Granny's Stuff

Estate Settlement Services

 

When it comes to settling an estate, navigating the process of dealing with both real estate and personal property can be overwhelming. Jennifer Davis offers a range of services to help you through this challenging time, ensuring everything is handled with professionalism, efficiency, and above all, kindness. Whether you need assistance with a traditional real estate sale, an estate sale, or an auction, Jennifer is here to guide you every step of the way.

 

Understanding the Difference: Personal vs. Real Property

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Real Property: Refers to immovable property, such as land, buildings, and anything attached to the land (e.g., a house or a commercial property). This is often the most valuable part of an estate and usually requires a formal process for sale.

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Personal Property: Includes movable items like furniture, clothing, jewelry, vehicles, and collectibles. Personal property can often be sold separately or alongside the real estate.

 

1. Real Estate Only: Traditional Sale Listed on the MLS

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If your primary focus is selling real estate, Jennifer offers comprehensive services for a traditional sale. This involves listing the property on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), which maximizes visibility to potential buyers. Here’s what you can expect from the process:

 

- **Initial Consultation**: Jennifer will meet with you to discuss your goals, review the property, and establish a pricing strategy based on the current market.

- **Marketing the Property**: Professional photography, staging, and listing the property on MLS and other online platforms.

- **Showings and Open Houses**: Coordination of property showings, open houses, and handling inquiries from potential buyers.

- **Negotiation and Closing**: Jennifer will negotiate on your behalf to get the best possible price and terms, then guide you through the closing process.

 

**Possible Fees**: Typically, real estate agent commissions range between 5% to 6% of the sale price, shared between the buyer’s and seller’s agents. Additional costs might include staging, repairs, and closing costs.

 

2. Real Estate and Personal Property: Listing and Estate Sale

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When an estate includes both real property and a significant amount of personal property, Jennifer offers a combined service that includes both the real estate listing and an estate sale. An estate sale is essentially a glorified yard sale where personal belongings are sold directly to the public.

 

- **Estate Sale Coordination**: Jennifer will organize and promote the estate sale, ensuring that personal items are priced and displayed appropriately for maximum return.

- **Partnerships with Nonprofits**: Unwanted items can be donated to local nonprofits, reducing the burden of dealing with leftover property.

- **Full Clean-Out Services**: After the estate sale, Jennifer and her team can provide a full clean-out service to prepare the property for sale, leaving it ready for listing.

 

**Possible Fees**: Estate sale services usually involve a percentage of the sales (commonly 20%-40%), and there may be additional fees for clean-out services.

 

3. Real Estate and Personal Property: Auction

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If you’re looking for a faster way to settle an estate, an auction can be a great option. Auctions allow you to sell both real estate and personal property in a single event, with the highest bidders winning the items. This approach can also be ideal when there are disagreements among the parties involved, as it provides a fair, transparent process where market forces determine the final sale prices.

 

- **Auction Setup**: Jennifer will coordinate the auction, ensuring that the property and items are properly cataloged, photographed, and marketed to potential buyers.

- **Auction Day**: The auctioneer will handle the bidding process, and Jennifer will be there to assist with any questions or concerns.

- **Post-Auction Services**: Once the auction is complete, Jennifer will handle the transfer of ownership and ensure that any remaining items are cleared out.

 

**Possible Fees**: Auction fees typically include a percentage of the final sale price (often 10%-20%) and additional auctioneer fees. There may also be costs for advertising and staging the auction.

 

 Pros and Cons of Each Type of Sale

 

Traditional Real Estate Sale - 

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  Pros: Maximum market exposure, potentially higher sale price, more control over the sale process.

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  Cons: Longer timeline, higher preparation costs (e.g., repairs and staging).

 

Real Estate and Estate Sale

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  - **Pros**: Consolidates the sale of personal and real property, less preparation required, opportunity to donate unsold items.

  - **Cons**: Estate sales can be time-consuming and may not yield high returns for all items.

 

Auction

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 Pros: Quick resolution, everything sold in one day, competitive bidding can drive prices higher, ideal for situations where parties involved don't get along and need a fair, neutral process.

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 Cons: Less control over final sale price, auction fees, may not attract as wide of an audience.

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Why Choose Jennifer?

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Jennifer Davis is committed to making the estate settlement process as seamless and stress-free as possible. With her experience, attention to detail, and compassionate approach, she ensures that you get the best outcome, whether you’re selling real property, personal property, or both. Contact Jennifer today to learn more about how she can assist you during this difficult time.

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