Estate Sale/Probate Services
Probate is a court-regulated, and often complicated, process that facilitates the transfer of assets such as houses, cars, stocks, bonds, boats, etc.- from the deceased person’s name to his or her estate so they can be sold or distributed to the heirs.
Elevation Realty specializes in the sale of probate property (also known as estate property). As Certified Probate Real Estate Specialists (CPRES) we have been trained on the challenges of selling properties involved in the probate process and have the skills necessary to successfully navigate complex probate sales.
Just as importantly, we understand the sensitivity and compassion needed at this difficult time in the life of a family.
Reasons for Selling the Estate’s Real Property
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To pay debts, taxes, bequests, family allowance, and administration expenses.
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It is requested in the will that the property be sold.
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The property is draining the estate financially.
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Disagreement among the heirs.
Realty works with both investors and owner-occupant buyers to get your probate or inherited property sold quickly and for the best possible price. Download free probate resources here:
In addition to handling the sale of your estate or inherited property, Elevation Realty can provide resources for maintaining the property and preparing it for sale. We offer four primary services to help families or executors:
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To pay debts, taxes, bequests, family allowance, and administration expenses.
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It is requested in the will that the property be sold.
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The property is draining the estate financially.
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Disagreement among the heirs.
Household Liquidation Services
Serving Maryland and Washington, DC, we provide a one-stop resource for selling your home, as well as preparing it for sale through de-cluttering, cleanout, and contents liquidation. Our goal is to lighten the burden of settling an estate or selling your home.
We begin the process by asking you to identify items you would like to sell or liquidate. We then arrange to meet with you at your home or the home of a loved one. We work with you to confirm which items you wish to sell, donate or dispose of. Together we develop realistic fair market value price points
for all household contents. You have the opportunity to make the final decisions on all price points. We market the items via multiple channels in order to achieve maximum results. We will feature and display everything in a way that will be most inviting to buyers, thus netting you the most money possible.
We have found that prospective buyers feel that there is a greater perceived value when a professional estate liquidation firm conducts your household estate sale. As experienced professionals we are able to avoid either over-pricing or under-pricing your inventory. After the sale you are provided with a full accounting of sale proceeds. From start to finish you are assured a truly professional experience.
How Does a Household
Liquidation Work?
We meet with you to understand your needs and develop a tailored solution to meet your individual goals. We work with you to price your items. We market widely and display items to their best effect.
After the sale we donate any remaining items to charity.
Are Estate Sales Limited to Very Expensive
Items?
No! We liquidate estates of all sizes and values, not just those filled with big ticket items. Buyers have widely varying tastes and needs and routinely purchase furniture of all types, clothing, housewares, electronics, tools, collectibles, etc.
You name it – there’s likely a buyer for it!
Preparing for an Estate and Household Liquidation Sale
First, be sure to have your legal house in order. If there has been a death in the family, make sure that you have legal title and full authority to sell. Make certain, too, that all disbursements have been made to any and all heirs before you call us for a consultation. If there's a divorce or bankruptcy in progress, you should talk to legal counsel before calling us.
If you are the administrator of an estate, you will need to provide a photocopy of the necessary legal documents which authorize you to dispose of the real estate and/or personal property. We also require that the homeowner's insurance on the home itself be current throughout the sale process. The estate itself is responsible for disconnecting from utilities any appliances to be sold.
Our initial consultation is free of charge. We will come out to your home and meet with you personally to understand your goals. Should we determine that an estate sale is not your best option we will offer you other options that may better meet your needs. We offer a full array of downsizing, de-cluttering, and clean out services. We also work with several of charities that may have a use for some items, which will help others in need.
If there is a mutual decision to move forward with the household liquidation sale we then will then make an inventory of all the items to be sold. We work with you to develop fair market pricing. For high value items, we will coordinate an appraisal. We then set things up in a professional way to make things as appealing to the buying public as possible. We conduct strategic advertising of the event, and finally conduct the actual sale.
Please note that the market for pre-owned items is entirely based on style, age and condition. As a result, not all things are saleable. Additionally, there will always be two different sets of values for any items. There is the seller’s perceived value, which may have a high emotional and sentimental value, and then there is the potential buyer’s view of the contents value, which is generally very different. Please remember that something is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does household liquidation service cost?
Our fee is a percentage of the sale proceeds and varies by the amount of prep and required.
How long should I expect the sale to run?
Each sale is unique. Most sales only require one day, while larger estates may take two, or even three, days. We typically run our estate sales on a Saturday to maximize attendance.
What do you do with items that don’t sell?
We strongly discourage family members from being onsite during public sale hours. All too often they become emotional, or take offence at attendees’ comments or behavior. Family members and executors are, however, most welcome to be onsite during the work after the sale (e.g., during the charity pick up or clean out).