Clearing Dad's house in Varsity Lakes
Kate Ryan · Deceased Estate Clearance · Varsity Lakes
The story
I'm in Varsity Lakes, and I'll be honest: I put this off for far too long. Nan had lived in her unit for thirty years. When she died, the family couldn't agree on anything for a while, and by the time we did, the body corporate wanted it emptied.
He'd kept everything: forty years of tax returns, his work tools, the good china, three televisions and a shed full of fishing gear.
Varsity Lakes is a modern lakeside suburb with student housing and business parks, and getting things out isn't always simple. Modern estates with easy access and visitor parking.
They offered a time the next morning. I asked if they needed me to move anything to the kerb first, and they said no, they'd take it from where it was.
They arrived a few minutes early, introduced themselves and did a quick walk-around. The price they gave me was a bit under what I'd budgeted, which was a pleasant surprise.
They asked before moving anything that looked personal. A few times they brought me something from the back of a drawer, like a ring and a letter, that we'd have lost otherwise.
The space is unrecognisable. I keep walking past it just to look. I'd use them again without thinking about it, and I've already passed the number on to my sister.
If I'm honest, the hardest part was deciding to do it. Once that was done, it was easy.