What do you do with a house full of belongings when you inherit it and live out of state?

Start by securing the property and identifying anything valuable or important to the family. Once you do that, prepare to sell, donate, and otherwise clean out the items that remain.

If you inherit a home, it’s tempting to start by emptying the house. But that can be a mistake if you do this before the property is secure. You also need to be absolutely sure you have the authority to handle the estate.

Once you know you’re clear to go through the estate, identify anything that might need to be appraised before it moves. Then give family members a chance to claim photographs, documents, heirlooms, and other belongings that they want to keep.

With those decisions made, you can separate what can be sold or donated from what needs to leave. An estate sale can make sense when there is enough marketable property to justify one. Donations can often be helpful if you have furniture or household goods that are in good condition. For everything else—which can add up to quite a lot—an estate cleanout can be useful.

If you live outside of Tennessee, that makes this even more important. Flying back and forth to meet marketplace buyers or make disposal runs can turn the property into a months-long project. This is best avoided. The more sorting and decision-making you can complete before removal begins, the easier it is to clear what remains efficiently.

The Junkluggers of Nashville handles furniture, appliances, boxes, and other non-hazardous household contents, then sorts collected items for donation, rehoming, recycling, and disposal.

Ready to settle the estate? Schedule your pickup online. The Junkluggers of Nashville serves Nashville, Franklin, Brentwood, Murfreesboro, and surrounding Middle Tennessee communities.