Evaluating content for IHT

RAS

Definitely, watertight, empty or sparsely furnished if there's decent stuff, clean. You can make a "double bed" out of card boxes if need be, covered in bedding.

Don't bother redecorating. I'd planned to do a ceiling damaged by a plumbing leak and was advised otherwise.

Then get in estate agents to value. Even now, you'd be surprised.

Savvy_Sue

Also perhaps worth saying that our clearance company cleared in 2 stages: removed the clutter and half the furniture, leaving it 'staged' for viewing. From the estate agents photos, you wouldn't have known it was the same house.

It took a while to get from a very quick offer to exchange and completion, so it was then slightly unnerving to get a call saying "we can finish clearing on Monday, but we're then fully booked for 6 weeks." I made the right call ...

Lilio8

Savvy_Sue said:

Lilio8 said:

p00hsticks said:

If there is any doubt, perhaps see if you have a local auction house that could send someone out to have a look round and say if any of the items are putting up for auction ?

Will look for auction house/s .

Thank you for your reply.

Auction House is a sensible start, but be aware that although they'll give you a value for many things, they may not wish to sell everything. However, they may have a link to a good house clearance company, which may not be cheap but in our case was worth every single one of the vast multitude of pennies we paid them. 

Also, don't be tempted to do TOO much by way of decoration, and certainly don't rip out kitchens, bathrooms and windows. You're unlikely to recoup what you have to spend. Make it weather proof, secure, and clean, then sell it as a fixer-upper. Last time we had a valuation that was the advice: we could rip out kitchen etc (which definitely NEEDS replacing), but it might not be to the buyer's taste. Soe we might be thinking "new kitchen, increases value", and a buyer might be thinking "what have they done to this kitchen, that'll need to come out, decreases value". 

Thank you for all the above.

Lilio8

RAS said:

Definitely, watertight, empty or sparsely furnished if there's decent stuff, clean. You can make a "double bed" out of card boxes if need be, covered in bedding.

Don't bother redecorating. I'd planned to do a ceiling damaged by a plumbing leak and was advised otherwise.

Then get in estate agents to value. Even now, you'd be surprised.

Thank you.

Lilio8

Savvy_Sue said:

Also perhaps worth saying that our clearance company cleared in 2 stages: removed the clutter and half the furniture, leaving it 'staged' for viewing. From the estate agents photos, you wouldn't have known it was the same house.

It took a while to get from a very quick offer to exchange and completion, so it was then slightly unnerving to get a call saying "we can finish clearing on Monday, but we're then fully booked for 6 weeks." I made the right call ...

I see! Thanks, I'll bear that in mind.

waveneygnome

I've unfortunately done a few of these now...

It surprising how little the contents of a house (lifetimes belongings) are worth in cash terms.  As others suggested, unless anything super valuable £500-1000 for contents is fair.

My Step mother inherited from a neighbour/friend:  (despite our advice) she insisited everything was valued/sold properly/sent for the local auction house;  entire contents of 4 bedroom house;  1 month to organise/list; took 4 days to clear.  All sold at auction, rasied £2253.86....bill from auction house for their services £3150....loss to the Estate of just under a grand.

Step mother would have had more pleasure, less hassle & stress if she gave contents away to charity/free to local families in need.

Lilio8

waveneygnome said:

I've unfortunately done a few of these now...

It surprising how little the contents of a house (lifetimes belongings) are worth in cash terms.  As others suggested, unless anything super valuable £500-1000 for contents is fair.

... rasied £2253.86....bill from auction house for their services £3150....loss to the Estate of just under a grand....'

 Raised £2,252.86 and a  bill of £3150??? Gosh! I'll keep this too in mind.

Thank you for your reply.

Savvy_Sue

Lilio8 said:

waveneygnome said:

I've unfortunately done a few of these now...

It surprising how little the contents of a house (lifetimes belongings) are worth in cash terms.  As others suggested, unless anything super valuable £500-1000 for contents is fair.

... rasied £2253.86....bill from auction house for their services £3150....loss to the Estate of just under a grand....'

 Raised £2,252.86 and a  bill of £3150??? Gosh! I'll keep this too in mind.

Thank you for your reply.

Yes, in our case, the auction house took a few things to sell, but I don't think we made a profit. It does provide reassurance that you haven't got an Old Master over the mantelpiece, and in our case we knew that the 'best' bits of furniture (and an old army trunk ...) had gone on to a home where they'd be appreciated. 

theoretica

If they are modern (ie digital and not film) camera lenses MPB might be worth a try - you do need to type in all the details exactly and spend a bit of time working our what order they want them in, but they gave an immediate quote and relatively little hassle (reduced a few values a bit when I posted them in).  Anything they didn't want I figured was charity shop material.

tls123

Re your comment I asked the legal firm I’m with to no avail and your other thread have you managed to withdraw now from their services?