Estate Sale Questions: What You Need to Know Before Hiring an Estate Sale Company

 

If you’re settling an estate, downsizing, moving, or trying to determine what to do with the contents of a home, you probably have a lot of questions. MWM Estate Sales provides estate sale and online estate auction services throughout the Hudson Valley, including Dutchess County and surrounding communities.

 

You don’t need to have everything figured out before contacting us. We’re happy to answer your questions and help you determine the best way to handle the contents of your home or a loved one’s estate.

 

How much does an estate sale company charge?

 

Estate sale company fees vary depending on the size of the estate, the quantity and quality of the items, the condition of the home, and the amount of work required.

 

At MWM Estate Sales, we don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. We use a sliding scale based on the individual estate so that our services remain fair for everyone involved.

 

We evaluate the home and its contents before recommending the best approach. Our goal is to provide professional estate liquidation services while helping you maximize the value of the items being sold.

 

How does an estate sale work?

 

The first step is having MWM Estate Sales assess the contents of the home. We look at what is there, identify items that may have value, and help separate personal belongings that may have been overlooked.

 

From there, we organize the contents, identify unsellable items, research antiques and collectibles when necessary, photograph and catalog items, and prepare them for sale.

 

MWM specializes primarily in online estate auctions. Online auctions can provide access to a much larger pool of potential buyers than a traditional in-person estate sale.

 

In our experience, approximately 95% of items offered through our estate auctions sell, compared with approximately 40–50% at a traditional in-person estate sale. This can make an online auction an excellent option when the goal is to sell and remove as much of the home’s contents as possible.

 

What should I do with a house full of belongings after someone passes away?

 

If you’re responsible for settling a loved one’s estate, you don’t have to figure out what to do with everything by yourself.

 

MWM Estate Sales can come into the home, assess the contents, identify items that can be sold, help separate personal belongings, and create a plan for the estate.

 

We understand that going through a loved one’s home can be overwhelming and emotional. Our goal is to handle the process professionally and respectfully while taking as much of the work off your shoulders as possible.

 

Whether the home contains furniture, antiques, collectibles, household goods, tools, artwork or other personal property, we’ll help determine the best way to handle it.

 

Do I need to clean my house before hiring an estate sale company?

 

No. You do not need to completely clean out or prepare the home before contacting MWM Estate Sales.

 

In many cases, we actually prefer to see the home and its contents as they are. Cleaning everything out beforehand can result in valuable items being overlooked or discarded.

 

We will assess the contents and determine what should be sold, donated, removed or otherwise handled. If additional cleaning or services are needed outside of our normal estate sale services, we’ll discuss those needs with you.

 

The best time to contact an estate sale company is before you start throwing things away or giving things away.

 

What happens to items that don’t sell at an estate sale or auction?

 

Not everything sells, and our job doesn’t necessarily end when the auction closes.

 

MWM Estate Sales can help facilitate donations of appropriate remaining items and discuss options for the contents that are left.

 

Our goal is to help you move toward a manageable and usable home rather than simply leaving you with everything that didn’t sell.

 

Is an estate sale or online estate auction better?

 

There isn’t one answer for every estate. We look at the contents of the home and determine which selling method makes the most sense.

 

For many of the estates we handle, we recommend an online estate auction because it can reach a larger audience and allows individual items to be sold to buyers who are specifically looking for them.

 

Traditional in-person estate sales are generally limited to shoppers who physically come to the property during a short selling period. An online auction can attract buyers from a much larger geographic area.

 

Our experience has been that online auctions typically move significantly more items out of a home than a traditional estate sale.

 

We’ll evaluate your estate and explain which option we believe will work best.

 

How long does an estate sale take?

 

Our typical estate sale and online auction process takes approximately 2½ weeks from start to finish.

 

This generally includes:

 

• Initial assessment of the home

• Sorting and organizing

• Identifying personal belongings

• Researching antiques, vintage items and collectibles

• Photographing and cataloging items

• Preparing and posting the auction

• Conducting the online auction

• Coordinating buyer pickup

• Facilitating donations and handling remaining items

 

Every estate is different, so the exact timeline can vary depending on the size and condition of the property and the amount of material involved.

 

How far in advance should I contact an estate sale company?

 

As soon as you start asking yourself whether you need one.

 

You don’t need to have a date, a plan, or even a decision made before contacting MWM Estate Sales.

 

If you’re beginning to think about downsizing, settling an estate, selling a parent’s home, moving, or dealing with a house full of belongings, we can help you understand your options.

 

Contacting an estate sale company early also gives you more time to make thoughtful decisions rather than trying to empty an entire home under a tight deadline.

 

Does MWM Estate Sales specialize in antiques and collectibles?

 

Yes. Antiques, vintage items and collectibles are a specialty of MWM Estate Sales.

 

If a home contains antiques, vintage furniture, artwork, collectibles, advertising pieces, tools, primitives or other unique items, we take the time to research and identify those items rather than treating everything as ordinary household contents.

 

We determine how individual items should be marketed and sold to give them the best opportunity to reach the right buyers.

 

Can an estate sale company handle an entire house?

 

Absolutely.

 

MWM Estate Sales can help with the process from the initial assessment through the sale and removal of items.

 

Depending on the estate, our services can include:

 

• Sorting and organizing household contents

• Identifying personal belongings

• Researching valuable items

• Photographing and cataloging items

• Online estate auctions

• Estate liquidation

• Buyer pickup coordination

• Donation assistance

• Handling remaining items

 

You don’t have to sort through an entire house by yourself before calling us.

 

It is our honor to help families through what can be an incredibly difficult and overwhelming process. We treat the contents of a home with respect while working to make the process as organized and efficient as possible.

 

What areas does MWM Estate Sales serve?

 

MWM Estate Sales provides estate sale, estate liquidation and online auction services throughout the Hudson Valley, with a strong focus on Dutchess County and surrounding communities.

 

We serve areas including Wappingers Falls, Poughkeepsie, Fishkill, Hopewell Junction, Hyde Park, Rhinebeck, LaGrange, Beacon, Newburgh, Millbrook and surrounding Hudson Valley communities.

 

If you’re unsure whether we service your area, contact us. We’re happy to discuss your location and estate.

 

When should I call an estate sale company?

 

If you’re asking yourself, “What am I supposed to do with everything in this house?”, that’s probably a good time to call.

 

You don’t need to know what everything is worth. You don’t need to clean the house first. You don’t need to sort every room. And you don’t need to decide whether you need an estate sale or an online auction.

 

That’s what we’re here to help you determine.

 

Contact MWM Estate Sales to schedule an assessment and discuss the best way to handle your estate.