Of all the things you have to do over the course of a year or even several years, planning an estate sale is probably pretty low on your priority list. As a matter of fact, the thought of having to do so has probably not even crossed your mind. The good news is that planning an estate sale doesn’t have to be complicated. We here at Heritage Estate Sales would like to give you a basic guide on a few things that you can do to help prepare for an estate sale should the need arise.
The first step when prepping for an estate sale is to make sure all of your paperwork and documents are in order. Next you will want to go through the property either by yourself or with relevant friends and family in order to make an assessment of what you would like to keep for yourself and what should go to auction.
It is vital during this phase that nothing be dismissed or regarded as “junk.” There are many stories of people not realizing that the old metal tins or other knick knacks they had thrown out could have generated interest and buyers at the sale. It is often best to go through the property with whoever is handling the sale at least once to account and inventory everything.
While preparing items for auction, take common sense measures to ensure that nothing will be damaged. For example it is never a good idea to put fragile items below heavier ones in a box where you can run the risk of breaking things as they are moved. Common practices such as wrapping delicate plates, bowls, and glasses in protective tissue or bubble wrap can mean selling a fine China set or just a few cups and a bowl.
Perhaps the most important aspect of preparing for an estate sale is to be very clear with the auctioneer if you feel strongly about the asking price for any of the items. Most people attend estate sales to get the best possible price and if you would rather hold onto an item rather than sell it below what you feel it is worth this is a discussion that needs to happen beforehand.
At Heritage Estate Sales, we offer a wide range of services to help you plan for and execute you estate sale. When the time comes, we will be ready to help you out when you need us.