How to Prepare for an Estate Sale
Now that you’ve chosen an industry-leading estate sale provider, and visions of an emptied house are dancing in your head, you may be wondering what happens next…
Don’t worry. That’s why we’re here.
We at Blue Moon have been in this estate sale game for a long time, and we get this question a lot. We’re happy to pull back the curtain to share some tried and true tips. Ready? Let’s do this.
1. Decide What to Keep
That bracelet that you made your mom at camp? The brooch that your aunt gave you on your wedding day? Your grandmother’s handwritten recipes? The teddy bear that your brother lugged around for the first four years of his life? Your sixth-grade diary? Those things may hold a special place in your heart and rightfully so. If you don’t want to part with something, remove it from the home or place it in an area that can be closed off during the sale.
2. Remove Any Personal Items
Everyone has personal documents and items floating around. Keeping these out of the estate during the sale removes any possibility of compromising your or your family’s personal security. Gather up any social security cards, military documents, medical bills, family photos, birth certificates, passports, licenses, pay stubs, prescription drugs and any other items that may feature sensitive information. Keep in mind that once upon a time, folks used to have their social security numbers etched into items like cameras, guns, audio equipment and even fancy calculators.
3. Check with the Pros
We know that you want to get the ball rolling by throwing out “old junk” that no one could possibly want. Wait just a second. The old saying could never be more true. One person’s trash really is another person’s treasure. Even items with condition issues can hold value. People collect all sorts of things, from vintage advertising to used spice tins to old rotary telephones. Let your Blue Moon Estate Sales professionals guide you. They’ll give you an honest assessment and will ensure that you get the best value for your items.
4. Point out Any Potential Hazards
Do you know that the third step on the basement stairs is loose? Maybe there’s a doorway that you always tend to hit your head on or a tile you trip on even though you’ve been walking around the house for twenty years. Sharing this valuable information will help keep both team members and customers safe in your home.
5. Sit Back and Relax
Blue Moon professionals receive specialized training in both sale preparation and business ethics. Your local Blue Moon team will treat your items with the utmost respect and will make every effort to maximize your profits. Although you did your best to complete the first and second steps laid out in this handy list, sometimes personal items are uncovered in the staging process. Don’t fret. These discoveries are immediately reported so there is no need to spend your time worrying. The team has your best interest at heart.
6. Plan a Fun Weekend
In the same way that it is difficult for a real estate agent to sell a home with the owner present, it is a challenge to run a successful estate sale if the owner is hanging out. Because it may be tempting to just drop in, it’s a great idea to plan a weekend getaway or activity.
That’s it! Not too bad, right?
You chose Blue Moon Estate Sales for a reason. If you ever have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here for you every step of the way!