First check whether there's a date by which the home must be empty. For a rented home or a room in a care facility, the rent runs until handover and a notice period often applies (a rule of thumb of around a month after the death — check the contract). An owned home usually allows more time. Once you know the date, you can set the pace accordingly — and if you have time, take it.

List the rooms and set an order, and schedule fixed moments rather than trying to do everything at once. Take photos and a short inventory first — it helps later when dividing things up. Sort by category (clothing, documents, furniture, jewellery) and start with clothing; it's often emotionally the lightest and gets the process moving.

Plan a family meeting and agree together on who does what and how you divide valuable or sentimental items. If several people want the same thing, drawing lots is a fair and transparent method: everyone writes down their favourites and then you draw. Label clearly what's being kept, and bring in a neutral third party if conflict threatens.

Decide per item: keep, give to family, donate, sell or discard. If you can't decide yet, you don't have to right away — keep those items or store them temporarily. Feel free to ask yourself whether you're keeping something out of genuine meaning or out of guilt; not everything has to stay, and a photo of an object preserves the memory just as well.

Gather the things you truly want to keep in one box or chest, and perhaps create a small memorial spot at home with a few cherished objects. Want to keep a memory without keeping the object itself? A photo of it is a lovely, space-saving alternative. That way you keep what counts, without having to keep everything.

Items in good condition that no one in the family keeps can be given a second life via a charity shop or charity. Valuable pieces — antiques, art, jewellery or old books — can be appraised first before you sell them via an online platform or auction house. No rush: do it when it suits you.

Keep important papers carefully: the will, insurance policies, bank statements and ownership documents. Don't throw them away — they're needed to settle the estate. Make copies where useful and store sensitive information securely.

Cancel the rental contract, subscriptions and insurance in good time, and switch off gas, water and electricity to avoid unnecessary costs. Have the post forwarded to a lived-in address. Feeling overwhelmed or living far away? Then ask for help — from family and friends, or a professional clearance service.