Appraisal Services vs. Estate Sale Services:
What’s the Difference?
If you have a home full of items and you’re not sure what to do next, you’ve probably come across two different terms: appraisal services and estate sale services. They sound similar, but they solve two very different problems. Here’s what each one actually is, what you can expect and how to know which one fits your situation.
What Is an Appraisal Service?
An appraisal is for when you want to know what something is worth; nothing more, nothing less.
What you receive: An appraisal gives you a detailed, professional report. Every item is listed individually, along with a description and the value assigned to it. Think of it as a guide you can use to decide what to do next, whether that’s keeping, gifting, or selling.
What an appraisal visit looks like: When we come to your home for an appraisal we:
- Photograph each item
- Measure items as needed
- Inspect the condition of each piece
- Document everything for your report
Why people request an appraisal:
- They’re keeping an item and want to know its value
- They’re gifting something and want to make sure the value is fair among family members
- They’re trying to decide whether to keep or let go of a piece
- They’re simply curious about what they have
What Is an Estate Sale?
An estate sale is for when you’ve decided you want to sell, regardless of value.
What you receive: Unlike an appraisal, an estate sale doesn’t come with a detailed, item-by-item report. It’s handled on a broader scale, a full-scale home liquidation that includes not just the valuable pieces, but everyday items too: dishes, pots and pans, cleaning supplies and everything in between.
What to expect: Estate sales are a complete liquidation of the home’s contents. We’ve written a full breakdown of what that process looks like; you can check it out [here].
Why people choose an estate sale:
- They want to sell items, regardless of what they’re worth
- They have too many items and need to offload them
- They’re working with a limited timeframe
- They’re moving
- The home has been sold
- They’re not concerned with individual item values, the goal is simply to sell
- They inherited a property
- Someone has passed away
So Which One Do You Need?
If your goal is to understand value, start with an appraisal. If your goal is to sell everything and move forward, an estate sale is the right fit. And if you’re not sure yet, that’s okay too; many of our clients start with one and end up needing the other.
Not sure where to start? Give us a call at 248-955-3082, or free consultation and we’ll help you figure out the best path forward.
