No estate mistakes with Roger Schrenk
The fastest way to turn grief into chaos is to ignore the question nobody wants to ask: what happens to all the things we collect over a lifetime? I’m joined by Roger Schrenk, founder of DontMakeAnEstateMistake.com, who has spent 30+ years helping families navigate downsizing, estate liquidation, inherited belongings, and the overwhelm that hits when a big house needs to be emptied fast.
We dig into why this is so hard, especially for Gen X adults managing Baby Boomer parents. Roger breaks down the generational relationship to objects, why “hoarding” is often the wrong label, and how belongings can represent purpose, identity, and the role of being the family archivist. If you’ve ever looked at a basement full of boxes and felt your brain shut down, you’re not alone and you’re not failing.
You’ll also hear concrete, usable strategies: conversation starters that plant seeds instead of triggering panic, how to frame sorting as a task your parent can own, and the two biggest mistakes Roger sees families make. One of them is the storage unit trap, the expensive “deal with it later” plan that turns into quicksand. We also talk about value, why eBay listings can mislead you, how pros check sold comps, and why an impartial scan (even via Zoom or FaceTime) can prevent costly estate sale and appraisal errors.
We end with a powerful reframe on guilt and letting go, plus a line you’ll remember the next time you’re tempted to keep everything: keep the sparks, not the logs. If you found this helpful, subscribe, share it with a friend who’s facing downsizing, and leave a review so more families can find the support they need.
You can reach Roger here
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