How to Sell the Contents of an Estate
by Josh Chamberlain
Is your client downsizing? Are they selling their parents’ home?
There are many reasons why your client may need to sell the contents of an estate. This e-book can be a valuable resource to those clients and we invite you to share it with them.
I get calls every week from sons, daughters, nieces, and nephews who find themselves in this difficult situation. All have the same question:
“Where do I start?”
That’s why I wrote this e-book. I describe the four options available to sell the contents of an estate, list the pros and cons, and even provide a handy decision table that helps them figure out which is the best for their particular situation.
What This Book Has to Offer
There are many ways to sell the contents of an estate, but the “four major food groups” are:
Auction
Items are taken on consignment to be sold by the auctioneer at a later date. Commissions typically range between 10%-40% depending on a number of factors.
Dealer
A dealer will come in, assesses the collection, and present an offer for some or all of the items in the estate.
Estate Sale
An estate sale is when a company is hired to sell your items on site at your home or premises. The company keeps a commission typically in the range of 30-45%.
Private
Selling privately means you will need to find buyers for your objects. This has become a more popular method in recent years with the growth of websites such as Craigslist and online marketplaces on social media sites.
So which method is best for your client?
It helps to answer these two questions: 1) How much time and effort do they want to put in and 2) what do they have to sell?
If they happen to be one of the lucky ones who has inherited a nice Monet oil on canvas worth a cool $10 million, I would not recommend putting it out at the neighborhood yard sale. At the same time, they should not waste their time explaining to Sotheby’s and Christie’s why their Hummel collection is valuable because Aunt Betsy told them it was.
This FREE ebook takes a close look at these four methods, listing the pros and cons for each.
About the Author
Joshua Chamberlain started Chamberlain Antiques, LLC in 2003. Since then, Chamberlain Antiques has grown to be known worldwide for their continuous offerings of quality antiques at affordable price points. Chamberlain Antiques is a full-service operation, assisting in both buying and selling of estates and antiques.
Since its beginning, owner Joshua Chamberlain has demanded the highest level of integrity and customer satisfaction in the markets he serves.