There are ways to prepare for an Estate Sale consultation that will make the search for the perfect company much easier and less confusing for you as a client. Here’s a couple of quick tips prior to calling and setting up appointments with estate sale companies:
Remove any personal photos or documents from the home. This ensures that during the estate sale process they are not misplaced. Some older documents can remain (i.e. antique photos, historical documents, older deeds, etc.) that may be of interest during the sale.
Remove or clearly mark any items that are not to be sold. For example, if the home is/will be for sale and will include large appliances in the sale of the home such as fridges, stoves, or washer/dryer, be sure to mark these items Not For Sale or NFS. If there are multiple items that you plan on taking but can not remove at that time, gather them together and place them in an area (cabinet, closet, etc) that can be left unseen and closed off.
Make sure that you are allowed to sell the contents of the home, this may require documentation. Have it available when you are meeting companies for consultations.
Write a list of questions you may have for your meeting. The most common questions are:
1.) Is your company insured? 2.) What happens to contents left over after the estate sale? 3.) Do you own a thrift store/consignment shop? 4.) How many days will the estate sale be held? 5.) What is your minimum and/or commission rate?
These four points can help you be prepared for any estate sale consultation and make it a quick process when selecting your preferred Estate Sale company!
by Krys Galakatos Heritage Estate Sales, LLC
Estate Sale Companies: Finding The Perfect Fit
There are many estate sale companies out there and finding the right one can seem like an impossible task. You might find yourself just closing your eyes and picking a few out of the phone book at random. This doesn't work in your favor because each company has a different personality and way of running their sales.
Not every company will be right for you. Your best bet is to look at a variety of estate sale companies by using their website. A company’s website will tell you a lot about the type of company they are and give you a hint if they are the right match for you. Ask yourself these questions:
Do I want a franchise company or an individual owned? Do they offer a variety of services? Is their website informative?
A franchise company is a cookie-cutter company that has many branches, usually in different states. They provide a uniform service that has set ways in which they handle their sales. Some require a non-disclosure agreement and some require certain conditions to be met before agreeing to host a sale. An individually owned company may also require certain conditions to be met but normally can tailor their services to your needs.
Some companies strictly offer estate sales while others may provide a variety of services. They may fit your situation better than a standard estate sale or they may have options you would prefer to have added on. Some companies may come under the guise of an estate sale company, but host online auctions only and will not sell all of your contents. Be sure to see what services they offer. Some companies even offer recommendations when you are looking to have an appraisal, sell the home or even suggest another company who may be able to better provide for your estate needs.
by Krys Galakatos Heritage Estate Sales, LLC
Liquidating & The Stress of The Move
Moving can be stressful enough, but when you find yourself overwhelmed with the need to unburden yourself of a large number of items you may consider calling in an estate sale company. This is where planning ahead is key, especially if you have already sold your home. As with any move, you must take stock of what items will be necessary to move with you, what items are replaceable when you get to your new home, and what items should be let go for someone else to enjoy. Take this time to evaluate what are necessities for your life and new home.
“Memories will last a lifetime; things only a short period of time.” -Alyice Edrich
Making decisions on items in your home for a move and an estate sale does not necessarily require a large amount of time; if anything you will need to overcome the urge to rehash all the memories attached to everyday objects and remember that the memories will always be with you, even if the item is not. This is a hurdle many struggle to get over as they par down their household. Start with what is generally the most neglected area in any home: the basement (or area where you store items).
The basement tends to be the most difficult area to sift through, whether from years of just storing items you wanted to keep, items you planned on gifting, or possibly a place you used not only for storage but as a working space. Here’s the trick to sussing out this space: if you haven’t used it, gifted, or completed it, look at those items as having a negative value in your life. Trying to get ready for a move is stressful enough and you are now coming face to face with an underlying stressor you probably weren’t even aware was there.
When it comes to items you stashed away to keep, ask yourself the hard questions. Is this item sentimental? If so, is it being honored by being “out of sight, out of mind”? One way to push yourself to honestly answer this question is to look over the item. Is it in disrepair, has it been damaged while stored, or is it just coated with neglect? If you are forced to say yes to any of those things, that item should be allowed to move on. If you can answer with a no, what do you plan on doing to change how it ends up at your new home? Don’t just tell yourself you’ll display it, make a concrete plan. Think of your new home, layout where this item will be displayed and loved. If you can’t do this, then give it one other consideration: is there someone I know who will appreciate and take care of this piece? If so, contact them right away, confirm their interest, and set a deadline for them to come and get the item or for you to send the item to them.
Items that you planned on gifting are a bit easier to manage. Examine the item, make sure it hasn’t been damaged and sullied. Think about the person you planned on gifting the item to and decide if this is still the item for them. If it isn’t, let it go and move on. If it is, wrap it and gift it as soon as possible. Maybe it can be a ‘before I go’ gift or even a ‘just because’ present you can hand out. A nice idea, especially if you have multiple items like these, is planning a dinner or outing with everyone you have saved a gift for. It will be a breather from the move and a recharging moment to be surrounded by those in your life.
If this area was a workspace, it’s time to get down to brass tacks. Depending on your type of work performed in this area, you may feel like this is going to get tricky. It’s hard to let go of things when they touch on your passion. Your best bet is to look at these items with a business-like mindset. Which items are used the most often? Wipe them down, box them up and get them out of the way. Which items are extras? Are they organized and easy to move? Box them and move them. Are they chaos in a cupboard? Let them go and move along. Are they just the occasional thing, taking up space and easily replaced? You loved them, but it’s time to leave them. Are they items that you get for free (USPS shipping boxes, plastic bags, etc)? Hustle and dump them.
As long as you work diligently, you’ll be through this space before you know it and have a path on which to tackle the rest of your home. Everything discussed here can be applied to any area of your home. Just remember, the memories are more important than the ‘things’!
by Krys Galakatos Heritage Estate Sales, LLC
A Note From The Author:
If you plan on continuing to live in your home during a liquidation, be sure to keep in mind every item you are keeping must be sequestered into an easily blocked area of your home. You may end up navigating around most of these items in your bedroom or parking your car outside of your garage so you can store everything you want to keep. Living in the home during preparation for and during an estate sale comes with its hurdles, we’ll hit this topic in another article, so until then be sure to ask questions of your preferred estate sale liquidator so it goes as smooth as possible!
Estate Sale Viewpoint: What Should I Keep, What Should I Sell?
There are times when families will have to make hard decisions regarding a loved one’s possessions. These may include a home, a car, or other personal property. Dealing with these decisions can create a lot of stress and frustration about what to do next.
Many times we find ourselves sorting through our family member’s lifetime collection of items with apprehension. How can you possibly get through everything while dealing with a minefield of emotions and memories? How do you get through years of "stuff"? What are you supposed to do with everything? Why did my parents keep all these bread ties?
Don’t let what may seem like an overwhelming task get to you. Your best bet is to take a deep breath and sort through the items as you go room to room. Ask yourself these questions when you look through each space:
Is it personal? i.e., family members’ names on the item, photograph, etc. Is it highly sentimental? i.e., a family heirloom, etc. Will it honestly be appreciated if taken and is there room for where it’s going?
Once you and your family have had a chance to secure any sentimental items, let an estate sale company take over the burden. Many estate sale companies (if not all) are happy to set aside any other personal photographs or documents found that you may have missed. They will sort remaining items and organize an event to liquidate the estate, allowing you to move on with any other necessary steps such as preparing the home for sale.
This is a fairly basic article on how to handle going through an estate. We always welcome questions should you have any!
by Krys Galakatos Heritage Estate Sales, LLC
Family Trust: Final Liquidation Check
Many times during an estate sale there can be tension between family members. This can be anything from family members vying for items and not agreeing on who gets what or fighting between monetary gains at the end of the liquidation. There are several options and bits of information that may help if a family comes to this point.
If there is a debate between members of a family on what items go to which member when it is not outlined in a trust or will, we will suggest that they arrange a separate private sale between the estate sale company and the family. This allows the company to value the items in the home and create a neutral environment for family members to decide on which pieces they truly want from the estate. We have found that once a monetary value is placed on an item it gives family members a base on which to decide if they necessarily want the item or if it is something they are willing to let go, if to another family member or into the estate liquidation itself. This can also help if there is to be a split between assets at a later time by keeping track of the value of the items so that they may be fairly considered when splitting the income from liquidation.
Sometimes at the end of liquidation, the family may, unfortunately, come to a heated debate about who receives the final check. Keep in mind, if there is a trust, the final check is written to this trust account and from there it should be dispersed according to how the trust or will is written. If there is no trust account or will outlining how liquidated assets are divided, we would then suggest that whoever arranges the liquidation then receive the final check or that the family sits down with a third-party arbitrator. A family arbitrator will aim to promote an informed understanding of family arbitration principles and to encourage the use of family arbitration as a form of private dispute resolution in finance-related family cases. These would be family law specialists and certified arbitrators available to help resolve financial disputes of all types by making awards under a family law arbitration setting. In the end, if there is a trust account, the check should be written to the account. Without an account or will, it is the family that must decide how the funds will be split and to whom the check should be written. Of course, we are available to help make suggestions on how to handle such matters, but ultimately it is up to the family to come to an agreement.
by Krys Galakatos Heritage Estate Sales, LLC
Help! What To Do With Personal Property When Estate Is Being Foreclosed On?
Unfortunately, foreclosures can happen to an estate, and inheritors are left with little control. We all have our own bills, mortgages, and other necessary expenditures. Sometimes when a loved one has passed the estate may have been left with no will, power of attorney, trust, or backup funds. This means the property sits without anyone to pay the mortgage as you wait for the courts to process paperwork. During this time, there isn't much that can be done unless you plan to bring the mortgage current.
If you cannot bring the mortgage current and the courts have finished with the necessary paperwork, you are left with a piece of paper stating you are allowed to sell the property but it's already being foreclosed on by the bank! What do you do now? Many times the best course of action is to liquidate the contents as quickly as possible so the bank does not take control of the personal property (usually by hiring an estate sale company to do a liquidation or cleanout). Call the estate sale company before they do!
Before calling an estate sale company to do an emergency liquidation, make sure to have your paperwork together. This would include documentation stating you are allowed to access and remove or sell the personal property located at the address being foreclosed upon. You must also be aware of the deadline the mortgage company has given the property in foreclosure proceedings. Once a foreclosure has legally begun the bank may, at any time, change the locks and remove your ability to access the contents.
Once you know your time limit and have your paperwork together, if you have any intentions of giving away any personal property to family, give them a deadline to come by and chose their item(s). Giving your family a deadline keeps them from waiting to decide on and remove the memento(s) they want to keep. This applies to any estate liquidation, but especially when you are racing towards a target date. The sooner you give the estate sale company access, the sooner the liquidation can be completed.
Finally, set up an appointment as quickly as possible. The less time allowed to pass, the more likely you can liquidate the personal property without bank interference. Given the timeline, the estate sale company will provide you with an option that best suits your situation.
Whereas this is not to be considered legal advice on foreclosures, we hope this helps when facing the daunting task of liquidating the personal property located at a foreclosed home.
by Krys Galakatos Heritage Estate Sales, LLC
Estate Sale Perspective: Moving & Liquidating
Maybe you are downsizing or just want to start at your new home with a clean slate, but the idea of an estate sale has crossed your mind. An estate sale is a great way to get rid of items you won’t be taking with you. Here is an estate sale company's perspective to help you in the right direction.
Sort through your items with the mindset of condensing what you own. This includes things such as clothing, decorative items, and furniture. If you're moving to a smaller space, make sure you consider the size and quantity of every item you think you want. Sometimes whole rooms won't be able to fit in your new home and sometimes your closets will seem like Narnia compared to the ones you'll have in your new space.
Never assume you know what stuff can't be sold in an estate sale and start throwing things away. Estate sale companies have the experience to determine what things should be thrown away and the aptitude to determine if there are enough pieces to qualify for a liquidation. Plus, you will be surprised by what people will buy at the right price.
Don’t take your possessions for granted. Family and friends may stop by and ask for this or that. Beware! The more you let walk out the door, the less likely an estate sale company will be able to help you. Of course, it's always nice to help someone out, though sometimes the items they are taking aren't out of necessity or for remembrance but rather what they 'just want'.
Be sure to mark all the items you are keeping before you start interviewing estate sale companies. This will make it much easier for the company to provide options regarding your liquidation as well as avoid any confusion later on. Many estate sale companies require that the items you say are available for sale remain in the home for liquidation.
Be sure to call and interview more than one estate sale company. Every company is different and you need to find the right fit. Review their contracts and ask them questions. This will help you get to know their company better and help you become more informed. Once you have signed a contract, it's time to get moving.
Be prepared. Make sure all items you are taking are removed from the home before your liquidation. This may mean purchasing services that provide portable containers. This type of service is beneficial whether you are moving locally or cross-country. Most portable container services allow you time to pack your items at your pace and schedule pick-up when you're done.
In the end, calling an estate sale company to see if they can help you liquidate is always a good idea. If they aren't able to host an estate sale for you, many can provide other options to help you declutter and shed some unneeded items. Consultations are usually free and getting a professional opinion never hurts.
by Krys Galakatos Heritage Estate Sales, LLC
About the owner
My maternal family has been in the shop & antique business since the 1950s. I have twenty years of experience in the industry, I worked my first estate sale as a teen & I had no idea that it would eventually lead to an amazing career. Since then I have worked with several companies & have met some amazing people. I have been able to learn from veterans in the business, meet clients with interesting backgrounds & chat with some of the best customers. I am very proud to own my company & to be working with so many incredible people here in Saint Louis.