Hiring an Estate Liquidator That's Right For You. Julie Hall

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      American Society of Estate Liquidators®

      Consumer Guide

      Hiring an Estate Liquidator That's Right For You

      by

      Julie Hall

      Copyright 2015 Julie Hall,

      All rights reserved.

      Published in eBook format by eBookIt.com

       http://www.eBookIt.com

      ISBN-13: 978-0-9892-5293-5

      ©2000-2015 The American Society of Estate Liquidators®. All content is the owned or licensed property of American Society of Estate Liquidators® and is protected by U.S. copyright and trademark laws. The compilation (meaning the collection, arrangement, and assembly) of all content in this eBook is the exclusive property of American Society of Estate Liquidators® and protected by U.S. copyright laws. American Society of Estate Liquidators® grants you permission to view and personally use content made available to you in this eBook. The reproduction, modification, distribution, transmission, republication, display, or performance, of this content is strictly forbidden.

      INTRODUCTION

      Many people are under the impression that an estate liquidator is someone who puts on glorified yard sales. Nothing could be further from the truth! Professional estate liquidators wear many hats on any given day with a common goal for their client as well as for themselves:

      •maximize sale proceeds,

      •lighten the burden of our client families, and

      •help the clients move forward.

      In the process of doing so, they must possess a great deal of knowledge to guide their clients along the way. They don't just organize and set up for a sale. They:

      •clean items that haven't seen the light of day in decades,

      •tirelessly research these items,

      •make calls to private buyers that will be interested in a particular item or collection,

      •figure out the best way to set up to maximize the sale,

      •price items appropriately,

      •coordinate sending high end items to proper selling venues,

      •coordinate all crews,

      •manage the clients, and the list goes on.

      Often the client is not aware of just how much back-breaking work and time is invested before the door ever opens for the estate sale. The liquidator takes 50, 60, 70 years of accumulation and sorts through it, researches it, cleans it, organizes it, and sells it within a week or so.

      HOW TO FIND ESTATE LIQUIDATORS

      American Society of Estate Liquidators® is the nation’s number one educational and resource organization for estate sale professionals. ASEL maintains a current, online database of our associates throughout the United States. Our associates have agreed to uphold our code of ethics agreement and have confirmed that they maintain required business licenses and permits in the city and state where they operate. They also provide professional references which are verified by ASEL.

      This is the best place to begin your search. Go to the ASEL home page www.ASELonline.com and click on Find a Liquidator. Search by zip code to find our member(s) in your area.

      Otherwise, start with who you know.

      1.Word of mouth. Do you know anyone who used this kind of service recently?

      2.Professional referrals: family attorney, estate planning or elder attorney, CPA, financial planner, realtors, assisted living facilities. Call and inquire who they recommend to handle their clients’ estates.

      3.Personal referrals from friends, neighbors, church/synagogue, other community organizations.

      4.Other professional organizations for estate sales professionals, such as the BBB or Angie's List, or if they are also personal property appraisers. Many organizations have a “Find a Member” page on their website, where you can search by your zip code or state. Membership in professional organizations demonstrates a level of seriousness, accountability, and credibility. Always follow up with the organization, however, to ensure the estate sale professional is actually a member in good standing.

      5.Did a loved one leave a recommendation or instruction to use a specific professional?

      6.You can also find liquidators on large websites such as EstateSales.net, EstateSales.org, and others. These are listing sites only and cannot vouch for the credibility or reputation of the liquidators. If you locate an individual or company, you must thoroughly research the company to ensure a good reputation.

      7.Yellow Pages, Google, etc. are also options. There is no guarantee that who you find is actually reputable. The burden of distinguishing the good from the less-than-stellar falls with you, the consumer.

      IMPORTANT TIP:

      NEVER choose a liquidator because their fees are less than another estate sale company. You MUST compare

      •Services,

      •Reputation,

      •Depth of experience,

      •Contract,

      •Skills, etc.

      and take ALL things into consideration before you make your decision.

      TIPS FOR MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICE

      Finding the best possible estate liquidator for you and your particular situation will bring you closure and peace of mind; he or she will ease a huge burden and allow you to move forward with your life. No words are enough to describe the genuine worth of an outstanding liquidator and what they can do for you.

      Your initial search has turned up a list of names and companies of estate liquidators. How do you research them and refine your list?

      •Check all references. Were these references satisfied? Do they recommend this liquidator reluctantly or enthusiastically? How do they describe the experience, the integrity and compassion of the liquidator, and the services?

      •Check all memberships. Do the organizations list this individual in their membership database? Are they a member in good standing?

      •Check their online presence. Do they have a solid website that provides beneficial information? Does it appear СКАЧАТЬ