Anyone can conduct a sale on their own but a professional knows how to advertise to maximum viewers, accurately describe the items to attract serious buyers, maximize sale proceeds, deal with the public, display appropriately and price items according to Fair Market Value.  Fair Market Value is not what you see on the internet as an asking price.  It is what similar items have already sold for, much like an MLS listing price for your home was researched by using similar comparables.

Also, take a close look at the time factor (do you have enough time to do this), as well as the health, endurance and commitment of family members.

Much will depend on the level of commitment and coordination from the family.  It also depends on the size of the home, how full the home is and how much time you can dedicate to the process. Some families can only meet on weekends.  Family should first decide the items they would like to keep and then when the executor is ready to proceed, have those items removed from the home by a certain date (an Heir Wishlist template comes with the workshop).  A professional company can clean out a home anywhere from 1 to 2 weeks, often sooner.  If there is an estate sale first, that will take a couple of weeks to get that set up and conducted.  I’ve seen families do it within a month and I’ve seen families take up to a year if they are moving slower.

There are many ways to find good professionals.  If you have an estate attorney you are working with, ask them for a referral.  Make sure you research the professional or the company you decide to use. If they say they are a member of a professional organization, call or email that organization to confirm it before signing a contract.  There are Appraisal organizations that can find a member in your area and www.ASELonline.com can help with an estate sale professional.  Most of these professionals will also have other resources they know and trust, to include a debris hauler, dumpster company, local auction, consignment shop, etc.

We find many sensitive items that could be of a risqué nature, deeply personal letters or something that reveals a family secret, etc.  If the item is hurtful to family, many will choose to discreetly discard the item. Others may confide in a close family member for their opinion before doing anything.  If the items are considered historic, many collectors will buy them and I would ask an estate sale professional about that.  If you find anything that you feel is embarrassing or hurtful to the memory of the loved one, it is a personal decision what happens to it.  If you decide to discard the item(s), use the construction grade garbage bags.

If you are doing it yourself, the costs will be lower but it might take longer to achieve.  If there is no estate sale planned, a family can remove the items they want, donate or discard the remainder and leave the home empty, but the “cost” is in time away from work, traveling back and forth or finding helpers that will truly help. You might incur the cost of a dumpster if needed ($300-$400 per dumpster). Any professional you hire will work on an hourly basis and/or commission. 

Many professional companies work on per person/per hour basis.  It depends on your region, how much weight is involved that needs to be moved, size of the home, etc.  A good professional is worth their weight in gold and makes it look easy. Hired muscle power is not inexpensive but it can save your back and time if you can afford it.

Are you insured? Can you provide references? What is your time availability?  What are your fees? (different services have different fees).  If they are conducting a sale, what is their commission and does that cover everything or are there additional fees?  How long have they been in business?  Review the contract carefully so you understand everything.  Make sure you research the company online and ask other professionals in your area who they recommend.

You start by first understanding what has value and what doesn’t.  Go through all the documents and papers in the home.  The executor will need to keep some documents and the remainder is often shredded but the executor will decide on this.  The executor will also “secure” valuables to insure they don’t go missing.  This is temporary until decisions can be made who gets these items.  Don’t remove anything from the home unless it is truly garbage.  You would be amazed at how much can be sold that most people throw away. 

Each family is different.  If you have removed items from the home you wish to keep, you can start the process anytime. Many adult children want to sell the home which is often the largest asset their parent may have owned.  In this case, the family usually moves a little quicker.  If the estate has gone through the probate process and your attorney has given you the okay to proceed, you can start any time. On a personal level, it make take awhile for the adult children to take some time in the home before proceeding.

This is more common than most realize.  Often, one sibling is taking time to digest this life change, experiencing nostalgia and wanting to sort through everything.  Some say this helps with the grief process or whatever event has taken place.  However, it can also go on too long.  A sitting home is not only a target, it also costs quite a bit to maintain and even mice start coming in if no one is living there. 

The executor can draw healthy boundaries and if the person who is taking a long time is the executor, try a family meeting to compassionately assist any way you can to get the situation moving in the right direction. Everyone has a right to process things in their own way, but others are involved too and it has to work for all involved if at all possible.