How to plan an estate sale with support from a professional.
Sara Schenck knows what it’s like to be put in charge of a home full of personal items that belonged to a loved one. At 19, she found herself flying between South Carolina and Ohio to deal with her departed aunt’s estate. “I had no idea what to do with her things,” she says, adding that it took more than a year to figure it all out.
Today, as chief operations officer for Certified Estate Sales, a family-owned and operated estate sales company primarily serving Buckhead, Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, East Cobb and Vinings, she is dedicated to helping others avoid that experience by planning and managing successful estate sales. Here, she shares her tips for working with an estate sales professional to seamlessly navigate the often challenging and overwhelming process.
How is an estate sale different from a yard sale?
In an estate sale, we sell everything but the house itself. We sell cars, used clothing, furniture and everything in between. We can even sell half-used cleaning supplies.
When should I consider holding an estate sale?
In many cases, people are downsizing and can’t fit old items in their new home. Some people may be moving out of the country and simply want to start fresh. For others, it may be that a parent or grandparent has passed away, and you’re not sure what to do with their belongings. This process can be daunting because you’re in the middle of grief and don’t know where to start. That’s where an estate sales professional can come in and help.
What does an estate sales company do?
Every estate sales company is different. At Certified Estate Sales, we help our clients determine what to keep and what to sell. We go through every nook and cranny of a home to find the valuable items and price everything at fair market value. This is important because people get attached to memories and can place more sentimental value on things than monetary value. Then we organize the home and stage it for the sale, keeping in mind the flow of traffic, fire marshal regulations and parking. We put up professional signage, handle all of the marketing and then conduct the actual sale. After the sale, we work exclusively with a charity to donate any items the family does not want at no additional charge. We control the chaos.
How much should I budget for this process?
You do not pay for this service; we work purely off of commission. In Atlanta, between 36 and 40% commission is typical.
How do I find the right estate sales company for my needs?
According to market research I’ve conducted with a firm in Boston, Atlanta is the number one market for estate sales today, so there are many companies out there. Ask around for recommendations and do some research on estatesales.net. Always look to see how long a company has been in business, and make sure they’re insured. I always suggest meeting with at least two estate sales companies to see whom you match with; you want to know who is in the home and make sure they’re going to take care of items as if they were their own. And know that, whomever you choose, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Whether you’re downsizing or dealing with someone’s estate, an estate sales professional is there to help you through the process.
CERTIFIED ESTATE SALES
404.400.1237
certifiedestatesales.com
@SaraSellsATL
