Case Study: Personal Property Assessment and Cleanout

Client: Family Estate

The Challenge

The rich history of this family and house started its story in 1955 when a young doctor and nurse got married and purchased a house on the Northside of Chicago. Over the next 65 years the home accumulated with 3 generations of mementos, filling the basement and cluttering the entire house.  While surely there was much to trash, the home was also filled with heirlooms, relics, 1970s prom photos, vintage bicycles, decades old medical journals, even a letter from the US army to a distant relative that received a purple heart medal of honor.  The property was an estate that was passed on to the children and which sat vacant for 3 years. The family was struggling with the overwhelming and emotional prospect of determining where and how to begin clearing out the home and getting it sold.

The Solution

In order to successfully market the home and maximize the sale price, we needed to ensure the property was being presented in the best possible light. Therefore, my team and I accepted the daunting task of overseeing and assisting in cleaning out all trash while meticulously sifting through the debris in order to salvage any family valuables and keepsakes.  During the initial inspection my team and I quickly assessed the entire house by measuring the all rooms and determined the total square footage. We then tallied the number of large items like file cabinets, appliances, furniture, mechanical's which would need additional man power and special disposal services. Next was identifying any items that could be salvaged and donated. Clothing would go to the Salvation Army, religious artifacts would go to a local church, books would go to local schools, and the remaining items we counted as personal family possessions that would go to the family. This all was necessary to help obtain accurate bids for dumpsters, laborers, and salvage bins. After we obtained a full set of bids for the entire clean out, we got approval from the sellers and had the green light to start the process. We estimated we would need full-time 5 laborers, 3 large dumpsters, it would take 5 full days. We were present each day to oversee the process and ensure everything was completed as quickly and carefully as possible. Within a week the home was completely cleaned out and ready for market. Our clients approved an aggressive strategy to list the property below market value in an attempt to create a highly competitive sale. With 1 week on the market, we received 13 offers and sold the property for $50K over list price.  Our clients were thrilled and we were delighted to have been given the opportunity.

Testimonial

 "The Parkvue team did an exceptional job. All aspects of the sale, from cleaning out 65 years of a family’s lifetime until closing on the sale, Anthony made the experience seem effortless. The outcome was amazing. Anthony adds a personal touch throughout and we are so grateful for all he did for us. We could not have done it without him!"