After that, I'd trash everything, save the one box of mementos, and don't look back.

When your Dear Old Great Granma goes off to her Final Reward, she will typically leave behind a house chock full of mementos, from the basement to the rafters.

I've never seen that "abandoned" notice but I did go to one vacant short sale where personal mementos and clothes were thrown all over the place, and the back door was wide open.I think it is good news for you as a buyer, if you are interested.

I've seen enough foreclosed houses with mementos of children, door casings with tic marks of their kids heights growing up, family pictures stacked on shelves, etc. to never take for granted how lucky many of us our not to have to face these types of financial issues.I talk to a lot of people who don't really remember 2008, and seem to think that it's going to be just like things were a few months ago -- rosy and optimistic -- but with real estate on sale at 50% off. 

That way the next idiot will have a broken hand as a memento of their stay.

ah Memento that was a really great film.

In addition I'd watch out for the dude from "Memento"... he's coming for ya...

Since a LOT of serious stuff is already taken care of here goes.I would look for 1) War Bonds in the walls.2) Old Newspapers3) Mementos from the Civil War4) Old Indian Burial Grounds.5) Personal Notes from General Washington .

Buy and put in the bedroom a new Lay-Z-boy for her and a small love seat for you and your husband to sit and visit with her.Get a big flat screen TV and mount it on the wall where it can be seen from the bed and the Lay-Z-boy.Install a ceiling fan with a remote, and some nice curtains that you pick out.Then ask her what she has (pics, a small side table, magazine rack, book case, mementos she want in the room, and what she should like to have stored in the garage.Put grab handles in the shower and on the toilet sides and make sure the bathroom lights are very bright.Buy a NEW safe easy to use for an old person space heater that blows air.Get her set up with the local meals on wheels so she has something special to look forward to every day (and to ease your chores), and make a weekly chore out of keeping her space very cleanly.Be careful of in-home and home visit elder care personnel, some have sticky fingers.And respect her wishes for privacy, but don't neglect visiting with her when she wants it.Good Luck!

We returned to her some mementos, clothing, and the kids favorite toys.