The situation

Illustrative example. Not a real job or customer.

In this hypothetical, a parent who lived alone in a 1950s brick ranch in the west metro dies in a hospital after a short illness. The adult child, named personal representative, has not been inside the home for several years. Opening the door, they find rooms stacked to shoulder height, a strong musty odor, and mouse droppings on counters and along walls.

  1. The executor steps back outside, airs the house with doors open and leaves rather than starting to clear.
  2. Before going further, they check that the furnace and water heater are not blocked by stored items and ask the gas utility to check for safety concerns after noticing a faint gas smell near the kitchen.
  3. They call a probate attorney to confirm their authority and ask how long to keep documents and valuables.
  4. Two providers who handle hoarding with biohazards walk through the home. Both note heavy rodent waste in the kitchen and basement, and syringes and lancets from the parent's insulin use scattered among papers.
  5. The executor chooses the provider whose plan addresses rodent waste and sharps before general clearing and sets aside documents, photos, jewelry and cash.
  6. Workers in respirators wet and remove droppings and nests, collect sharps into rigid containers, and then sort contents room by room, boxing items for the family to review.
  7. Once floors are visible, damaged carpet and insulation in the basement are removed, and a pest control company seals entry points.

The family reviews several boxes of keepsakes and papers on clean folding tables in the garage. The house is ready for repairs and eventual sale, and the estate file holds disposal records and an itemized list.

Key decision points

  • IfThe executor smelled gas on entryThenLeaving and calling the gas utility before doing anything else was the right move.
  • IfRodent droppings were widespreadThenWet cleaning with respirators replaced the plan to sweep and bag, avoiding dust exposure.
  • IfNeedles were mixed with papersThenSorting slowly with puncture-resistant gloves was worth the extra time.
  • IfRelatives wanted to start clearing on a weekendThenWaiting for the attorney's guidance and a provider plan prevented disputes and injuries.

How the contents were handled

  1. Biohazards first.Droppings, nests, sharps, spoiled food and any contaminated soft items removed under protective measures.
  2. Search categories.Workers watched for documents, photos, cash, jewelry, keys, firearms and medications, setting them aside.
  3. Sort and box.Remaining contents grouped into keep, donate and discard, with the executor approving categories in advance.
  4. Family review.Boxes of possible keepsakes presented in a clean area for the family to decide.

Questions this executor was glad to have asked

  1. Do I have the legal authority to authorize removal and disposal yet?
  2. How will you protect documents and possible valuables while sorting?
  3. How will rodent waste and sharps be handled and disposed of?
  4. Will you photograph each room before and after for the estate file?
  5. Can repairs wait until the attorney and family have reviewed the contents?

General information for the Denver area, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.