Before anything leaves, walk the house and photograph each room. Check pockets, drawers, freezers, and the backs of closets — documents and keepsakes hide in odd places.
Separate paperwork into one box to sort later. Deeds, titles, insurance, and tax records are easy to lose in a fast cleanout.
Then bring in help. A crew can clear a full home in a day once the keep-pile is out, and donation-worthy furniture goes to a local charity instead of a landfill.