Keep, donate, sell, pass down: sorting a loved one's things

After a loss, a house full of belongings can feel impossible to face. A simple framework makes it lighter.

Give yourself permission to go slowly

Unless there's a real deadline, like a lease or a sale, there's no prize for finishing fast. A steady, no-pressure pace is kinder and leads to fewer regrets.

Use four piles

• Keep: what you'll use or treasure.
• Pass down: heirlooms and keepsakes meant for someone specific.
• Donate: good things that can help someone else.
• Sell: items with real value worth preparing for sale.

Start with the easy rooms

Begin with a bathroom or linen closet, not the bedroom or photo boxes. Early wins build momentum for the harder rooms.

Set aside photos and letters

Box them and go through them later, together, when there's time to share the stories.