Follow
Share

I’ve read there are companies that do it, estate sale companies but I worry about fraud and safety. My mom has a big house with so much stuff in it and it’s overwhelming and we all work and some don’t live in state.

This question has been closed for answers. Ask a New Question.
Find Care & Housing
Basically I am hearing that anyplace that sells second hand, and even antiques now has a hard time selling anything, and they are full of "stuff" with people getting rid of storage facility places and realizing time to stop drowning in stuff. Some areas of the country still have more of a demand such as the South for older antigues and So Cal for mid-century.
Someone should go through this large place and remove anything of REAL value. Then it is basically paying to get it hauled. I am not saying a company like 1-800-junk won't profit off what is left, but they will do the work and deserve the profit, and you are shed of it. Right now is not a good time to travel. Things are worth a good deal LESS than you think they "should be"; as someone who has dabbled in collectives and collectibles for a lifetime, along with my bro, I can assure you of that. I would assign the family member best able to or closest to the home to go through. Then I would just let it go. It is sad, but the truth is that aside from family photos and such, there is little profit and a lot of storage problems and trouble to go through. That is just me. I hope others have some better clues for you on this.
MJ below has wonderful ideas I think.
Wishing you good luck and sure would love for you to post how you go about this and what works. Would be such a help to others.
Helpful Answer (1)
Report

My brother-in-law is a Realtor who specializes in selling estates. He takes care of arranging for the estate sale, clearing out house, fixing it up (if the family wants), and selling it.
He has a list of contacts a mile long.

Contact a real estate office and see if they have an agent who specializes in doing that. If you've been getting any Realtor flyers at the house, start there.
Helpful Answer (0)
Report

Reaannhlovethem, I called several estate sale companies to help me with selling my parents material items. But first, I had to go through everything and gather personal items, empty files drawers, and desks. I even found my Mom's wedding dress :) Dad had saved every pay stub since the 1940's, and saved all of the IRS income tax forms. The above emptying of personal "stuff" took a month of Sundays to complete. It was more paperwork than items.

Oh, only one estate sale company came out to view the furniture, paintings, china and crystal. I got the feeling since the furniture and paintings weren't from Buckingham Palace or the White House, the Rep wasn't interested.

Therefore, I called Salvation Army and Goodwill [Goodwill at the time was backed up for months]. All of my Dad's workshop items I gave away to a handyman that I knew. I swapped out stuff I had at my house with items from my parents. I donated the china and crystal to a yearly hospital rummage sale.

What was left over, I called in one of those hauling junk companies. It took me about 3 full months to finish everything as my free time was only after work and on weekends. It was exhausting.
Helpful Answer (1)
Report

There are companies that specialize in this but I'm afraid I don't have their names at hand. You can google and read their reviews. Also see if your friends or the children of your parents friends have any recommendations. Review the house contents to see if there are any items you or your family want to keep. You should have an evaluator check the house for any items that might be valuable to sell I would suggest before you let anyone into your Mom's house, you secure all important documents if this has not been done already (passports, wills, power of attorney, health care proxy, bank books, computer passwords, checkbooks, etc). Good luck. If I come across any companies, I will get back to you.
Helpful Answer (1)
Report

This question has been closed for answers. Ask a New Question.
Ask a Question
Subscribe to
Our Newsletter