Clearing out a loved one's home is often the hardest part of selling it, emotionally and physically. Knowing your options helps you choose the right approach for your family.
Start with family items
Before anything else, give family members time to choose keepsakes. Set a clear deadline and a simple system, like colored tags, so everyone knows what's spoken for. Look carefully for important papers, keys and valuables.
Option 1: Estate sale
An estate sale company prices, advertises and sells the contents, usually over a weekend, and takes a percentage. It can make sense when:
- There's furniture, collectibles or tools with real resale value
- The home is full and you want to offset costs
Ask what happens to items that don't sell, since some companies include cleanout and others don't.
Option 2: Cleanout or junk removal
A cleanout company removes everything for a fee. It's faster and simpler, especially when contents have limited resale value or time is short.
Option 3: Donate and do it yourself
Some families donate usable items and handle the rest themselves. It saves money but takes the most time and energy.
Check with the executor first
If the home is part of an estate, the executor typically has responsibility for the contents. Check with your attorney before selling or giving away items of value.
Timing with the sale
An empty, clean home photographs better and is easier to show. Many families finish the cleanout, do light repairs and then list.
Local vendors we trust
Southern Luxe Group can connect you with estate sale, cleanout and repair vendors in Austin, Round Rock, Georgetown, Cedar Park and Bryan–College Station. Get a no-pressure plan for the property or call Trina at (512) 629-9050.
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This article is general information, not legal advice. Please consult a Texas probate attorney about your situation.
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