If your deceased relative was a hoarder, sorting all the stuff they picked up throughout their lifetime in preparation for the estate’s liquidation may be a daunting task. In classic hoarding cases, preparing the property for valuation is indeed a lot of work.
Still, don’t throw anything away before calling your estate appraiser to come in, even the stuff that appears to be junk. You may very well be throwing away a treasure. Put before the right person, what you consider to be trash may be identified as having immense value.
Where you are dealing with a homeowner who had a taste for period art, rare documents and coins, vintage clothing, and/or antiques, it is especially important to hire an experienced appraiser.
4 Tips for a Successful Estate Liquidation:
- Put everything that appears to have no value aside for further examination:
There are many cases where objects found during estate appraisals that didn’t look like they were worth anything went on to sell for very good money.Instead of throwing things away, take photographs and videos of the items before putting them in a dumpster. When the estate appraiser comes, have them look through the photos and videos to determine if there is anything worth salvaging. - Use the small items to generate a buzz at the estate sale:
While small items like old clothing may ultimately not sell for much, they will help to create interest at your estate sale. Treasure hunters want lots of items to plow through, and if you are only displaying a few big-ticket items they may choose to go hunt elsewhere.To be successful, estate sales need a good mix of collectibles and typical ‘garage sale’ items. Besides, the small sales will add up and may eventually carry the whole estate sale. - Don’t sell anything before it’s been properly appraised:
If you lack experience selling antiques and pre-owned goods, you are almost always guaranteed to sell for far less than the items are worth. Wait until the estate appraiser has at least had a physical inspection of the property. - Don’t hire an estate appraiser who wants to buy or sell the property:
There is a clear conflict of interest in hiring an estate appraiser who is also looking to buy, sell or dispose of the same property. Where the appraiser recommends an auctioneer or a disposal company, ask them to provide you with several options and always evaluate them yourself before deciding to work with any of them.
Servicing the entire Tri-State area of New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, Jerry’s Antiques and Estate Sales are expert estate appraisers. Contact us to schedule your next estate appraisal.
