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A client is trustee/executor for her sister’s estate/trust and asked for assistance locating and choosing an estate liquidation professional to appropriately dispose of her sister’s personal property and prepare the home for sale now that she has passed.
I have come up with a “back of an envelope” list of what I would be looking for in such a company but was wondering if anyone can point me to an existing list or perhaps has one of their own to share that would be more comprehensive than my informal one?
Thanks!Karen, I can’t offer any personal experience, but a quick Google search for “estate liquidation professional qualifications” resulted in more than 5 millions hits. If you haven’t already looked at the website for the American Society of Estate Liquidators® (ASEL), I commend it to you. Here is one snippet copied from that site:
Questions for a prospective estate sale company:
How long have you been in business? [Those new to the industry can be excellent too, especially if they have been professionally trained.]
Ask for 2-3 professional references for sales they have conducted recently
Ask if they have any credentials, certifications, special education?
Do they charge a flat fee or commission?
What is their percentage of commission?
What services are included in that percentage?
What must I do to prepare for you to begin?
Are there any additional fees? Additional services you offer?
Do you charge extra to clean up prior to the sale, as well as post-sale?
How many days will it take you to set up for the sale?
Do you price every item?
How do you keep track of what items sell for?
How many days do you hold the sale?
Can the family be present? (generally not recommended)
How do you handle discounts or negotiations?
May I see a copy of your contract?
Are you insured/bonded?
Do you also clean out estates? If so, how much do you charge?To your success!
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