How to resolve estate liquidation conflicts…

The following suggestions for resolving estate liquidation conflicts is in no way an attempt to replace sound legal advice, but is offered as an additional estate liquidation resource.

Everything, all decisions about the estate - from what to do with the house, financial instruments, and personal property is about the answers to the following questions. What did the the decedent want and in the case of someone who has past away without a will, what would the decedent have wanted?

As an executor you are in a rare position, a position of trust, a position of acting on the will and authority of another person.

This post is meant to give some guidelines for how to resolve some of the conflicts that may arise between you as the executor and other heirs in relation to the decedents personal property.

A simple executor guide to resolve estate liquidation conflicts should they occur.

1. Read the will and make notes.
2. Meet with your attorney, and let them know that you are going to have a family meeting.
3. Before the family meeting, compose a letter for each of the heirs asking them to write down 4 principals that they remember as being important to the decedent.
4. Ask them to bring their list with them to the family meeting.
5. After everyone has read their list, establish and remark about any common ground.
6. It is likely that there will be some commonality and agreement on what were the principals of the decedent.
7. As the discussion unfolds about what to do with the personal affects of the estate, refer as much as possible to the agreed upon principals of the decedent.
8. One way to prevent a free for all atmosphere is to ask each heir to use the following question as a guide for choosing items from the estate: What’s important to keep and what’s OK to let go of?
9. Decide if the decedents principals can be aligned with what ever liquidations options are available to the family.
10. Your choices for what to do with the remaining personal property are fairly clear, and are narrowed by the geographical area where the estate resides and the temperament of the family - guided by the decedents principals, and are as follows: Estate Sale, Auction, Charity.

For a list of questions to ask an estate liquidator go here, and for a growing list of estate liquidation companies in your area go here.

My name is Martin Codina and I am an estate liquidator who cares…

Back to Fine Estate Liquidation, Inc.

For More Estate Liquidation Information go to:

Estate-Liquidation-Information.com

Estate Liquidation Companies In 10 Cities

I get a lot of emails and phone calls from people who want me to refer a local estate liquidation company to them. So I created a list of estate liquidation companies located in the top 10 urban population centers of America.

I will be updating to this list from time to time, so I suggest you bookmark the page for future reference.

I have not checked with all of them. I have not sorted through their references - I leave that to you. Here is a list of estate liquidations questions you might want to ask them.

Originally I created this list as a resource for people who were looking for local estate liquidators, but it also occurs to me that people traveling across the country may want to go to local estate sales in different states.

I hope you find this list helpful. If you know of a good local estate liquidation company that you would like to suggest for this list, please do so by sending me their info, via a comment to this post.

There is no cost. It is complimentary.

Upcoming Sale

Estate Sale

610 Clipper St. #4 San Francisco

Sat. Feb. 16 and Sun. Feb. 17
10:00am – 5:00pm

3 Persian rugs, Antique tiger oak serpentine breakfront, Regulator wall clock, Victorian mantle clock, Large tree panel Japanese woodblock print, Water buffalo horns, Vintage reverse glass painted shade with original bronze base, Vintage wicker side or what-not table, Maxfield Parrish print with original blue and gilt frame, Antique oak dinning table with 6 oak press-back chairs – original finish to table, Spoolwork clerk’s or students desk, Large tabletop pieces of pink or red coral, Heart shaped white coral, Antique carved church pew, Many collectibles, Books, TV, Stereo, Tools, Kitchen, Trunk…and more.

Two Items of Special Interest:

1.) Painting By Snowflake: Here is a brief Bio excerpted from an email sent to me by the executor.

Snowflake was part of a group of very talented post-hippie-era gays who spent much time at the Ambush, which was far more of a cultural institution than it was a bar. They had art exhibits openings every two weeks. Chuck Arnett, who I referred to in my email to Gayle, was another regular and his gay leather mural at the old Tool Box appeared in Life magazine’s Gay in America special issue back in 1964 (I believe), and has become an icon.

Snowflake was the most artistic of the crew. He was also the consummate showman. His openings were always an event. One time he came dressed as Toulouse-Lautrec with top hat and monocle, and shuffled around on his knees all evening.

Descriptions of this painting:

Name Rainbow Cash Register:

The Ambush had a transom window over the door that the afternoon sun came thru’, & someone hung a crystal in that window. As time passed, other people added crystals, then it became a bigger deal, & someone built a frame to hold all of the hanging crystals, & then the frame was moved in front of the transom throughout the year so that the crystals always caught the sunlight. Jim said that when you stepped into the pitch black establishment (don’t know if the interior was painted black [YES], or just seemed that dark after coming in from the daylight), the bar would be bathed in rainbows from the sunlight hitting the crystals — hence the Snowflake painting ‘Rainbow Cash Register’ (can’t remember if that’s its ‘official’ name, or just what we call it). Jim said that from the place where Snowflake sat at the bar, that’s the view he would have had of the cash register, etc.

2.) Gay Viet-Nam Protest Poster – Protesting the Mai Lai massacre.
http://www.finesf.com/

Upcoming Sale

FINE ESTATE LIQUIDATION INC.

Awesome Estate Sale This Weekend!!!

Fri. Feb. 1 – Sun. Feb. 3

10:00am – 5:00pm

2944 Scott St. (at Union) San Francisco, Ca.

Sterling, Lenox China, Good Glassware, Antique Dragon Scroll, Series of six Yaacov Agam Prints, Other artwork , Yamaha studio upright piano (black lacquer), Two Bronzes, Many collectables – Nic-Nack – Figurines – Teddy Bears - Pillows, Furniture, Danish Modern Drop-leaf Table, Maguire Style Chairs, Almost New Queen Bed, Nice Lamps, Many Books, LP’s, Bedroom Furniture, Kitchen Galore, Huge Chalk Board, Great Woman’s Clothing (size 6-10 and shoes size 5 ½ – 6 ½) Guys Clothing size 40 reg., Nice Camping Equipment – Some Fishing, Tools, and Basement…

Upcoming Sale

This Sale is taking Place This Weekend!!!!

Estate Sale

1626 Diamond St. SF, Ca.

Fri. Jan 18 – Sun. Jan. 20

10 am – 5 pm (note new opening time)

Some China, Antique Carved Bookcase w/ glass doors, George Jensen Sterling Flatware (Block or Arcadia Pattern) 3×5 Silk Prayer Rug, Other Knotted Rugs, Cobalt Glass, Furniture –Some Antique, Old Andirons – One Pair Of Which Is In The Shape Of A Ships Anchor, Collectibles, 2 Ten Speed Bikes – Free Spirit FS19 and Motobecane Mirage Made In France, Ben Hogan Gulf Clubs, Christmas Stuff, Train Set, Horn, Stereo and 2 TV’s, Murano, Shabby Chic, Records, Books, Tools, Kitchen and much more…small house that is packed…

Website: www.finesf.com

How would you like to find these at an Estate Sale?

Majolica: £87,000

Scrimshaw Carving Set: £33,000

Brass Salts: £66,000

Omega Watch: £33,800

Tin Litho Micky Mouse: £51,000

Fine Estate Liquidation Inc.
Martin Codina

Is my record worth money…?

Well some are…but not many.

Antique roadshow spoof…with a few gems…

Martin Codina

Estate Sale

Awesome Estate Sale!!!

This is one of the nicest ones we have done this year…

Fri. Oct 12 - Sun. Oct.14

64 Grand View
San Francisco
9:00am - 5:00pm

2 sets of Sterling Flatware, Other Flatware - some sterling hollow ware, 3 Vintage Plated Tea Sets, Baby Grand Piano, Prints, Antique Furniture, Limoge China – other china, Pier Mirror, Books, Bedroom and Dinning Room Furniture, Pottery, Baccarat Crystal Stemware, Much Vintage Linen, Vintage Clothing, Nicely Carved Camphor Chest, Lamps, Furs, Rug, Collectibles – House Is Packed

This is an unpicked through 40 year accumulation of personal property – no items have been added to this estate…

Website: www.finesf.com

Estate Sale

Fri. Sep 7, Sat. Sep 8, Sun. Sep 9
9:00am-5:00pm
176 Merced Ave.
San Francisco, Ca.

3 Clocks, 1940’s Dinning Set w/ six chairs, 2 Lay-z- Boys, China, Art, Large Bronze by Emile Laporte, 18 pieces of California, Glass, Prints, Persian Runner, LP’s, Collectibles, China Cabinet, Bedroom Set – other furniture, Collection of S.F. Shriners Memorabilia, Pool Table, Kitchen, Garage…

Free advice from an Estate Liquidation Professional.

If you need a lawyer you hire an attorney.
If you are sick you hire a doctor.
If you want to sell your house you hire a realtor.

But if you inherit personal property you think you can do you own estate sale, or worse, out think a bunch of dealers who buy and sell estates, antiques and collectibles everyday.

Here is a story.

A woman goes to an antique fair somewhere in California. She has a picture of a table that she shows a dealer. The dealer makes an arraignment with this woman to meet her later in the evening.

He buys the table. He likes the table, but he does not know precisely how valuable it is. He starts asking around. One of the major auction houses likes the table too; they thought that the table was worth several hundred thousand dollars. He does some more checking with another major auction house. This auction house likes the table too; they think the table is worth even more than the first auction house.

The dealer goes with the second auction house where the table sells for more than $1,000,000.00

Morals of the story:

1. If you are a person who has inherited personal property, hire a professional to look out for your interest, rather than their own.
2. If you are a dealer or an estate liquidator – help your clients – take their interest into account. Having a success like the one above, but on behalf of your client rather than yourself will establish you firmly as a leader, and a trusted go to person in the estate liquidation community.

Ways to avoid the above:

1. Call 3 estate liquidators.
2. Ask them for references.
3. Check their references.
4. Do not shop for their services by fee alone.
5. Each estate liquidator will give you free advice: write their advice down.
6. If you decide to do your own sale; follow some of the advice that you were given.
7. Don’t pre-sell your best stuff to dealers; combine those items into your sale; it will make your sale much more interesting.

Here is a handy list of estate liquidation questions.