When it comes to handling the treasured personal possessions of a deceased family member, portable storage containers are a safe and convenient option.
Serving as an executor to an estate or trust is a challenging role. On top of the grieving process, you're tasked with managing and dispersing the deceased's assets and personal wealth. When it comes to tangible possessions, portable storage containers are a convenient way of staying organized.
Part of the process involves sorting through the decedent's belongings and reconciling those items with the instructions laid out in the will. That could include:
- Bequeathing them to family members and friends
- Donating them to charitable organizations
- Liquidating them in an estate sale and dispersing the funds to intended beneficiaries
Portable storage is extremely useful in these situations for a number of reasons:
1. A safe, secure place to store items
When someone dies, it's the executor's job to itemize his or her possessions and carefully pack them up until the time comes to distribute them. By having a mobile storage unit delivered to the door, you can pack these items quickly and efficiently.
And by maintaining a careful inventory of the items, you'll know the exact contents of the container, providing yourself and any potential beneficiaries with peace of mind.
Oftentimes, an estate can contain valuable items such as:
- Antiques
- Artifacts
- Heirlooms
- Jewelry
- Collectibles (coins, stamps etc.)
- Artwork
The secure storage offered by portable storage containers will ensure these items are well protected.
2. Onsite storage or a secure facility?
Depending on what works best for managing the estate, portable storage containers can either be left onsite, or transported back to a secure storage facility.
For instance, if you plan on holding an estate sale right away, it might make sense to keep the storage unit at the deceased's property. On the other hand, if it's going to take a while for family members to gather, then a storage facility might be the better option.
3. Staging the home for sale
If the decedent's home is going to be sold, it's a good idea to clear out any unnecessary personal belongings, leaving only the furniture items (beds, couches, tables etc.) required to stage it properly.
For advice on how to stage a home for sale, read our post Staging, Storing and Selling: How Kelowna Mobile Storage Containers Help Sell Homes.
4. Avoiding rental fees
If the home of the person who died is a rental property, the estate will continue paying rent until the lease is terminated. To avoid this ongoing expense, an executor or trustee can end the contract and place all tangible property into storage until it's distributed.
5. Items too large for portable storage units
In some cases, the personal possessions might be too large to fit into a storage unit. If that's the case, many storage facilities feature warehouse storage for things like RVs, boats and other vehicles.
Are you an executor or trustee looking to store the personal possessions of a deceased family member? Space Centre Storage in Kelowna offers the convenience of MI-BOX® portable storage containers to safeguard all manner of items. Call us to have one delivered to your premises.