Selling an estate can be an emotional process. We talked to a few of our estate sale experts at West + Main Homes, and gathered some tips for successfully prepping for and selling an estate.
Separate Family Valuables
Before truly starting the home selling process, it’s a good idea to sort through personal items. This will make it easier to sell and donate later on, knowing that all family treasures have been allocated. This can also be an important part of the moving on process, so we recommend taking time to consider the sentimental value of items in the home before jumping into the rest of this process.
Determine Point Person
Even if there is not a legally appointed person to manage this process, it can be helpful to have one person be the point of contact when communicating with other parties involved in the sale, such as lawyers, Real Estate agents, and appraisers. However, each scenario is different.
Will your family be making decisions as a committee, or is there one person who is best suited to control the process?
Hire an experienced Realtor
Having a Realtor who is familiar with the estate sale process can take pressure off of all parties involved.
“There are a lot of consistencies between estate sales. From simple things like there are never working smoke or carbon monoxide detectors, to the broader issue of minimizing the level of personalization of the space. After working through multiple estate sales, including selling my own Mom’s home, I understand that this is an emotional process for all involved,” said West + Main Homes agent Cathy Rossano.
The correct agent for this circumstance not only has neighborhood and market expertise, but is also patient and understanding.
“It can take time to get an estate sale home market ready, and that’s okay,” said Rossano, “I’m finding that I love being able to work with these clients and help them through the nuances of estate sale.”
Photos from Cathy Rossano’s listing, 30 Hillside Drive, Wheat Ridge, CO.
Prepare to List the Home by Decluttering
Oftentimes during estate sales, there are a lot of belongings that need to be sorted through. It can help to put belongings into four categories: keep, sell, donate, and throw away.
At this point, you’ve likely already decided which items family members want to keep. A great next step is to sort through the remaining items and decide what items are worth selling.
“We advise our clients to have a professional come in and assess furniture, jewelry, etc to determine what will be worth their time to sell,” said West + Main Homes agent Sue Perrault. There are also professionals who will offer to buy a bulk of the belongings, further simplifying the process.
After valuable items have been sold or given to their new owner, hiring a junk removal service is the next step. This is the easiest way to prepare the home for listing quickly.
“One thing to consider is if furniture can be used for staging the home”, said Rossano. “On one of my recent listings, we were able to utilize the furniture for staging before selling it, which showed the character of the home and saved us the time and money involved with professional staging”.
Consider Your Priorities
There can be heightened emotions during an estate sale compared to an average home sale. While getting market value for the property is always important, it’s okay to think about the sentimental value of the home.
“On the property I’m currently listing, it’s important to my clients that the character of the house is preserved,” said Rossano. While making sure her clients get top dollar for the sale, Rossano is taking some extra steps to ensure she attracts the right buyers. “One thing I have done on this one is hire a designer to put together an “idea board” that will be up for showings and open houses that will give buyers ideas of how to update the house while maintaining the character it has. I also was sure to call out all the original features of the home in my marketing write ups and on-site marketing sheet.”
In many scenarios, you don’t have to choose price over preservation. In the Denver Metro Area, older mid-century modern homes like Rossano’s clients are considered a hidden treasure, giving the buyer the opportunity to preserve the charm of the original architecture while updating the interior.
Give the Home a Proper Goodbye
The emotional process of selling an estate doesn’t always end with a signed offer. Even after all logistics are settled, be sure to give yourself time to mentally close this chapter. Spend a few quiet moments and appreciate the home for the memories that it holds.
It may be beneficial to share the history of the home with the new owners. “We’ve found that allowing our clients to tell the buyer the home’s story can help the buyer fall in love, as well as provide closure for the seller,” said Perrault.
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If there is a home that you would like more information about, if you are considering selling a property, or if you have questions about the housing market in your neighborhood, please reach out. We’re here to help.
