Estate Sales Berkley, Michigan
The Estate Pros are Berkley, Michigan’s leading authority for estate sales.
We have assisted hundreds of people with estate sales in the Berkley area, helping them successfully liquidate their personal property. Moving and/or handling the estate of a loved one is often a sensitive time of transition and there are many things that factor into whether or not your estate sale will be a success. From accurate appraisals to careful organization, proper advertising, obtaining permits and more, the Estate Pros have you covered.
Estate Sales Berkley, Michigan
Estate sales are quite popular in Michigan, with dozens of sales occurring everyday throughout the state. Most of which are executed with the help of local estate sale companies like the Estate Pros. While you may have never attended one, they are a very effective way for people to liquidate their personal effects in one grand sweeping motion. There are a variety of reasons that someone may decide to hold an estate sale. Here are some of the most common:
Death of a loved one: This is one of the most common reasons people hold estate sales. Dealing with the death of a loved one carries a tremendous emotional and physical burden. Oftentimes, an entire house’s worth of belongings must be sorted through, and this task usually falls on the shoulders of the immediate family. Sorting through the things that someone spent their lifetime collecting and all the trips down memory lane can be a lot for the bereaved. Hiring an estate sale company like Estate Pros makes the task easier, so the family can focus on healing and the other important matters associated with such a sensitive moment.
Major life changes: Sometimes people are just ready for a big change, like downsizing to an assisted living facility or a smaller house. Sometimes people just want to be free of all of their things to live a more lightweight existence by sailing around the world or hitting the road in an RV.
Hoarding situations: Cleaning out the home of a hoarder can often result in many things that present a biohazard and need to be disposed of, but equally as often is the case of simply too many belongings crammed into a single-occupant living space. Estate sales are a great way to sell all of the extra stuff and provide someone with a good chunk of cash and a fresh start.
Bankruptcy/foreclosure: In a bankruptcy or foreclosure sale, the bank or financial institution may want to liquidate all assets.
Moving overseas from Berkley, Michigan: A big move overseas is one reason people choose to have estate sales. If they aren’t that attached to their things, rather than pay expensive shipping costs, many people prefer to liquidate their belongings and start fresh in their new country of residence.
Divorce and asset allocation: Asset allocation is a big component in many divorces, and when people cannot agree on who should keep what, liquidation of belongings for their market value is a popular solution.
Estate Auction Companies
Estate sale companies like Estate Pros in Berkley know how to handle all of the ins and outs of running a successful estate sale and getting you the best return possible on your personal property. It’s vital that you hire a company that is trustworthy and has a AAA reputation. These people will be in your home handling your personal property, so professionalism is a must. There are a great number of tasks that go into preparing for an estate sale: moving heavy furniture, cleaning, cataloging, sorting the items, labeling items, payment processing, marketing the sale effectively, obtaining all necessary permits, and more.
There are certainly benefits and disadvantages to having an estate sale versus selling the items individually through online auctions like eBay or networks like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist.
The Pros of Having an Estate Sale
Eases transition and hassle: The situations that normally prompt the need to have an estate sale can cause a large emotional burden. Sorting and going through a full house worth of items can be a physically demanding task that few can do easily on their own, and enlisting the help of family and friends might be a necessity. Hiring a professional estate sales company with experience does wonders for easing your anxiety and freeing up your time. There are a lot of things that go into having an estate sale, including moving heavy furniture, cleaning, cataloging and sorting the items, labeling items, payment processing, marketing the sale effectively, obtaining all necessary permits, and more.
Professional appraisal: Having a professional appraiser estimate the value of your belongings is a wise move. It’s hard to know exactly what something is worth, especially if the items were not originally purchased by you. It takes a keen eye and a good sense of the current market value to correctly price a broad variety of items such as those found in an estate sale in Berkley, Michigan.
Estate sale advertising: Shoppers looking to purchase from estate sales can find your sale easily. The Estate Pros make sure to advertise through multiple channels, including online on websites like EstateSales.net, EstateSales.com, and EstateSales.org.
Thoughtful and careful staging: An estate sale professional like those at the Estate Pros know how to display items in their best light, and will bring all the necessary tables, shelves and staging equipment with which to do so.
Permitting needs are handled: There is no need for you to worry about obtaining the necessary permits, which differ from city to city. For estate sales in Berkley, Michigan you may have two sales per year, three consecutive days each, but you must apply for a permit from the city to do so.
Maximum return in the smallest window of time: If you just want to be done with it in one swift motion, estate sales are the way to go.
The Cons of Having an Estate Sale
Don’t expect to get top dollar for your items: Though they are more lucrative than garage sales, estate sales don’t necessarily bring in record-breaking prices for items. Generally, shoppers at estate sales are looking for a good deal and are willing to spend the time hunting for whatever they are looking for. Since estate sales are typically held over the course of two to three days, items will be marked down about 50% on the last day of the sale. Some people will be there before the sale begins to get ahead of the other potential buyers, and many will come back the second and third day for a better price.
Fees involved: Typically, an estate sale company in Berkley will take around 40% of the revenue from the sale. Commissions on high-ticket items like motor vehicles can generally be lower, but you need to negotiate with your estate sale professional to come to an agreement about these prior to the sale.
Strangers will be in your home: Since estate sales are typically held inside a private residence, you must be comfortable having strangers walking in and out of your property.
What Happens to Estate Sale Leftovers
The leftovers from an Estate Sale can be donated, sold privately or kept by the owner. Typically, there are always things that don’t sell at an estate sale, but that doesn’t mean they are worthless! Making a tax-deductible donation can save you money on your tax returns and help support a person in need.
Let The Pros Handle It!
Estate Pros has been thoughtfully and carefully handling estate liquidation processes for clients in Michigan for over 15 years. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
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Southeast Michigan Estate Sale Service Area
The Estate Pros have been proudly serving Oakland, Macomb and parts of Livingston, Genesee, Lapeer & Wayne counties for the past 15 years. No matter what your situation calls for, the Estate Pros are here to help!
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