An estate sale professional can be your most valuable asset.
Many people hear the phrase estate sale and they think of someone who's passed away and whose children are opening the house to the public to get rid of its contents. And they'd be correct in assuming that. Some of the time, that's the case. But in many other cases, people are divorcing and need to sell the house and lots of furniture and accessories because the couple will be moving to two smaller homes or condos. Other times, people have estate sales and sell their homes as soon as their kids are on their own so they can take off in an RV for two years (as is commonly explained, "while we're still young enough"). And in yet other cases, people are forced to move to pursue career opportunities and need to squeeze into a small condo in Washington, D.C. from a 5,000-square-foot home in the Atlanta suburbs.
Many of today's 65-year-olds act more like they're 45.
While many seniors (75+) are committed to staying in their homes until they die or need to move to an assisted living facility or nursing home, many baby boomers (54 to 74) are the exact opposite. They're healthy and active and interested in starting a new and different life. They're committed to getting rid of what has kept them in place for so long. Namely, their houses and their chores, their dozens of frayed old towels and their incomplete sets of wine glasses. They're ready to live in maintenance-free homes so they have more time to travel and less to worry about when they're gone. Many turn to estate sale specialists to jump-start the process.
Think you can't part with all your precious stuff?
It's hard to part with all those precious memories associated with the art you've collected and the furniture and china you've inherited. Many people have "separation anxiety" and think they'll never be the same if they aren't surrounded by all their "stuff." And that's true. They won't be the same: they'll be unburdened, lighter and brighter, and more alive. As people who've gone through the process will attest (see our testimonials page about "Why Downsizers Are Doing It"), it was the best decision of their lives to free themselves of all their stuff. Make a gorgeous photo album of all the rooms in your house, with all the furniture and accessories and collections beautifully arranged and the walls of art and china cabinets nicely "staged." Then plan an estate sale! Check our our Resource Directory of Downsizing Professionals for the names of several near you. They'll be your best friend. (Though at first it may not seem like it.) They'll find happy homes for your precious memories. What they cannot sell, they'll arrange for charitable organizations to come pick up, and you can move on to the next chapter of your life. Happy downsizing!