Are you an estate representative tasked with liquidating an estate and wondering how to organize an estate sale? While often conducted after a loved one’s passing and the property has gone through probate, estate sales can also be useful during a divorce or other significant life transitions that require downsizing or clearing out a home. Sorting through a household full of belongings can be emotionally challenging, especially after losing a loved one.
Take care to locate and set aside critical documents such as deeds, titles, bank statements, and tax-related paperwork. Be thorough—valuable items like money or important papers might be tucked away in coat pockets, books, drawers, or storage boxes.
For a successful estate sale, follow these five essential tips for property owners in Lehigh Valley, PA.
Cleaning
One crucial tip for property owners in Lehigh Valley, PA planning an estate sale is to avoid deep cleaning or altering antiques and other items, as doing so could unintentionally decrease their value. Light dusting and basic housekeeping are fine, but resist the urge to polish or restore antique furniture—removing the original patina could mean wiping away thousands of dollars in value.
Additionally, don’t rush to donate or discard items like clothing, kitchenware, or tools. These seemingly ordinary items can often hold surprising value to buyers. Avoid hosting a garage sale before the estate sale, as vintage and everyday items are often what attract buyers to estate sales, generating the most revenue.
To simplify the emotional and physical demands of preparing for an estate sale, consider hiring professional estate liquidators. These licensed experts specialize in maximizing the value of an estate’s contents and can take on much of the burden. If you’re not ready or able to handle the process yourself, contact at least two reputable estate sale companies for consultations to ensure you find the best fit for your needs.
Don’t Guess
Estate sales are a magnet for buyers seeking unique, rare, or unusual items, including collectibles and even costume jewelry. Professional estate sale experts are skilled at identifying valuable pieces and can provide guidance on pricing and presentation. It’s important not to dismiss an item as worthless simply because it looks like junk to an untrained eye.
If you decide not to hire an expert, take the time to research the potential value of items thoroughly, especially if you come across a collection of similar objects. Collections, even of seemingly mundane items, can hold surprising worth in the eyes of collectors or enthusiasts.
A common mistake family members make is discarding items they perceive as insignificant, only to later discover they had considerable value. To avoid such regret, this critical estate sale tip for property owners in Lehigh Valley, PA is to err on the side of caution and consult an expert before making decisions about what to keep, sell, or discard. It’s better to evaluate thoroughly now than to lose out on a hidden treasure later.
Plan for Rememberances
Close friends or family members often seek items that hold sentimental value as a remembrance of the deceased, which can sometimes lead to emotional disputes. To manage these situations effectively, it’s wise to have a plan in place—an essential estate sale tip for property owners in Lehigh Valley, PA.
While some wills clearly specify which items are to be given to specific individuals, many do not, leaving loved ones to request items with personal meaning. However, as the estate representative, it’s important to remember that these items are technically gifts from the estate and must fall within acceptable limits concerning their value. You are not obligated to give anything away unless directed by the will, nor do you have the right to make arbitrary gifts. Your primary duty is to ensure that all proceeds from the sale are distributed to the rightful beneficiaries.
One effective approach is to host a private pre-sale for close friends or family members. During this event, individuals can identify and purchase the items they wish to keep, with the proceeds going to the estate. This method allows you to honor sentimental requests while fulfilling your responsibilities as the estate representative and keeping these items out of the public estate sale.
Time
Allowing sufficient time for an estate sale is a valuable tip for property owners in Lehigh Valley, PA, as proper preparation can take several weeks. If time is not a constraint, you might consider working with an estate sales professional or managing the process yourself to maximize the return.
However, if the estate has already been significantly reduced—perhaps because family and friends have taken most valuable possessions—or if ongoing expenses like mortgage or utilities are draining the estate’s funds, a buy-out company might be the better choice. These companies purchase the remaining contents of the estate in one transaction, handling everything quickly and with minimal emotional involvement.
While a buy-out offers convenience and speed, it typically yields less money compared to conducting a full estate sale. This trade-off is worth considering if time or resources are limited, but it’s important to weigh your priorities to choose the best option for your situation.
Understand your Objective
Keeping the reason for the sale at the forefront of your mind will help you emotionally, and this is another essential estate sale tip for property owners in Lehigh Valley, PA. Professionals will take this project on if you’re overwhelmed. If you’re contacting an estate liquidation company, they will be working towards advertising a list to gain interest in the sale. Once a company has viewed the estate, you cannot remove items, or you’ll owe the company the value of any missing pieces.
The pros at iBuyLehigh will help make your estate sale easy. Working with iBuyLehigh to sell the estate home is the best estate sale tip for Lehigh Valley, PA property owners. Call iBuyLehigh at (484) 549-0019 or send us a message today to learn more.