The Death, Downsizing, and the Appraisal Connection

Lakewood Cemetery ~ Minneapolis, Minnesota

Recently I attended a death discussion (not something you write every day).  Discussions like this are a part of the death positive movement to normalize discourse about the end of life.  These gatherings allow participants to discuss the sometimes unwelcome or uncomfortable topic of death in a safe, non-judgmental environment.

While there, I was introduced to the concept of Swedish Death Cleaning.  Despite the popular 2017 book, The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning by Margareta Magnuson, I had never heard of it.  The concept behind it appears to be that you downsize your possessions during your lifetime by giving items to family members instead of leaving family members to tackle the dispersion of all of your possessions after your death.  I suppose this is for those of us who procrastinated too long before starting the Marie Kondo method.

Being at this event led me to consider the intersections of appraisals, death and divesting ourselves of our property.  Each should be handled with dignity and openness to individuals unique experience.

We certainly don’t all share the same feelings about death.  That is a very simple statement,but true.  We do know, however, that it is something we all have to face.  We also don’t all share the same feelings about how to handle or get rid of a loved one’s property, sometimes for the same reasons.

Appraisers are not doctors or psychologists, at least most aren’t, but they do witness life changing and emotional events.  Finding an appraiser that shares your values or outlook can be helpful on your journey to downsize or when faced with dispersing the assets of a loved one.

Appraisers, like any professionals, are not one-size-fits-all.  Think of the doctor you loved and another you couldn’t stand.  It can be important to find the right appraiser for your situation.  To do that, ask questions and alternately, your appraisal professional may have questions for you. 

Questions like:

“How many decision makers are involved with this undertaking?”

“Is speed your priority in completing the appraisal?”

“Are you concerned about having time with an inventory to review at your family’s leisure?”

“Do you need strategies for how to divide property among heirs?”

Ideally, as with all things, this process is handled with dignity and in partnership between appraiser and client.  Each appraisal assignment is different, as is each client.  Good appraisers honor those differences and work with you to create at process and pace that is right for your situation. For more information on downsizing or estate appraisals contact us.