Facing a Life Transition
by Marie LeBlanc
Transitions Liquidation Services
Providing customized personal property liquidation 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.
