Not easy....stay strong...focus on the good memories, then let the objects go.

I'll be thinking of you. I admire your strength.

Hope it goes well and smoothly for you today.

On the financial side: I hope the realtor has given you plenty of information about recent sales in the area to enable you to price the property correctly. You want to be realistic, but not give it away because you're eager to move on. Is this something that could be postponed until life is less hectic?

I hope things are go smoothly on cleaning out Day! So glad you have family to help you.

Everything we read about squatters--hope there are no surprises!

Samkaren, you have had to deal with a lot. I hope it all goes smoothly and the house sells quickly.

You must be exhausted, emotionally and physically. Please eat something, and rest tonight! (((hugs)))

I really appreciate your updates.

Hugs and prayers.

If it helps as you settle in to this phase of life, remember two things: that you honored your dear friend by diligently settling his estate, and that you have friends here to share both joy and grief.

Nicely said Nickel_kg. I completely agree with the sentiment.

Why don't you move in or rent the house out? You'd have your own home or extra rental income.

I'm glad your BIL could help out, it's been a tough few weeks for you. Your DH is at peace and now you can rest as well and grieve.

I'm so sorry. I missed the backbground about why you've not been at the house in so many years, but I do send my condolences on the loss of your husband and my emotional support in settling his affairs. May be some more complicated emotions due to being separated, but love still existed, that's clear. My very best to you as you continue your emotional journey.

The house is 2 hours and I have to sell it. Going to look for a 2 bedroom condo. It's complicated but husband died with no medical or life insurance. I'll tell more about that later. Just cross fingers it sells quickly.

Is there some need to 'sell qickly'? I'm concerned lest you 'give it away' in this state of emotional distress. In today's market, a seller has most of the power.

I'm asking 89 because that is what it is worth. He lived in a small town and IMO there isn't much there. Will explain more later but I'm not giving house away.

You did well to clear the house in such a short space of time. It took months to clear our my husband's house.

I didn't mean to add to your burdens. It's generally accepted advice to postpone large financial decisions until you've more fully recovered from a death.

Many expenses can come with an unoccupied house though Chisue. Many insurance companies raise the rate for coverage and its a lot, not a little. When we bought this house, we hadnt been looking and my smaller home wasn't prepared to sell. Just a few blocks away, I was updating some things at my leisure. My insurance agent was trying to keep it 'under radar' that we were no longer living in it. I was notified the rate for an unoccupied home was going up x 5 the month I sold it. Prop taxes. Heat and lights. There is the concern for break ins and vandals. If she has no emotional attachment to the house, best she lets it go soonest and has one less responsibility.

morz8, having moved several times and having insurance placed through the same agent, they knew that we were not living in both places at once. This is a typical situation. I think your agent was giving you hooey, trying to milk the situation for an added premium commission.

I had the same exact experience as morz8. House just a few blocks away, empty, cost me a ton to insure. My agent was primarily a Nationwide agent and I don't recall if they wouldn't insure it or if the rates were prohibitive, but she ended up finding me some sort of commercial insurance through a company I never heard of. It was still very expensive. And she seemed to spend a good bit of effort finding that for me. I never understood it, after all plenty of people have multiple houses.

Some years ago, when a buyers' market was raging in my area and interest rates had ticked up, we decided to step up to a nicer house (when prices were depressed) knowing that selling our existing house could take time. It did - 10 months. During that time, the house on the market was unoccupied. The same State Farm agent handled the insurance on both and as he needed to submit a certificate of insurance to the escrow company as a condition of the purchase transaction closing, he knew where we were and weren't living. The insurance cost for the old, now vacant house didn't change.

Maybe the insurance market has changed since then. Maybe there are regional differences. Maybe it depends on the company and/or the agent. I can't say anything more than that my unoccupied house that was on the market for nearly a year continued at the same insurance cost as when we lived there.

People should read the fine print in their insurance policy, and understand the difference between an unoccupied house (still furnished and with personal property, utilities connected, periodically checked on, etc) and a vacant house (furnishings and personal effects gone, utilities perhaps turned off, not regularly checked on). But likely it won't matter, unless something bad happens and a claim is made which could be disputed.

Of course, to be honest, I have no idea what my own insurance says!

I hope it sells quickly. My monthly paycheck is going for my rent and mortgage, utilities and insurance. I have about sixty dollars left to buy food.

On a humorous note...with the total so far for the hospital bills...it would take me 55 years to pay it off with what I earn a month. Total so far 322,522.04

Elmer, I've known my agent a few decades and she's an honest likeable woman. The letter I got explaining the terms of insuring the second house came from corporate, not her local agency.

I recognize hooey. People don't hoo me.

When I bought a second house (for my own use), the insurance on my primary house didn't increase. The ratio of the premiums between the two is roughly what one would expect comparing the ratio of the values of the structures. No premium charged though at least one of them is empty on any given day and sometimes both. Often one is empty for many months at a time

I'll stick with what I said in prior comments, I suspect one or more of the possibilities I mentioned could be at work.

I'm horrible at keeping records of anything but I'm also horrible at clearing my email. Found it! My annual premium prior to moving was $2246.00. After moving, the new policy increased to $1522.80 semiannual. Not as bad as I remembered but still an annoying increase for a vacant house. And it was pretty bare bones as I recall, just enough to satisfy my lender.

I believe insurance is regulated by states, so one person's anecdotes have no bearing on another's.

$323K and counting! Wow -- I hope that is not your personal responsibility, SamKaren.

Legally I guess I am being we were married when he died. Going to send copies to my lawyer tomorrow. He said not to do anything until they contact me. And they haven't as they don't have my info as of yet.

Re: Medical Bills. I recently heard that medical debt in the US is greater than the combination of all other debt, including credit card debt, car loans, etc. It's one of the primary factors leading people to declare bankruptcy.

I hope here's an out for you, samkarenorkaren.

Way beyond my & google's expertise -- I hope your lawyer can find a favorable resolution.

" I believe insurance is regulated by states, "

That was my second suggestion, differences from place to place, but I wonder if that's the reason.

Hugs samkaren. Hugs.

I'm thinking of you. It'll work out. Somehow. Hoping all of my hope for you.

Thank you. Just praying that the house sells quickly.