Guide to Property Cleanouts

Cleaning out an estate is not a happy experience for the person responsible for the task. Selling an estate can be caused by downsizing due to financial reasons, a loved one’s passing or another significant life event such as an eviction. 

No matter the reason, we understand that this can be a stressful time for those affected, which is why we work to provide you with the easiest way to clean out your property. 

Focus on the Important Elements of the Cleanout

During the process of selling an estate, many people do not know where to begin. You may consider hiring an auctioneer or an estate sales manager. Before you begin the hassle of the process of cleaning out the estate, be sure to keep an open mind to all your options. 

Before you get caught up in sorting through valuable or trash that has been left behind, be sure to focus on the important elements of the cleanout, including:

Financial Documents to Secure

If there is a death in the family and multiple family members are involved, it is likely that there will be a probate. At this point in the cleanout, it is important to secure any financial documents. This will help when it comes time to file taxes that following year. While cleaning out the estate, look for:

• Estate deeds
• Bank statements
• Stock certificates
• Life insurance policies

Consider Additional Costs 

As each day passes that you don’t sell or rent the state, costs can add up quickly, such as mortgage, repairs, and taxes. These can become unexpected out-of-pocket expenses. It’s important to create a plan of action and consider other expenses that the estate can incur, including:

Storage Rental Fees

If you live outside of the state or farther away from the estate that is being cleaned out, you may need to rent a storage unit for the items you are keeping and deal with them when the timing is better. It is recommended to only use this option when all other options are exhausted as these costs can add up quickly. 

If you have items that are not yours or that don’t hold sentimental value, then you can get rid of them. You can hire A-1 hauling to help you with the heavy lifting and disposal of unwanted items. 

Shipping Fees

If you need to ship or deliver any item to the beneficiary or previous owner, these items may need to be carefully packaged and shipped to them. Depending on the size and weight of the item, these costs can add up quickly. Make sure that shipping costs are covered in the sale of some of the estate items. 

Consider Getting Insurance

Keep in mind that there are risks that come with cleaning out property that is unoccupied. If you plan to have friends and other volunteers to help you, they could get injured during the cleanout. To help you avoid legal fees and lawsuits, look into getting an insurance policy to protect yourself. 

It is highly recommended that you hire an insured, experienced hauler like A-1 Hauling to avoid these risks and give you one less thing to worry about. 

How Can I Sell or Distribute Items from the Estate?

There are a variety of ways you can sell items from an estate cleanout, including:

Online Selling

Keep in mind that selling items on your own can be very time-consuming. You can consider using Craigslist, eBay, or Facebook Marketplaces to sell your items. Before listing your item, look for similar items on these sites and see how much they are being sold for. 

There are also several online estate auction websites available to help you sell items. If you’ve had an item appraised and are aware that it is worth more than what it is going for on eBay, an online estate auction site can help you sell this item. While you may make more money selling online, it is going to take up a lot of your time. 

Take a Buyout

With a buyout, you sell the home along with all the items in it in one go. This will compensate you with a percentage of the home’s market value and the value of the items inside the home. This is your easiest option for selling the home and all items inside, but you do lose out on the possibility of selling individual items for more money. 

Consider Donating Items 

Not all items found during the cleanout will be able to be sold, so it is a great idea to donate these items to friends or organizations for those in need. Keep in mind that donating bulky items can be difficult since they are hard to transport to the drop-off location. You may instead consider using the proceeds from the auction or estate sale and hire a professional junk removal company in Pittsburgh to assist you with your cleanout experience and handle the larger, bulky items. 

Should I Hire an Estate Liquidator, Sales Manager, or Auctioneer?

If you are short on time and need assistance in selling the estate, you may consider hiring an estate liquidator, sales manager, or auctioneer to help you get the hard work done. This will allow you to earn some funds without taking up all your time. Rather than having to neglect work or home duties, you can leave the estate in qualified hands. 

Before hiring an auctioneer, sales manager, or liquidator, consider the following:

• Look at their qualifications beyond their sales percentages
• Be sure to acquire quotes from more than one person or company
• Check your state’s sales tax laws and what the requirements are for an estate sale
• Check that the liquidator has insurance
• Perform a thorough review of your contract to avoid surprises
• Ask for references
• Read online reviews
• Check their Better Business Bureau ratings

It is crucial to avoid throwing anything always until you meet with your liquidator since it may have hidden value. Typically, an estate sale company will take 40% to 50% of the proceeds from the estate sale for their labor. 

Hiring a Junk Removal Company

While you clean out the home of furniture, appliances, and other items, you will come across items that are damaged and otherwise unsellable. You can either throw out these items or donate them to a charitable organization. 

Removing these unwanted items from your home can be a daunting task and, in many cases, require heavy lifting. By hiring a professional junk removal company for your estate cleanout, you can take the pressure off yourself and your family while they handle the heavy lifting. 

Contact A-1 Hauling for your estate cleanout today! CALL US (724) 216-3496