What to do? What to do!
Although each estate is different, there are some common issues / themes that come up all of the time. If your question isn't answered here, please write to us via the Contact page.
1. There's so much "stuff"! Where do I start?
Well, the best thing to do is put 2-3 empty boxes in each room (book boxes are a good size to prevent the box from getting too heavy). When you start going through "one room at a time" now you already have a container for Personal Papers, Family Photos, Keepsakes, valuable items for possible appraisal or re-sale, etc. In addition, it's smart to carry a large garbage bag, so that everything you handle either goes into a designated box or the garbage bag.
2. How do I know if something has value?
That's a tricky one. Because of the current economic times, only really high-quality items have retained their value. Unless you are looking at a unique painting, good quality ornamental rug, complete sets of sterling silver flatware in a desirable pattern, complete sets of un-chipped, un-cracked desirable china patterns, etc. ....... you are probably going to be disappointed at how little you will get for that fun dinette set that has been in your family since you were a kid. Of course, if you have receipts or other provenance, you can always pay for an appraisal of either select items or the entire household. A reputable antique dealer in your town can recommend a few good appraisers.
3. What about all of the things no one in the family wants?
There are a number of things you can do:
** consider having an estate sale either by yourself or by hiring a reputable company in your area. On average they charge about 30 - 35% commission on items sold. This should include all advertising, preparation for and staffing of the sale as well as final clean-up of un-sold items.
** if there are good consignment stores in your area, you might consider taking the higher value items there. Again, on average, they will keep about 30% of the gross sale price.
** there may also be people in your area that buy out the remaining "lot" for a set price. Don't expect too much, but you may be able to get a little more money rather than just donating everything. One of the estate sale companies can usually refer you to one of these odd-lot folks.
** anything that is in good condition (and I do mean good condition!), will usually be accepted by any number of good non-profits like the American Cancer Society thrift shops, the Hospice organization thrift shops, the Humane Society thrift shops, Salvation Army, Goodwill, etc. If you have a substantial amount of things, call around to see who will pick up for free so you don't have to rent a truck.
** if there are a lot of old historical things in the house pertaining to your town, you might consider donating them to the local Historical Society.
** don't forget to return TV cable equipment to the local cable company so they don't charge you.
** lastly, there is the old dumpster for the remaining trash. Don't forget that toxic items like paints, automotive oil, etc. should be taken to the local Hazardous Waste facility.
** consider having an estate sale either by yourself or by hiring a reputable company in your area. On average they charge about 30 - 35% commission on items sold. This should include all advertising, preparation for and staffing of the sale as well as final clean-up of un-sold items.
** if there are good consignment stores in your area, you might consider taking the higher value items there. Again, on average, they will keep about 30% of the gross sale price.
** there may also be people in your area that buy out the remaining "lot" for a set price. Don't expect too much, but you may be able to get a little more money rather than just donating everything. One of the estate sale companies can usually refer you to one of these odd-lot folks.
** anything that is in good condition (and I do mean good condition!), will usually be accepted by any number of good non-profits like the American Cancer Society thrift shops, the Hospice organization thrift shops, the Humane Society thrift shops, Salvation Army, Goodwill, etc. If you have a substantial amount of things, call around to see who will pick up for free so you don't have to rent a truck.
** if there are a lot of old historical things in the house pertaining to your town, you might consider donating them to the local Historical Society.
** don't forget to return TV cable equipment to the local cable company so they don't charge you.
** lastly, there is the old dumpster for the remaining trash. Don't forget that toxic items like paints, automotive oil, etc. should be taken to the local Hazardous Waste facility.
4. What if I'm totally overwhelmed ........
Just take it one step at a time. If need be, set a timer to work for just one hour in the beginning and then stop and leave the house. Or get a friend to help you to get you past that initial procrastination and overwhelm. Or you might consider hiring a company like Estate Services who will take care of some or all of this process for you. Unfortunately, there isn't really an industry category for what we do, so you may need to do a little research to find a reputable company. One suggestion is to contact some of the local Conservators or Estate Planning attorneys to help you find the help you need.
