If you recently received an inheritance from a deceased loved one, are relocating a family member to a senior living facility or are planning an interstate move, you may be wondering how to quickly get a lot of furniture and other possessions off your hands. An estate sale, also called a home liquidation, goes a step beyond the typical yard sale by allowing you to open a home to the public and sell everything in it – including clothes, electronics, tools, bedding, jewelry, vehicles and even non-expired food. By design, estate sales provide an organized, no-nonsense way to sell unwanted belongings.
Estate Sale vs. Garage Sale
Estate sales and garage sales share some similarities. Both events take place on the property, and they are open to the public. However, one notable difference between them is that garage sales are smaller and only involve selected items you wish to sell. In contrast, everything in an estate sale is usually up for grabs, though you may choose to hold back a few favorite pieces because you still plan to use them or they have sentimental value. Or, if the house is under contract, the future owners may choose to note some specific items they want to keep.
Another thing to know about an estate sale is that buyers can only enter on a first-come, first-served basis. As a result, you may find antique dealers and bargain hunters lining up a few hours before the advertised start time.
Estate Sale vs. Estate Auction
Like an estate sale, an estate auction is a public event designed to sell the majority of someone’s property. However, an estate auction is an item-by-item sale managed by a professional auctioneer. The auctioneer calls each item one by one, and the highest bidder wins.
In contrast, there is no auctioneer at an estate sale because everything already has a set price tag. Shoppers can take their time reviewing the for-sale items and do not have to worry about placing bids.
Organizing an Estate Sale
If you’ve chosen to host an estate sale, your first step is to go through all the belongings and remove anything you want to keep. Because it can be challenging to stay impartial about things you’ve owned for years or inherited from a loved one, you will want to hire an estate sale organizer who can appraise each item and set a fair price based on its market value. The estate liquidator will also ensure the day of the sale goes smoothly, managing traffic flow and resolving pricing disputes. A few weeks after the sale, you can expect to receive a check and a detailed list of what sold.
What to Do With Estate Sale Leftovers
Realistically, you can’t expect every item at your estate sale to sell. However, many of your estate sale leftovers may still be in good working condition. While you can try to sell each piece separately on marketplace sites like OfferUp, creating and posting detailed listings can be time-consuming, which may negate some of the convenience of liquidating belongings via an estate sale.
Instead, consider the benefits of hiring a professional junk removal service to deal with your estate sale leftovers. For an affordable fee, these companies will pick up anything you no longer need, want or use and haul it all away to a donation or recycling center for you. It’s quick, convenient and painless.
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If you are downsizing your belongings and preparing to relocate, Fox Moving and Storage of Chattanooga is here for you 24/7. We can be at your doorstep with as little as one hour’s notice. To request a free quote or learn more about our services, contact us today.