When you Don't Need an Estate Liquidator

When you are dealing with the process of cleaning out the home of a deceased relative or you are downsizing yourself to move to a smaller home having an estate sale can be a great way to rid yourself of items you no longer want nor need.  Plus it can bring in much needed cash.

While each liquidator conducts themselves a little differently and each one will have an idea in their minds about what would make a good sale in their local area, most liquidators like a mix of items ranging from collectibles, to clothing to jewelry to furniture and lighting.  

You likely don't need to call an estate liquidator if:

1.  You have removed the most valuable items out of the sale and all that is left is low end garage sale type items.
2.  The family still has to come and decide which items they will be taking.
3.  If you have children in the home - remember an estate sale is a public sale - do you really want your stuff being touched and hundreds of people walking thru your home when you are living there with children.  The only way to have a sale when children are involved is to move out prior to the estate sale.
4.  You have yet to decide what you want to keep or sell.
5.  The property does not have heat, air conditioning or a functioning bathroom.  How can a liquidator work on your property with no functioning bathroom - we are sometimes at a home for 8 hours at a time.  
6.  Many of the items are stained or in disrepair.
7.  You are not prepared to sign a contract which is a legally binding document.
8.  You are not willing to allow the liquidator into your home several weeks prior to the estate sale - an average setup time for an estate sale can take 2-3 weeks to set it up, photograph it, price it and then advertise it.
9.  You are not emotionally ready to move forward and feel that everything your loved one owned is worth top dollar.  
10.  You want to remain in the home during the sale and be involved in the prepping process.
11.  You want to use old insurance appraisals for your items.
12.  You want to have control over the pricing process. 
13.  You cannot accept the fact that your $10,000 10 year old sofa may sell for $100 or not at all.  

Lastly, please be accurate about what your want to sell.  Having a liquidator drive to your home for a sales call when there is only 3 items for sale is unfair.