What is an Estate Sale?
An estate sale is an in-home sale of various belongings. Sometimes all the possessions in a home are sold; sometimes part of the possessions are sold. The seller makes that decision. It is also referred to as a liquidation sale. Liquidation, meaning the personal property is sold for money. New Life Estate Sales is the best in business when it comes to setting up store-front type boutique sales in your home.
The estate sale generally lasts for 3 to 4 days and the public is notified of the sale address, dates and time. During sales days customers are invited to the address and are able to shop in a seamless and pain-free way for the duration of the sale.
New Life Estate Sales is the best company in Nashville to help you liquidate your possessions whether you are in a luxury home, a condominium or your everyday 3-bedroom home. New Life Estate sales is fully staffed to handle any size Estate Sale. Big or small, we love them all.
Why Do People Have Estate Sales?
The most common reason for an estate sale is that someone has passed on and their possessions no longer have a home. That is actually the thinking behind the name we chose for our estate sale business–New Life Estate Sales. We give new life to old possessions by connecting shoppers with the belongings they desire.
The passing of a loved one is not the only time an estate sale is a good option. There are many different circumstances where an estate sale makes sense.
- Death
- Divorce
- Down-sizing
- Transitioning to a Retirement Center or Moving in with Family
- Relocation or Job Change
- Financial Hardship
Divorce
In some situations, because of a divorce, the parties are forced to liquidate many possessions in order to split the proceeds. In these cases, the owners usually retain some items and sell others.
Many people reach a point in their lives where the large multi-bedroom home is simply no longer needed. The kids are grown and starting their own lives. And mom is still cleaning a four-bedroom home each week, when only one bedroom is used. Down-sizing through an estate sale allows the owner to sell what they want and keep what they need. And, they get cash for the items they are done with.
Down-sizing
Relocating or Job Change
More than in previous generations, people are embracing moving ‘out of state’ either for a work opportunity or just because of personal preference. This is a great time to sift through possessions (yes, the ones that are still boxed from the move five years ago!) and determine what items really should not make the move. An estate sale also provides money to help with moving expenses.
Most Americans will go through a period of financial hardship at least once in their lifetime. A failed business venture, loss of a job, astronomical medical bills–these are just a few of the reasons behind choosing to have an estate sale. At the end of the day, liquidating possessions is one step toward a better financial future.
Financial Hardship
Transitioning to a retirement center or moving in with family
Age only has one gear and that is steadily forward. As our parents and loved one’s age, eventually, most will need more help than they can receive in their home. Assisting a loved one to find the next spot to call home is rewarding. Having an estate sale to unload the possessions which are no longer needed or wanted is a great choice which also provides some liquidity to assist with other costs.
What Types of Things Are Sold At An Estate Sale?
In short, just about any item that may be found in a home can be sold in an estate sale. Certainly, some of the items in an estate sale are similar to what is seen in a garage sale. However, many of the items are larger and worth more money. We recommend never throwing anything away unless it is truly trash. Some examples of types of things sold at an estate sale are listed below.
Dishes
Antiques
Cars. Boats. Trailers.
Yard Art
Cleaning Supplies
Furniture
Collectibles
Tools
Paintings
Clothing & Shoes
Jewelry
Toys
Types of Artwork
Appliances
Decorations
Decor
How To Have An Estate Sale ?
The first step to having an estate sale is for the owner or family members to determine what they wish to retain. Personal mementos, photographs, keepsakes, letters, yearbooks, grandma’s favorite chair–anything that has sentimental value should be retained by the family and removed from the home or moved behind a locked door.
The next step in having an estate sale is to choose a trust-worthy and reputable estate sale company. (Of course, a company is not required, but there are a lot of reasons to go with the professionals.) See How to Pick an Estate Sale Company. (interlink to page.)
Our estate sale business professionals will do a free in-home consultation to gain an understanding of your needs and the scope of the sale. During this meeting we will also go over the timeline and the entire process of our estate sales from the initial set-up to hosting your sale. Afterwards we will deliver you a breakdown of your sales totals as well as a list of every transaction.
Other Things You Will Need To Do
- Reach out to the HOA if applicable to determine any restrictions regarding street parking and signs and days allowed for sale.
- Ensure the electricity and water is still on and working.
- Provide the date the home will be empty, so that we can begin preparation for the sale.
- Determine if there is a storage unit which may contain other items that should be sold.
- Provide a house key to us that we will keep in a lockbox.
- Sign the Estate Sale Agreement
And…that is all. New Life Estate Sale company takes care of the rest. Our job is to make sure you receive the maximum amount of value for your possessions while making your life easier!
Blow-Out Sale
New Life Estate Sales offers an additional day of labor and work to host a BLOW OUT SALE. The name is pretty accurate, because the intent of this sale is to at least get something for the leftover items, instead of paying someone to dispose of them.
We advertise the sale and give steep discounts. In addition, we welcome any and all negotiations, because, again, getting something for the items is better than paying someone to remove them. Blow-out sales can be very beneficial for our clients and customers alike. We advertise it heavily, seeking great turnouts. Generally, Blow-out sales are on Monday or Tuesday following the original estate sale. We discuss with the client all options before deciding to go this direction.
