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Inheriting a house and its contents


If you find yourself in the position of inheriting a house and its contents there can be a lot of things to consider. Unless this inheritance has been from a distant relative you don't know, this process can be emotionally and physically exhausting. There is going to be a lot of information to process and emotions to deal with along the way.

Ensure that you know all your legal requirements and tax implications of this inheritance. Make sure you speak to lawyers and accountants to ensure everything is done correctly for your circumstances.

Consider the idea that you may not need to sell the property immediately. You can put everything in storage and rent out the property while you take the time to decide on what you would like to do. It is not always easy to make decisions when you are first grieving or you may need some income for financial reasons.

Inheriting a house

Some tips for you:

Take as much time as you need - Everyones timeline is different, some people are ready to deal with the estate process quickly while others may need many months. Try not to get stuck and just take small steps forward. Honour your emotions and and try not to make any significant decisions while you are at the beginning of the grieving process.

Sentimental items - It can be wise to go through the house and write down any items that are sentimental to you and your family. You can then move these items into storage while you clean out the remaining items. This tip helps to keep everything moving forward while you clean out the other items with less sentiment.

Clearing out - Go through the house room by room and clean out any clutter. Throw away any broken items and clean out the fridge and pantry. Stick to one room at a time to avoid the feeling of overwhelm, take regular breaks and ask for help if you need to.

Sell items - Perhaps you have a lot of items that you need to have an estate sale and there are many companies that can help with this. Or you may just have a few items to sell on eBay or GumTree.

Donate items - Many charities will come to your house and collect items. Check first that they are items which are able to be donated to the charity.

Inheriting a house is both a large responsibility and an honour - John Bull Removals and Storage can help you to move any items you need and store items for both long-term or short-term. Contact the team today to see how we can help.


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