My brother cleared out after our mother died, as my dad was relocating to a retirement flat ...all he kept was one trunk full of memorabilia (photos, little bone china ornaments with 'A gift from Great Yarmouth etc on them (saw some on the Antiques RS a while back ...now have a little value !) my grandad's clock and a few very ancient ancestors stuff she had kept. I cleared out my late dad's flat and only kept his watch (only sentimental value) a book of his drawings, and his wooden sailor ! My daughter's boyfriend of the time did discos in his spare time, old folks homes, anniversaries, etc so he was delighted with all the old records and 50's themed CD's .. My daughter had the tv and video recorder (in those days they were still around !) and a few books ......everything else went to the Charity shop. He had a new three piece I offered to the Salvation Army, but they said they could only accept furniture with a fire certificate, which was a shame ......my friend had it instead !
As for me, well I am not dead yet, but when I sold my house in the UK my new husband already had a house full of stuff, and (althoug h mine was better and a lot newer !..the cost of moving it abroad would have been a silly amount so my daughter had all my furniture for her student house at Uni (subsequently burnt it down !) ....the rest went to the hospital I worked in for their shop or re distribution to needy causes ...books and music also to my daughter ...some stuff to friends and neighbours ,,,,and all I had to take was most of my clothes ! Somehow in the intervening 17 years I seem to have accumulated it all again .....oh dear ! big bonfire I think if I ever get to downsize to my little flat ...............