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Hella M. Rothwell, Broker/Realtor®, Rothwell Realty Inc. CA#01968433 Carmel-by-the-Sea

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Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

     Put the furniture and the good stuff at the end of the driveway, with a sign that says "Free - Take It".   

       We did this when we sold our Tallahassee house; a few pieces of furniture and a few boxes of stuff every day over a couple of weeks.  One lady was putting a queen-size bed frame into her SUV; I invited her inside and showed her a dresser and some other odds and ends.  She came back with a friend and a pickup truck, and took it all.   

May 16, 2021 05:16 PM
Rainmaker
911,328
Jeff Pearl
RE/MAX Distinctive / LIC in VA - Lovettsville, VA
Full Service Full Time Realtor

Yes. I sell it, auction it, give it away, or throw it away. I even set stuff on street with a " FREE " sign. people stop and take it. I also will put stuff into storage. Right now I'm filling a 10 x 15 storage unit for a lady. She already has a 10x20 that I filled to capacity in Frederick MD, and a 20 x 20 3/4 filled in Gaithersburg MD. I've also brought in furniture dealers who buy stuff to resell in their shops.

May 16, 2021 05:11 PM
Rainmaker
4,456,477
Endre Barath, Jr.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Beverly Hills, CA
Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002

I offer to give them people who can help them down size... I do not help them per se.... I have a hard time to get rid of stuff myself:)Endre

May 16, 2021 11:45 PM
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Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

I always help by facilitation and recommending resources.  Ultimately it is the seller's decision.  Most of what I deal with ends up being a "trash out."

If there are valuable items, we call in an auction company.  

May 16, 2021 06:42 PM
Ambassador
3,125,663
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
St. George Utah Area Residential Sales Agent

Call a local consignment shop or donate it to a church.

May 16, 2021 07:04 PM
Rainmaker
1,311,397
John Juarez
The Medford Real Estate Team - Fremont, CA
ePRO, SRES, GRI, PMN

We have aided sellers get rid of unwanted personal belongs. We have our people make numerous "dump runs" if necessary and if there is no other way to clear the house of "stuff". Sellers pay for dump fees and the time of our people who do the work just as they would for painting, new flooring, new counter tops, etc.

We have also utilized a service that holds garage sales with the proceeds going to a charity.

May 16, 2021 05:45 PM
Rainmaker
4,572,117
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Get involved?  Well, facilitate - yes, I have.    Actually doing - no(or more honestly rarely).  

May 17, 2021 03:52 AM
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Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Sometimes for an estate sale, we hire a crew and a huge dumpster.

Good things go out onto the lawn for the afternoon with a notice posted on fb of free stuff.

At the end of the day whatever is left over goes into the dumpster.

Labor is far too expensive to try to sell any of this stuff.

 

May 17, 2021 02:51 AM
Rainmaker
805,799
Steve Higgins
RE/MAX Kelowna - Kelowna, BC

Yes I have when ever asked to help. We bought a hot tub from one of my clients as the buyers didn't want it, my client was worried about getting it sold before possession. 

May 16, 2021 06:27 PM
Rainer
427,257
J.R. Schloemer
Kentucky Select Properties - Louisville, KY

I was helping an agent in the office one time. She had both sides of the sale and was paying me pretty well to attend the closing and the walk-through with the buyers. We looked in the attic above the additional garage and it was full of belongings. The buyers wanted it gone and the seller's son was less than cooperative. I strapped on my big boy pants and got the thing cleared out ASAP so the closing would go off without a hitch the next day.

May 16, 2021 05:52 PM
Rainmaker
5,216,398
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

I would provide sources to remove things that they could personally use and organizations who would remove it for free and for  fee. Actual physical participation, no.

May 17, 2021 04:15 AM
Rainmaker
851,242
Brenda Mayette
Miranda Real Estate Group, Inc. - Glenville, NY
Getting results w/ knowledge & know-how!

I share contact information of resources that could potentially help.  

May 17, 2021 04:12 AM
Rainmaker
1,502,998
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

Garage sales have been "outlawed" here too... but I've seen at least 2-3 a month in my neighborhood alone.  I doubt anyone even knows (heck, I didn't even know until almost a year into it when I was looking up open houses the last time our tier Lord Newsom allowed us a taste of our former freedoms).

 

I'd recommend to them to do a garage sale (if they're allowed and they're willing to do it), call all the donation places (sadly out here they are SUPER PICKY so they probably won't take anything), contact churches/homeless shelters/etc. and then sell the house in it's condition and price it accordingly.  If the seller is willing to spend money, then I'll hook them up with contacts for people who can do the cleanout and who to call for a dumpster.

May 17, 2021 09:25 AM
Rainmaker
7,836,129
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

No. We can recommend those who provide the services.

May 17, 2021 08:27 AM
Rainmaker
5,868,482
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

I have a couple estate sale companies I share with the sellers, and if they need additional help I will try.

May 17, 2021 06:01 AM
Rainmaker
1,844,271
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

This is the first time you've had this problem? I would have thought that you would have had plans for this years ago. There are senior planners to help with this also. Organizers will do this also. 

Most people just don't want to pay for help. They don't want to do it, kids don't want to do it ?????

May 17, 2021 05:29 AM
Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

Mission one is to declutter. If the owner heeds the adise and wants the stuff to diaappear. I make it dissappear.
The only true problem is two fold.
#1. The stuff has real vaue. In this case direct the seller to store the stuff until it can be ligqudated in a controlled fashion. Often, if of HIGH value consingments shops can prove helpful. They are as much work as have a estate sale.  In my area, the last 3 people who show up at a garage sale will offer to buy the whole lot.
#2. The relatives and nosey neighbors are not trustworthy. Same solution. Put in storage.
Do I  get involved? As much as needed.

May 17, 2021 04:53 AM
Rainmaker
5,104,931
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

I have not needed to do that to-date. Once I provide a list of to-do's to my clients, I've found they do what I've told them to do. If they still need more help, I provide resources they can use.

May 17, 2021 04:20 AM
Rainmaker
2,241,022
Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573
MOOERS REALTY - Houlton, ME
Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker

The agent or broker does whatever needed to get the house listing SOLD. Had one lake home with new furniture that two days before the closing the buyer decides "leave only the appliances please". Move the rest or lose the sale.

The seller came up, took very few items and wanted none of the rest. Rented a Uhaul, loaded it up and just in time for the closing. Filled my garage with the household contents and gave them away to people who needed them. Tried Catholic Charities and the Salvation Army but neither could empty the place that quickly to preserve the sale.

May 17, 2021 03:13 AM
Rainer
509,449
Susie Kay
Ultra Real Estate Dallas Fort Worth - Plano, TX
North Dallas Specialist

I usually give them suggestions or give a list of names of people who can assist.  However, sometimes I ended up rolling my sleeves.

May 17, 2021 05:53 PM
Rainmaker
1,196,798
Doug Dawes
Keller Williams Evolution - 447 Boston Street, Suite #5, Topsfield, MA - Topsfield, MA
Your Personal Realtor®

I have someone on my team of vendors who will assist downsizers. Their biz has a consignment and they also provide staging

May 17, 2021 12:15 PM
Rainmaker
2,781,163
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

I will get involved if I choose aznd if I am asked...I like to give away thinngs

May 17, 2021 05:52 AM
Ambassador
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Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Estate sale.  I only refer people to them and they all know how to take it from there.

May 17, 2021 03:42 PM
Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Hella,

Some off our clients do, and so do not.  It really depends on the situation.  I have put out my own stuff "free" like Fred Griffin Tallahassee Real Estate mentioned, and recently gave my office chair to my housekeeper...A

May 17, 2021 01:31 PM
Rainmaker
1,711,988
Beth Atalay
Cam Realty and Property Management - Clermont, FL
Cam Realty of Clermont FL

I do my absolute best to stay out of it. I will make recommendations, that's about it. The only time I got involved heavily was when I sold a historic home filled with stuff from 1920's. I hope that was the last one!

May 17, 2021 04:11 PM
Rainmaker
4,936,605
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

I have to say Yes to this to help them out.

 

May 17, 2021 02:49 PM
Ambassador
3,164,269
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

I try to avoid it, but I have and I'm sure I will again.

May 17, 2021 01:41 PM
Rainmaker
901,535
Carla Freund
Keller Williams Preferred Realty - Raleigh, NC
NC Real Estate Transition & Relocation 919-602-848

Sometimes it is necessary. I would usually refer them to people who can take away their stuff. I have a new listing coming up that I will have to be more involved with than usual since it is for an elderly lady who has already moved away. She no longer has family in the area. 

May 18, 2021 06:01 AM
Rainer
135,724
Jerrill Ewing
N & J Lake Properties, LLC - Eatonton, GA
Builder

builder, so never ran into that.

May 17, 2021 06:15 PM
Rainmaker
1,422,278
Jeff Masich-Scottsdale AZ Associate Broker,MBA,GRI
HomeSmart Real Estate - Scottsdale, AZ
Arizona Homes and Land Group/ Buy or Sell

I give clients suggestions: 

garage sale

consignment stores

give away/donate

Have the family take it

throw away/bulk pick up (it often magically disappears while at the curb)

Put it in a "POD" and store offsite

.....Last resort

put in all in the garage and throw white sheets over it all!

 

Jeff 😎

May 18, 2021 07:08 PM
Rainmaker
256,975
Melanie Cameron
Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage - Wilmington, NC
The Cameron Team

I offer a complimentary staging consultation which helps motivate sellers by giving them direction. I also provide names of companies/people that can help them declutter, move keepers to storage, and get rid of what they don't want. Sometimes I send an email out to my office if the seller wants to sell a few furniture items. It's a good way to reach people who may need to furnish a new home or rental. A few times, I've helped clear out some last minute things they didn't realize were still there (seller is from out of town). But, for the most part, it's up to the seller how motivated they are to sell.

May 18, 2021 05:06 AM
Rainmaker
1,543,634
Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® e-Pro CRS RCS-D Vets
Big Block Realty 858.232.8722 - La Jolla, CA
CEO of Vision Drive Realty - Coastal San Diego

Yes.

I give them the contact info to my favorite estate sales person, charity and trash hauler. 

May 17, 2021 08:19 PM