuables like jewelery, art, coins and other collectibles. Most furniture is worth about 10 cents on the dollar if you are lucky. Clothes, minus say a mink are trash, as are linens. China, silverware take, and pictures.

Thats a start for you.

 

[Jenesis]

Sorry for your loss.

First thing is I would google up a service, or ask the funeral home being used for a recommendation. Then send the price to the family, and get them to pay upfront. There are plenty of legal issues here as well so make sure you have proper permissions in writing from the family. Specifically the executer of the Will.

Once you have the permission you can go on to removing valuables like jewelery, art, coins and other collectibles. Most furniture is worth about 10 cents on the dollar if you are lucky. Clothes, minus say a mink are trash, as are linens. China, silverware take, and pictures.

Thats a start for you.

This is so true. Get written permission as well as a list of they expect to be returned to them and get pictures of everything. Everything you keep, donate and toss. You do not need someone coming back in three years saying you stole a family heirloom worth $25,000.

OP - this is not an easy task and based on the condition you say it is, this is going to take you awhile. Make sure this is something you have the time and energy for. If not, as hard as it might be, say no.

 

[drstrangelove]

First thing is I would google up a service, or ask the funeral home being used for a recommendation. Then send the price to the family, and get them to pay upfront. There are plenty of legal issues here as well so make sure you have proper permissions in writing from the family. Specifically the executer of the Will.

Once you have the permission you can go on to removing valuables like jewelery, art, coins and other collectibles. Most furniture is worth about 10 cents on the dollar if you are lucky. Clothes, minus say a mink are trash, as are linens. China, silverware take, and pictures.

Thats a start for you.

Not many would forward to this undertaking. fyi, clothes, linen or any cloth material can be donated to The Diabetes Society or other charity. Most will accept it in almost any condition, and they'll come to pick it up if put into plastic bags.

 

[Butler1000]

Not many would forward to this undertaking. fyi, clothes, linen or any cloth material can be donated to The Diabetes Society or other charity. Most will accept it in almost any condition, and they'll come to pick it up if put into plastic bags.

Sorry when I said trash I meant as sellable value.

Unless there is handmade funiture it also is donatable.

 

[poker]

Turn it down.

 

[Ref]

A few years back I purchased an estate sale home complete with contents.

The prior owner had passed and the house was vacant for almost a year. When I took over the place was the exact same as he left it (found out he passed in the hospital). Clothes were still in dressers/closet, food in the fridge/cupboards, etc. It was somewhat a bit of a hoard as the entire main floor had not been lived in for at least a couple of decades.

Most of the stuff was not worth anything and it was tossed it in to the dumpster.

I did find about $3,000 in cash and gold coins, stamp collection (which I have not had appraised), kept some of the wooden bedroom furniture as it was solid maple and only needed a good cleaning and painting, and about $1,000 worth of tools. To buy the bedroom furniture of that quality would have easily cost $3,000 or more so in all I discovered/saved around $7,000. The cash was found in the strangest places, behind the dresser, boxes in food cupboards, in books, etc. so I took my time going through things before throwing them out.

I did find a couple of safety deposit keys with instructions on the bank and box number, however I have no idea if they are valid or how I would even confirm such.

As luck would have it I purchased it before the current house boom and the majority of the building supplies were bought before the Covid lumber increase.

I may sell it in the spring if I can find another fixer upper (in this case an internal gutting) as I enjoyed bringing this old house back to life and working on it was an enjoyable hobby.

In today's market I stand to clear 4 -5 times my original investment.

 

[John Wick]

You knew him for 20 years, but they knew him his entire life. Guess he didn't mean very much to them if they can't spare the time and expense to deal with his estate after he died. I'd tell them to do it themselves.

 

[curr3n_c1000]

How big is the house? I'll do it for a fee.

 

[Sonic Temple]

Sorry mate, sad to hear a life taken by an asshole behind the wheel.

 

[LTO_3]

If he had a will, don't do anything until you talk to or have instructions from whoever is the executor of the will & has power of attorney.
Anything you do without that person(s) instructions leaves you in possible legal problems.

And any expenses to clean the house should be expensed thru the estate. Again talk to and get written permission from whoever is the executor(s)/power of attorney.

LTO_3

 

[VIPhunter]

How big is the house? I'll do it for a fee.

That's the way. You could send an invoice to the estate. This is a perfectly legit expense.

 

[silentkisser]

A buddy of mine had an aunt pass who was a hoarder. These are some of the things I remember:

• Furniture will not sell for much or at all, and the vast majority of charities no longer accept them (I think it has something to do with a fear of bed bugs).
• There are a few charities that might pick up donations (I think the Diabetes one does), but most will not.
• Electronics, unless they are fairly new, are also dead weight when it comes to selling. You can probably donate them or trash them at the local dump's e-waste section.
• As for the rest of it that is actual junk, there are those places like Got Junk that will collect and remove the waste. They are not cheap, unfortunately, but they can do it a lot more efficiently than you (unless you have a pickup truck).

As others have mentioned, you should do a thorough inventory of any valuables. Is the family expecting you to send them stuff? Or do they want you to do it and keep whatever you can? This is quite a burden to impose on someone who isn't family, and you should expect to be paid for it. Be careful to document everything, because you really don't want them to come after you.

Oh, and, sorry for your loss. It is devastating to have someone snuffed out so quickly in such a random and horrific way.

 

[jaycam]

Donate to Furniture bank - they will come in and remove it for you. Leaving you to deal with the personal effects

Furniture Bank Toronto, Furniture Donations Can Change Lives

Furniture Donations Pick-up & Drop-off. Your furniture can change lives. Our mission is to end furniture poverty – one family at a time.

www.furniturebank.org

 

[versitile1]

"Sorry for your loss but I have way too much going on at the moment to deal with your family member‘s possessions".

You're welcome.

 

[VIPhunter]

A buddy of mine had an aunt pass who was a hoarder. These are some of the things I remember:

• Furniture will not sell for much or at all, and the vast majority of charities no longer accept them (I think it has something to do with a fear of bed bugs).
• There are a few charities that might pick up donations (I think the Diabetes one does), but most will not.
• Electronics, unless they are fairly new, are also dead weight when it comes to selling. You can probably donate them or trash them at the local dump's e-waste section.
• As for the rest of it that is actual junk, there are those places like Got Junk that will collect and remove the waste. They are not cheap, unfortunately, but they can do it a lot more efficiently than you (unless you have a pickup truck).

As others have mentioned, you should do a thorough inventory of any valuables. Is the family expecting you to send them stuff? Or do they want you to do it and keep whatever you can? This is quite a burden to impose on someone who isn't family, and you should expect to be paid for it. Be careful to document everything, because you really don't want them to come after you.

Oh, and, sorry for your loss. It is devastating to have someone snuffed out so quickly in such a random and horrific way.

Careful there. There is a huge market for vintage stereo gear these days. Prices are crazy, for the right stuff.

 

[drstrangelove]

If he had a will, don't do anything until you talk to or have instructions from whoever is the executor of the will & has power of attorney.
Anything you do without that person(s) instructions leaves you in possible legal problems.

And any expenses to clean the house should be expensed thru the estate. Again talk to and get written permission from whoever is the executor(s)/power of attorney.

LTO_3

Minor point but executor only. Power of Attorney ends upon death.