If possible, ask your parents to make a list of who gets what and then deal with the rest of your parents' possessions with knowledge and peace of mind before your find yourself with "predators" that want the items for next to nothing. This will eliminate some of the bickering between siblings and keep the harmony during this difficult time.

Clean out the junk and decide what you are going to toss, donate and sell. Get an estate appraiser to determine the value of the items you are planning to throw away just in case they are valuable.

Be sure to clean out the refrigerator and expired food and canned items as soon as possible so you are not dealing with a mess.