After locating the estate’s beneficiaries and tasked with manging a property, our clearance team goes through a full house clearance process. From hoarder houses to family homes, our team have worked on every property imaginable. This blog gives an insight of the numerous hidden treasures we have found alongside a few terrifying surprises.
Mummified Pets
We often encounter properties affected by hoarding, where individuals struggle to let go of their personal treasures. In one tragic case involving a hoarder house filled with BT equipment. We discovered a mummified cat beneath a pile of paperwork. Unfortunately, the cat had become trapped and sadly perished there. This raised the question; Did the owner notice their beloved pet had vanished or if they even had a cat? This situation can arise in hoarder houses when pets are neglected with unsafe and unsanitary conditions. Sadly, this is not the only case we have come across a perished animal in a property.
Good luck Charms Or Superstitions
Across many different estates we find a variety of treasures. In one estate finding a trinket box lined with brown velvet presenting a rabbit’s foot. Many individuals collect these keepsakes or tokens of luck over time for various reasons. In the UK, a rabbit’s foot can symbolise good luck or help gain spiritual protection. Other nostalgic possessions we have found include teeth, soft toys and photos albums.
Mourning Treasures
Jewellery is often passed down through generations, carrying sentimental and historical significance. In our probate property clearances, we frequently find jewellery belonging to the deceased which can add considerable value to the estate. In this instance, we found a Victorian bereavement ring with ashes in them. These rings would be worn to honour the memory of a loved one, featuring inscriptions of dates and motifs such as urns, weeping willows or skulls. Wearing this jewellery represented grief for the deceased and the reminder of the afterlife. We find that closer relatives to the deceased are more likely to keep jewellery than sell it due to sentimental value.
Historical Artifacts
All kinds of historical items tend to be found in the probate properties we handle. One such instance included finding a Royal Air Force cap. While another, we discovered Nazi memorabilia, including uniforms and medals. This left our clearance team wondering what to do with these items. Should we dispose them? Would any auctioneer consider these items? In the end, we reached out to the beneficiaries to explain the circumstances. They were happy to take responsibility for the memorabilia, as they shared a strong interest in World War II collecting.
Conclusion
In every probate property we find hidden treasures and secrets of the deceased. We have seen it all; Unsettling discoveries like pet remains to valuable jewellery enriching the estate. If you have enquiry or a question about probate, please contact us directly here.
