Are you an estate representative looking to liquidate an estate and wondering how to conduct an estate sale? While estate sales are usually held after a loved one has passed away and the property has gone through probate, they can also be useful during personal transitions such as a divorce, where there’s a need to dispose of a household full of items. Sorting through the remaining possessions can be challenging, particularly after the loss of a loved one. It’s important to carefully locate and set aside crucial documents such as deeds, titles, bank statements, and other financial records needed for income tax returns.

Valuable items might be casually stored, like money in a coat pocket. It’s a good idea to check through books for important papers and systematically go through drawers, containers, and boxes. To achieve the best results, follow these five estate sale tips for property owners in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas.

Cleaning 

A key estate sale tip for property owners in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, is to avoid cleaning antiques or other items beyond basic dusting and light housekeeping. Overzealous cleaning of antiques, like an old dresser, might remove significant value. Additionally, don’t discard or donate clothing, kitchenware, or garage tools as they might be valuable. Avoid holding a garage sale before the estate sale, as vintage items are highly sought after. An estate sale can be less effective without smaller, high-value items for buyers. To manage the emotional aspect of clearing out a property, consider hiring licensed estate liquidators. If you prefer not to handle the task yourself, reach out to at least two estate sale companies.

Don’t Guess

Estate sales draw buyers looking for unique and unusual items, including collectibles and costume jewelry. Estate sale experts can identify valuable items and provide guidance. Avoid assuming an item is worthless just because it seems like junk to an untrained eye. Instead, thoroughly research the value of the items you find, especially if you come across a collection. It’s not uncommon for family members to discover too late that they’ve discarded something of significant value. This is an essential estate sale tip for property owners.

Plan for Rememberances

Close friends or family members may seek items as mementos of the deceased, which can lead to disputes. To handle these emotional moments, it’s wise to have a plan in place—an important estate sale tip for property owners in Texas. While some wills specify which items should go to family or friends, many people will select items based on personal memories. However, these items are considered gifts from the estate and should be valued accordingly. You are not obligated to give away anything, nor is it your right to do so. As the estate representative, your duty is to ensure that all proceeds from the sale go to the family. To manage this, you might consider a pre-sale for these individuals, allowing them to purchase tagged items they want before the public estate sale.

Time

Allowing ample time for the estate sale is a valuable tip for property owners in Texas, as preparing properly can take several weeks. If time isn’t a constraint, working with an estate sales professional or managing the process yourself might be the best choice. However, if the estate has few items left because family and friends have taken most valuable possessions or if ongoing expenses are depleting the estate, a buy-out company could be a better option. Estate buy-out companies handle everything in one go, providing a quicker, less emotional process, but it usually costs more and yields less revenue compared to a traditional estate sale.

Understand your Objective

Keeping the reason for the sale in mind can help you manage the emotional aspects, making this an essential estate sale tip for property owners in Dallas Fort Worth, Texas. If you feel overwhelmed, professionals can handle the project for you. When you contact an estate liquidation company, they will work to advertise and generate interest in the sale. Once the company has assessed the estate, you cannot remove any items without incurring a charge for the value of the missing pieces.

The experts at TX Home Buying Pros can make your estate sale process much simpler. Partnering with TX Home Buying Pros is one of the top estate sale tips for property owners in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas. Call TX Home Buying Pros at (214) 296-2343 or send us a message today to get a cash offer and learn more.