Dealing with a deceased loved one’s items. How to make it simpler and easier

Dealing with a loss of a loved one is one of the hardest things we as human beings have to endure. When someone we hold dear to our hearts passes away, we have to allow ourselves to mourn as much as we have to. There are no right or wrong answers when it comes to the time needed to move on with our lives. But at one point, you will have to be dealing with a deceased loved one’s items. That is something that will most likely re-open that wound, but it is a necessary step. However, you can also relive some of your fondest memories of that person when you are sorting their belongings. We at Zippy Shell Moving and Storage DMV have prepared a guide that will help you go through this process.

How to approach dealing with a deceased loved one’s items?

The last thing you want to be thinking about in these cases is paperwork or looking for storage units. However, it really is a necessary part of the grieving process. There are definitely certain things you will forever be holding in your possession, as those things remind you of your deceased loved one. Anything that holds significant sentimental value is something that will always have a place in your home. But every person will inevitably leave behind many things that don’t hold that kind of value to you. That’s why it’s important to really sort through their things and see what is worth keeping and what is not. In most cases, you should only keep a handful of items in your home. The rest you should put somewhere else.

Take your time

There is no need to rush this. As one of the 4 D’s of life, a death of a loved one will definitely take its emotional toll on you. That is perfectly normal, and you should allow yourself to experience that pain in order to be able to move on. That pain is a reminder of not only how much we loved that person, but that they will be forever in our hearts and minds. Through us, they will live on. But at the same time, they wouldn’t want you to be stuck forever in the same spot. Take as much time as you need before you start going through your deceased loved one’s items but start as soon as you feel ready and stable enough. Don’t rush it, because if you start too early you might make it even harder on yourself.

Go through their stuff methodically

In order to avoid any regret over losing or displacing something of high sentimental value, first create two lists. The first one is the list of things that you are emotionally attached to. The second list will have all the things that don’t hold that kind of value to you. In the first list, the first things you have to put there are all of those possessions that really represent that person to you. They can really be anything. You know best what those things are. Their favorite shirt, jewelry, photos, paintings if they painted (or any other art form they practiced), collections, books, and so on. But just be cautious and try not to put too many things on that essentials list that don’t belong there. It’s a mistake we all tend to make, and it’s perfectly normal. Just try to be objective as much as you can.

Once you have a list of things that you know should be stored away, apply the same methodical approach. You should organize your storage unit as efficiently as possible. You don’t want to just put those possessions inside randomly and be done with it. Maybe you’ll need something from those things at one point, so you should know exactly where to find it. Sort those things into groups and use a labeling system. That way, whenever you go inside, you’ll know where to find what you are looking for. You won’t be wasting any time going through boxes and piles of things.

Ask your friends and family for help

When you are dealing with a deceased loved one’s items, you don’t want to do it alone! It’s important that we rely on the people closest to us, especially if they also shared a bond with the person who passed away. Having them around while you sort through their things has many benefits. First of all, you will have someone to talk to and share your feelings with. Never keep your grief locked inside, it simply isn’t healthy. That’s why our support circle should always be around us in our times of need. Secondly, you can reminisce together. You’ll all share stories and experiences you shared with that person, and in those moments, you will be able to laugh and feel happy. That’s something your lost loved one would want for you!

Finally, you will be able to complete this process more efficiently. You can always use an extra pair of hands. The packing and moving of boxes to the storage unit will be much easier. Also, those people might keep some of those things for themselves as memorabilia. Everyone close to that person should be able to see the things he left behind and choose something for themselves. If some of the things you have to store away are delicate and you don’t want them to break or get damaged, it’s advisable to use the packing services Northern VA. Avoid the risk of damage by letting trained professionals assist you as well during those hard times.

Don’t feel regret when dealing with a deceased loved one’s items!

It is perfectly understandable if you have a hard time separating yourself from their possessions! You feel as if you’ll lose your connection to them in a way, but that can’t be further from the truth. The real connection with them will never go away, as they will forever be present in your heart and mind. On top of that, you will definitely keep some of their things to remember them by. But you shouldn’t keep everything. That’s not something that should make you feel bad. Even in times when we don’t lose a person, we often wish to declutter our homes as we keep too many things inside. Look at this whole process from that same perspective and you’ll find it much easier. On top of that, you are not throwing those things away in the literal sense!

There are a few things we can do with our deceased loved one’s items. Some of them should be put in residential onsite storage containers, some donated and some can even be sold. You know best which items will fall into which of these three brackets. The things you wish to keep indefinitely will go inside your chosen storage unit. The rest of them can be sold or donated. In most cases, it’s usually clothes that end up being donated or sold. If no one in your immediate circle will take those clothes and wear them, you don’t have a reason anymore to keep them. Give them to a charity of your choice or sell them however you see fit.

What is the best storage option when dealing with a deceased loved one’s items?

There are a few storage options we recommend when dealing with a deceased loved one’s items. Depending on what those items are, you want only the best possible storage unit you can find. Let’s take a look at the options.

Climate-controlled storage units are the best option when dealing with a deceased loved one’s items

These are by far the best option for long-term storage. These storage units offer the optimal temperature for any type of item. Even if you are only storing clothes, for instance, you can still select the optimal temperature that will prevent any damage from accumulating over time. This feature is especially important when dealing with sensitive items. When dealing with a deceased loved one’s items that you plan on keeping in storage for a longer period of time, climate controlled storage Northern Virginia is perfect. Our company offers top-of-the-line climate-controlled storage units, so we highly recommend that you use them instead of regular ones. You won’t have to think about the safety and state of the stuff stored inside!

Indoor storage units

Indoor storage units are regular storage units, located inside a storage or warehouse facility. You lease the unit and have full access to it 24/7. Their main benefit is security. Only people with the key to the unit and a valid ID with which storage was leased can enter. That means your deceased loved one’s items will be safe and sound inside. Apart from that, the facilities are equipped with cameras and security guards, so there is no reason to worry whether someone will ever break in. They come in a few different sizes too. The downside is that they can have tricky doors. Sometimes your storage unit door can get stuck so you should know how to deal with that problem if it occurs.

Onsite storage units

These storage units are a very useful resource! Onsite storage containers are movable storage units that can be placed anywhere you want them. For example, if you want to have your deceased loved one’s possessions nearby but still out of the house, you can tell your storage company where to put them. They can be in your backyard, in front of the house, or anywhere else. It’s you who decides that and has the final say. This is a very practical solution, especially if you are still not certain what to do with certain items. Our company provides the best onsite storage containers on the market at an excellent price, so we can assure you the things you place inside will be safe and sound no matter what.

Portable storage units

If you have too many things to store away and think it would be complicated to sort them in a storage facility, then opt for portable storage Northern VA. In this scenario, you would call us, and we would come to you with this storage unit. Once we are there, we then immediately start loading the boxes inside. When that is completed, we then drive the unit back to our storage facility. The items inside will remain in the same place and way as you left them. You wouldn’t need to make the trip to the storage facility, especially if it’s far away and you would have to spend a lot of time commuting and then placing those items inside. All of our storage containers are climate-controlled, so dealing with a deceased loved one’s items would be made as easy as possible for you.

Military storage units

If you are dealing with a deceased loved one’s items who was in the military, you would probably want to store their things in a safe and secure place. Military people are used to things being organized and tidy, so keep that same approach even after they are gone. On top of that, some of their items could be very precious. You don’t want to put them just about anywhere. Our company’s storage containers would be the perfect place for their items. The rise in demand for military storage in Northern Virginia over the past years speaks volumes about their security and practicability. Make sure your deceased loved one’s items are in the best place they can possibly be.