If you’ve recently inherited an estate, you may be wondering what to do with all of the belongings left behind. One popular option for cleaning out an estate is to hold an estate sale. An estate sale can be a great way to sell off a large number of items in a short period of time, while also potentially making a significant profit. However, organizing an estate sale can be a daunting task, especially if you’ve never done it before. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to have a successful estate sale.
Step 1: Decide What to Sell
Before you start planning your estate sale, you’ll need to decide what items you want to sell. Begin by going through the estate and making an inventory of all the items you wish to sell. Consider selling everything from furniture, appliances, electronics, books, and collectibles to clothing and jewelry.
While you may be tempted to keep some of the items, remember that an estate sale is a great opportunity to declutter and make some extra money. Be realistic about the items’ value and condition. Keep in mind that the goal is to sell as many items as possible, so set your prices accordingly. You may also want to consider donating or giving away items that don’t sell.
Step 2: Determine the Value of Items
Once you’ve decided what items you want to sell, the next step is to determine their value. Some items may be easy to price, while others may require more research. You can start by looking at online marketplaces like eBay, Craigslist, or Facebook Marketplace to get an idea of what similar items are selling for.
If you have high-value items like antiques, art, or jewelry, you may want to consider getting them appraised. A professional appraiser can provide you with a detailed valuation of your items and ensure you get a fair price for them.
Step 3: Plan the Sale
Now that you’ve decided what to sell and have an idea of their value, it’s time to plan the estate sale. Here are some key steps to keep in mind:
Choose a date and time: Pick a date and time that is convenient for buyers, ideally on a weekend when most people are off work.
Advertise the sale: Advertise the sale in local newspapers, community bulletin boards, online marketplaces, and social media groups. Consider posting photos of some of the more valuable items to generate interest.
Price items: Determine a price for each item, and make sure it’s clearly marked. You may want to use stickers, tags, or signs to make it easy for buyers to identify prices.
Organize items: Group similar items together, and organize them in a way that makes sense. For example, put all the kitchen items together, and all the books in one area.
Prepare for the sale: Set up tables, chairs, and signs, and make sure the items are clean and presentable. If necessary, hire a cleaning service to deep clean the estate beforehand.
Step 4: Staff the Sale
On the day of the estate sale, you’ll need to have staff on hand to help manage the sale. Depending on the size of the estate and the number of items for sale, you may need to hire additional staff. Here are some roles you may need to fill:
Cashier: Responsible for handling transactions and making change.
Security: Keeps an eye on the estate sale and ensures that shoppers are behaving appropriately.
Sales Associates: Answer questions and assist shoppers with their purchases.
Step 5: Conduct the Sale
On the day of the estate sale, make sure everything is in order before shoppers start arriving. Here are some tips to ensure a successful sale:
Be organized: Make sure items are well organized and displayed in a way that makes it easy for shoppers to find what they’re looking for.
Once your estate sale is over consider hiring a junk removal company to come take away the remaining items.
If you are in the London or St Thomas area give us a call! We can help you at any stage along the way. We can remove junk and debris that cannot be sold at the estate sale. Or you can also call on us to haul away the remaining items that did not sell during the estate sale. We will either donate, recycle or dispose of these items so you can carry on with the busy process of organizing the estate.
Need it gone? Call Get R Gone Junk Removal! Locally owned and operated. Serving London, St Thomas and surrounding areas since 2021!
