![]() ![]() Television programs like “Antiques Roadshow” have trained people to think that many basements and attics contain valuable treasures. “Your stuff is worth a fraction of what you imagine.” And if there’s time, insiders say, owners should attend some estate sales run by any potential hires before committing.Ģ. Websites like Angie’s List and Yelp can provide additional insight, although the former charges members a fee. But some basic research can turn up red flags, Hall says: Do a Google search on the name of the liquidator you’re considering hiring, check with the local Better Business Bureau for reviews, and ask for references and relevant education. So how can consumers find a reputable seller amid all the dabblers? There’s no regulatory body that oversees the estate liquidation industry and no central repository for complaints. Anyone can set up shop as an estate seller, and plenty of folks who lost their jobs in the recession did just that, she notes. But most liquidators have no formal training, Hall says. Members of that organization must meet certain education or experience requirements and abide by a code of ethics. There are roughly 14,000 estate liquidators in the country, according to Julie Hall, an appraiser and estate expert in Charlotte, N.C., and the executive director of the American Society of Estate Liquidators. households), emptying one out isn’t easily accomplished alone.Įnter the estate liquidator. And since the average American home spans some 2,500 square feet (not counting the storage lockers rented by one in 10 U.S. But plenty of other people can find themselves in need of help dumping property - whether they are struggling to fit recently inherited antiques into a tiny apartment, liquidating assets as part of a divorce settlement, staving off creditors, or simply moving across country for a new job. With about 10,000 Americans turning 65 each day, boomers account for many of the downsizers. The liquidation business is driven by the four d’s: downsizing, death, divorce and debt. What to watch out for when it’s time to clear out a home ![]()
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