Facing a Life Transition

by Marie LeBlanc

Transitions Liquidation Services
Providing Customized Transitional Services

There comes a time in each of our lives, and the lives of our loved ones, when we are faced with making lifestyle choices. These transition points may be of our own choosing, such as downsizing to a retirement home, or forced on us by health issues, death of a loved one, or other related issues. During these times, we are faced with what to do with years of accumulated personal property that no longer physically fits in our new space, does not fit with our new lifestyle, or that needs to be liquidated to meet financial obligations. It is comforting to know there are professionals, such as Transitions Liquidation Services, who can assist in providing effective advice and services during what is often a stressful time.

There are many choices to be made when dealing with a life transition that includes a change in address:

• Who will determine the home's total content?
• Who will determine which items are of sentimental and/or monetary value and should be saved?
• Who will deal with disposal or liquidation of items that are no longer needed or wanted?
• Who will perform the actual sorting, disposal, or liquidation functions?

The answer to many of these questions depends a great deal on the circumstances surrounding the transition. In some cases the individuals involved in the transition are physically capable of completing these tasks, but there are other family or work obligations or geographical limitations which prevent them from effectively and efficiently doing so. In other cases, the circumstances forcing the transition, whether physical or emotional, prevent involved parties from making solid choices or being able to carry out the necessary tasks.

Just as there are many choices and decisions surrounding transitions, there are many options for dealing with these situations. These options include:

• Complete sale of all personal affects in the home to fixed, single price dealers.
• Placing various pieces with auction houses and/or consignment shops for liquidation.
• On-site property or estate sales.

In the case of the fixed, single price sale, a dealer will usually come to your home, look over the contents and offer a complete price for the entire lot. While this is the most painless and efficient method of clearing everything out, there is no way for the seller to know if there were, in fact, items of significant value in the home nor to feel truly comfortable that they have received the ãbest priceä for their personal property.

Placing pieces with auction houses and consignment shops allows the auction house or shop owner to likely achieve a very viable high market price for the items. However, this process takes a fair amount of time to complete the turnover of items to cash and large commissions are the norm resulting in less cash to the client. Also, this process would only apply to a limited number of items within most households. This leaves the seller in the position of needing to find other avenues of liquidating or disposing of the remaining household items.

On-site or estate sales can be completed by the family or by professionals focused on that business. Items are left in the home and tagged with sale prices. The home is normally opened to the public for set hours over a two day period while the sale is running. This option for liquidation can be emotionally and physically draining on family members and friends. In addition, most individuals are not in a position to make an educated determination on the appropriate price for pieces. Again, the seller is left in the position of needing to find other avenues of liquidating or disposing of the remaining household items.

Transitions Liquidation Services offers an appropriate level of comprehensive service to deal with the issues inherent in the process of earmarking items for liquidation and partially or completely emptying the home of personal property. We offer a free consultation with potential clients to determine the exact nature of their situation and jointly determine, with the client, which services best suit their needs.

Property Inventory

In some cases, the family, executor, or individual may simply need a comprehensive inventory of the items contained in the home along with basements, attics, garages, and other attached or detached storage areas.

High Value Items/Collections

If there are specific items or collections that the client feels are of significant value, we can arrange for an appraisal by a professional of Skinner auction house or other auctioneers. If these items are determined to be of a value more in line with an auction sale, we will make arrangements for those items to be sold through auction, netting the client the best market price. Auctions may be held through one of the auction houses or on eBay, which is a web-based on-line auction center, as appropriate.

Full Liquidation

If full liquidation is needed, we will completely arrange an on-site sale. This includes the arrangement and placing of items in an appropriate display, pricing and tagging all items, staffing the sale during all hours of operation, and collecting and tracking all monies. Once the sale is completed, the client has various options for disposal of any remaining items, including donations to charity (with possible tax deductions), trash disposal, and sales to secondary market dealers which would yield further cash. Most of these post-sale options are achieved through one or more of our partners.

For more information on liquidating the family homestead, individual pieces, or collections, call Marie LeBlanc at Transitions Liquidation Services at 617.513.0433. Providing estate and personal property liquidations to central Massachusetts and the greater Boston area.