Oftentimes when an elderly person dies or moves out of their home, they no longer have the need for many items they own. As a result, the law states families should sell these items to help pay expenses associated with a funeral, medical expenses, or to meet elder law requirements if a loved one is moving to a nursing home. In most situations, the best way to do this is by having an estate sale. While some families do this on their own, many use an estate sale company. To learn more about this, here are some tips to help you choose an estate sale company.
Interview Several Companies
In most cities, there are several estate sale companies. To choose the best one, interview several companies before making your selection, and never do the interview over the phone. Instead, always do a face-to-face interview, and make sure the company understands various aspects of estate law.
Ask What They Charge
During your interview, always ask what the company will charge to conduct the sale. In most cases, the company representative examines what you plan to sell, then gives you an estimate on the anticipated total sale. Since most companies work on a percentage basis, expect them to take between 25-50 percent of the total sales for their commission. If you are uneasy with this, speak to your lawyers at once.
Don’t Throw Anything Away
Even if you think some items may not be worth anything, never throw away any items until an experienced estate sale representative has looked things over. As many people say, one man’s junk is another man’s treasure, so don’t cheat yourself out of a potential big sale by throwing away certain items.
By following these tips, conducting an estate sale will be made much easier.
