Are you looking to host an estate sale? If you've never done this before, how can you be sure you're handling the situation correctly? It's likely that you have lots of questions. How should you price your items? How long should your sale be? How can you market your sale effectively?
<p>
At Gary Germer & Associates, we have years of experience helping people discretely liquidate their assets for the highest value. Continue reading to learn how to have an estate sale that satisfies your expectations.
Make a Plan
First and foremost, it's important to make a detailed plan. Estate sales are complicated processes, involving lots of moving parts. To be successful, you need to be organized.
When you work with us, we'll create a customized plan for you from start to finish. To begin, Gary will meet with you and tour the home to become familiar with the property's items.
Once this is complete, we'll identify a step-by-step strategy addressing every stage of the estate sale. In each detail, we'll take into account your unique situation, addressing your family's specific needs and desires.
Work with an Appraiser
Next, it's time to collaborate with an appraiser. It's important to comprehend the value of the items you have, and unless you're a professional, it's really difficult to know the exact value of your relative's possessions. If you do this yourself, you'll overvalue some items and undervalue others.
That's why it's best to work with a seasoned appraiser like our team at Gary Germer & Associates.
We'll work to accurately price every possession, maximizing your return. However, it's common for some items to not sell on the day of the sale. Most companies just stop there, but not us.
At that point, we'll work via consignment to sell your items through our network of distinguished collectors around the world. This way, you'll get the most value.
Don't Get Too Attached
In every situation, it's normal to be attached to certain items of your loved one. If this is the case, feel free to keep some things. This is especially applicable when your relative has passed away and you'll be able to remember them by preserving some of their most beloved possessions.
However, it's also common to feel attached to too many items. This is especially true right after the passing of a loved one.
For this reason, it's a good idea to work with a professional estate sale team. At Gary Germer & Associates, we'll go through your loved one's items after you've collected what you want.
When we do this, we've found that it's best for the family to not be present. That way, we can more easily avoid the heartache of having to sell your relative's possessions.
Advertise Your Sale
What good is an estate sale if people don't know about it? Because of this, it's crucial that you advertise your sale. Consider placing ads in your local newspaper, posting on Craigslist, and creating an event on social media.
Don't forget traditional signs as well. Place these around your neighborhood with easy to read information about the dates and times of your sale.
If you work with us, we'll take care of all the event marketing for you. We'll do the following to get the word out about your sale:
- Contact our direct mailing list of collectors
- Send announcements to your relatives, friends, and neighbors
- Create large signs to capture walk-in traffic
When you work with us, there's no need to worry about marketing your event. We have years of experience in successfully advertising our estate sales.
What about the Leftover Items?
Here’s another tip about how to have an estate sale. Think about what you'll do with things that don't end up selling. In many cases, a donation is a great idea.
At a certain price point, a donation is often more lucrative than selling at a discount because of the tax benefits associated with donations. If you itemize your deductions, this can be the perfect route to take.
We're familiar with the rules and regulations surrounding this and can help you make the most of your items.
Use a Professional
While it's possible to go the DIY estate sale route, it's not worth the hassle. It's a much better experience to trust a team of professionals.
If you live in the greater Portland area and are looking for an estate sale company, consider working with us. We provide white-glove service from start to finish, creating an individualized plan that's customized for your unique situation.
As with any business decision, it's a good idea to do some research before making a choice. Perform some Google searches to read reviews about the local estate sale companies that you're considering. It's always nice to see that other people have had good experiences.
At the end of the day, teaming up with a professional team like Gary Germer & Associates is the best choice. You won't have to worry about a thing and we'll keep you involved in the process from day one.
Closing Thoughts on How to Have an Estate Sale
There you have it: 6 tips on how to have an estate sale. Now that you've read through them, it's time to get started.
Contact our team of professionals today. We're here to help you have a wonderful experience from start to finish.