Bereavement

How self storage can help with the loss of a loved one

People deal with bereavement in lots of different ways. Some struggle to get out of bed; some find solace in throwing themselves into practical tasks straightaway and may not feel the loss until much later. There is no such thing as ‘normal’ grief: everyone copes in their own way.

Whenever you are ready to tackle the practicalities of losing a loved one, you may struggle to know what to do with all of their belongings. Over the course of a lifetime, your loved one will no doubt have built up a large number of possessions and it is likely to be impractical for you to keep them all.

Further reading: How self storage can help when a family member dies
 

One step at a time

Don’t feel rushed into disposing of their belongings. You may come to regret parting with certain items, either for sentimental or practical reasons. If you have to sell your loved one's home quickly, don't be hasty in giving away or selling their belongings: there are other options.

Your loved one might have left a will detailing which beneficiaries are to receive what parts of the estate, but it is unlikely to be detailed enough to account for every household or personal item. Make sure you speak openly with other family members to allow everyone to agree on who will take particular items that may hold particular meaning for them.

Once items of sentimental value have been divided up and taken good care of, you can turn your attention to everything else.
 

Sorting and organising

A methodical approach might help you to tackle the job of deciding where your loved one’s belongings will go — what should be given to charity, what could be sold and what might be useful to you or your family at some point in the future. Go room-by-room and box or add a Post-It note to each item clearly labelling where it needs to go.

Those items that might prove useful later on (such as spare beds, wardrobes and other furniture or furnishings), perhaps when children or grandchildren establish homes for themselves, can be safely stored in a self storage unit if you don't have room in your basement or loft. 
 

Storage at Safestore

Our units range in size from 10 sq ft (about the size of a car boot) up to warehouses of 500 sq ft and everything in between. You can rent a unit for as long or as little as you need, and your loved one’s belongings will be kept clean, dry and secure until you need them back. 

Call us or fill in our contact form and one of our team will help you to choose a unit that is the correct size for what you want to store, and give you a quote for a unit at your nearest Safestore.