Your Dad:

The guy who could handle anything. But now it’s up to you to handle his affairs.  Here, you’ll find answers to many of the questions to help you get the job done right.

1. Should I have the locks changed?
2. Is his home insurance up to date?
3. Do I have all of his financial papers or do I need to search the house?
4. How do I know if I’m over improving or under improving the property, when I am helping him get ready to sell?
5. What furniture, if any, should I leave in the house to stage the property?
6. How do I sell his house if I live out of state?
7. How do I keep peace in the family when dividing up his belongings?
8. How do I dispose of the remaining items in the meaningful way?
9. How do I find a good home for his pet?
10. How long should I expect the process take?

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Should I have the locks changed?

It’s not uncommon to allow certain people access to your home. Chances are, throughout the years, your Dad had a variety of service workers and health care providers who used a house key in order to do their job. Since it’s impossible to know how many keys are out there and who had them, changing the locks is an easy and inexpensive way to insure that the house stays secure. Your Realtor can provide lists of trustworthy travelling locksmiths. Contact Susan for more information >
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Is his home insurance up to date?

A house cannot be put on the market without an up-to-date policy, so taking quick action is essential. If you have access to your Dad’s insurance policies, it is easy to confirm if his homeowners insurance is up-to-date. If there is not a current policy, your realtor can help you set up a new one. Contact Susan for more information >
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Do I have all of his financial papers or do I need to search the house?

You never know what’s been hidden under mattresses and in the back of drawers. Even though your Dad might have provided you with copies of his legal documents, there might be other paperwork he was keeping or even forgot he had that may contain very personal and private information.   It is not unheard of to find money that might have been stashed away.  It’s probably not necessary to tear apart every mattress or chair cushion, but it’s worth a small degree of detective work to make sure nothing of value is being left behind.  Contact Susan for more information >
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How do I know if I’m over improving or under improving the property, when I am helping him get ready to sell?

Without question, the most important first step in this process is finding a first-rate Realtor. The equity in your Dad’s home will have a direct effect on his quality of life. In this market, it is necessary to get it right from the beginning. Overpricing, lack of preparation and lackluster marketing are mistakes you can’t afford to have. A skilled Realtor will take into account the current market, understand and incorporate professional staging, be local, have a lot of experience in your Dad’s’s neighborhood and a general profile of your potential buyers. Often, the money spent staging and preparing a home is recaptured, with profit, in a higher selling price. Your Realtor’s job is to maximize the salability your Dad’s house, not just unload it. Contact Susan for more information >
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What furniture, if any, should I leave in the house to stage the property?

When it comes time to prepare the home to go on the market, your Realtor is your greatest resource. They should understand and incorporate professional staging in order to get the greatest amount of equity from the house in a timely manner. In rare cases, your Realtor is also a staging specialist. They will know all the steps necessary to get the house ready for sale and on the market, including what to keep in the house. They may even provide some furnishings and other décor in order to prepare the home for viewing. No one is saying that your Dad’s belongings aren’t nice, but staging a house for sale is very different than designing it for everyday living. It’s truly a unique skill that requires an experienced specialist. Contact Susan for more information >
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How do I sell his house if I live out of state?

If you had an elder parent who has passed, you will find that there are legal, financial and logistical matters that need continuous attention.  These challenges can feel overwhelming if you’re living in another state than your Dad’s.  For the times that you can’t respond immediately to a situation, it is crucial to have an identified advocate that is local to your parent.  This role can be taken on by a family member or friend, however if there are none available,  your Senior Care Consultant can put you in touch with agencies that provide this service. Contact Susan for more information >
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How do I keep peace in the family when dividing up his belongings?

If your Dad has passed, situations such as this often bring families together, perhaps even mending some fences along the way. Often, the deceased has left a will describing in detail how he wants his assets distributed. Your Father may have designated an executer who has agreed to communicate these wishes. This is where an elder-care lawyer can be a valuable resource. If there are no specific instructions, it will be up to the family to make these decisions. This can be done in a way that takes into account each person’s need. However, because this is a highly emotional time, even the closest families can fall victim to conflicts around these possessions or finances. If this is the case, the best solution is to employ an objective third party, preferably someone with a background in mediation and conflict resolution. Contact Susan for more information >
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How do I dispose of the remaining items in the meaningful way?

After all of the designated family and friends have removed their items from the house, there still may be pieces that need to be dealt with. Having an estate sale can be a very effective way to do this. A professional organizer has the knowledge and skills to run an effective estate sale, resulting in the profitable removal of excess items. For anything else that is left over, there are organizations such as Goodwill and the Society for the Blind that will gladly come and pick up donations. Donating to an organization that was meaningful to your father is a great way to honor his memory. (Note: If the organization is a registered charity, these donations may be tax deductible). Contact Susan for more information >
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How do I find a good home for his pet?

Your Dad’s pet can be one of his most cherished and meaningful relationships and your Senior Care Consultant can help you with a variety of solutions that allow your Dad to bring his special pet. If it becomes necessary to find another home for your Dad’s pet, there are groups that work specifically with breeds or those available for all types.  Contact Susan for more information >
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How long should I expect the process take?

This depends on how far along in the process a person is. Once all the personal issues such as setting up a trust or will and dividing up personal belongings have been dealt with, the actual sale can be as short as one week from the listing date, to an average of two months, depending on how much work needs to be done to the home.  If the house needs major renovation, the process can take much longer.

The more that can be addressed before your loved one passes, the less time it will take to sell of the house. To speed the sales process up, try to complete projects such as painting the outside of the house and cleaning up the garden and garage while your parent is still living in the house. This will cut down on the stress for both you as these will not intrude on his private space inside the house and yet, will still allow you to get ahead of all that needs to be done before the time arrives to sell his house. Contact Susan for more information >
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