Helpful Tips
Essays and advice on estate cleanouts, inheritance, and letting go of a family home.
Hoarding: The House Isn't the Problem
Hoarding isn't a cleaning problem — it's a recognized mental health condition. Here's what families need to understand, and where to find real support, before starting a cleanout.
Read moreWhen the House Gets Quiet
In the middle of grief, life suddenly hands you a set of keys — and a house full of memories.
Read moreThe First 72 Hours Estate Guide
Grief doesn't pause the responsibilities that follow. This step-by-step checklist walks you through securing the property, finding documents, and building the right team.
Read moreEstate Emergency Contacts
In the first few days you'll make dozens of phone calls. Keep every important contact — attorney, executor, insurance, cleanup crew, utilities — in one organized place.
Read moreWhat Nobody Tells You About Cleaning Out a Parent's House
The paperwork is the easy part. The photographs are what stop you in your tracks.
Read moreInheriting a House You Can't Afford to Keep
Three siblings, one house, and the spreadsheet that finally got us talking honestly.
Read moreThe Estate Sale That Almost Didn't Happen
We nearly threw away a shoebox that turned out to hold three years of Grandma's letters — here's what we changed after that.
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