Looking for some etiquette advice re: clutter in a FSBO open house

[Wonk]

My uncle was supposed to have rented a big truck (and possibly a moving crew) to haul out the rest of what's now his stuff (a piano, the master bedroom suite, lots of fishing gear, a LaZ Boy chair, etc) from my grampa's (R.I.P.) house today. Instead, he told the rest of us today that "It's no big deal, when I was house shopping tons of houses we looked at had clutter, some with way more than is left at his house. I'll clean the rest of my stuff up in 3 or 4 weeks. Don't worry about it. Oh, by the way, I'm leaving for a two week vacation on Monday." My reply, had I been involved in that conversation, would have been "Well, did you buy any of the cluttered ones or just choose to move on to the next one? We are trying to sell this thing relatively quickly for the best price we can get, right?"

We (my folks and I, while the aforementioned uncle and family are on vacation) are having the first open house next weekend to show it to prospective buyers. This has already been announced, and is going to happen whether there's still clutter there or not. The uncle was involved in determining the plan to have the first open house scheduled when it is. One of the major features of the house is it being lakefront on a really nice lake which connects to other river chains, meaning the owner can launch their boat from the boathouse and take their pick of dozens and dozens of nice fishing spots. I think (and everyone else involved that I've heard from) that it's just common sense that the house would get the best price selling it during fishing season, particularly in early summertime.

Now, as to the advice....

[soothsayer]

1. Sounds like you guys are trying to save money, doing a FSBO

so I'd say move it into the garage. It will sell better, faster, and for more money if it's uncluttered. OR....do the thing with the movers and gig your uncle for the cost, BUT that may cause a rift which might not be worth it (and you can take the high road by not doing that).

On edit, you can leave the piano in there, especially if it's hard to move. It will showcase how big the room is.

[Kenneth ken]

2. ok - it may not be "etiquette"

but I say hire it moved/stored and bill the uncle. It's his stuff, he knows the open house / sale is coming, he needs (needed?) to take responsibility for getting it out.

What if the first person to see the house is willing to make a cash offer if they can move in immediately? The uncle is gone for two weeks, you couldn't accept the offer.

I loathe when people refuse to take responsibility or simply don't think about possibilities.

[soothsayer]

3. but why spend the $$$ unless the "what-ifs" pan out? No house is going

to close in 2 weeks (is it?).

Seems more vindictive than anything, but yeah, the uncle let them down.

[Kenneth ken]

5. vindictive

maybe, probably. I don't see any reason to worry about spending the $$$ since the option I chose was have the executor bill the (lazy?) uncle.

In my family, we were all raised that when you say you're going to do something, yu do it. One has to be as good as their word, or else what good are they at all? So, the uncle is apparently, at least in this case, not as good as his word, so there is a penalty to be paid for that, in order to remind him the importance of honoring commitments made.

I've no idea how the dynamics work in the family in question, but I know my family dynamics, so that's the perspective I view things from.

[trof]

4. Dangerous situation. Tread carefully.

I don't know why it is that families who have gotten along just fine can get at each other's throats over an estate.

When my mother-in-law died, her will appointed another son-in-law as executor. He was a nice guy, and we were friends. He's no dummy, but he is not very sophisticated or worldly wise and has no experience in settling estates. I've done two.

In the very kindest way I could, not talking down to him or belittling him in any way, I made a few suggestions about what things should take place, where to get started, etc. Even suggested that he should keep a record of any out-of-pocket expenses, and that the estate should reimburse him. There was out of state real estate involved that would necessitate some travel.

He hasn't spoken to me since. Somehow, I guess I offended him.
I can't figure it out, neither can Miz t., and he ain't talking.
I guess it's true that no good deed goes unpunished.

If your family enjoys a good relationship up to now, I'd bend over backwards not to cause any friction. Your uncle didn't seem to show much consideration, but that's life.
I don't think this is "payback' time.
Just my thoughts.

[Wonk]

6. kick

[SW FL Dem]

7. I had a similar problem

My FIL was living with us when we put our house on the market. I gave him a month's notice to get his room in shape, he flat out refused.His room was awful, clutter, papers everywhere and he never cleaned his bathroom. Finally, hubby told dad that if he didn't clean it up, we would hire someone to do it for him and charge him for it. He made a lame effort and began locking his bedroom door when he left the house. A few days before the open house, we picked the lock, cleaned it ourselves, tossed all the clutter in boxes and hid them in the attic. He had to agree to keep his room "ready to show" in order to get his stuff back.

Good Luck, it's not an easy situation.