Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is MOVING ON! Services?
MOVING ON! Services is a licensed, insured and bonded company. MOVING ON! professionals assist, sensitively and confidentially with the responsibilities and decisions related to the disposition of personal property. We provide resources and services to seniors and their families. MOVING ON! develops a customized services plan with service solutions and options based on each client’s unique needs. MOVING ON! implements and manages your selected options so you can proceed with your other responsibilities in a way that you can manage. We work with all other professional service providers: health care, attorney, accountant, real estate agent.
It makes good sense to have a professional service provider assist you – MOVING ON! First visits are always free.
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2. Why MOVING ON! Services?
Experience IS the difference! Licensed, Insured in Bonded~ since 1999! Years of working with seniors and their families has given us a rare insight into what works AND what doesn’t. People rarely have the time they would like to deal with their own everyday challenges, let alone the responsibilities and decisions for the disposal of an entire household. Families can be forever torn apart due to regrettable decisions made for all the right reasons at an emotional time. These decisions usually revolve around the household items and the personal property. We assist you to plan and/or manage the sale, shipping, donation or redecoration of household items and personal property.
It makes good sense to have a professional service provider assist you – MOVING ON! First visits are always free.
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3. When do I Need MOVING ON! Services?
You may want to make the decisions, but need the details taken care of. You may be located some distance from the home, making the required hands-on tasks even more difficult. Or, you are responsible for deciding which items have historical, family or monetary value, how to divide the items, how to be fair to all concerned, and most importantly, how to make the best decisions for both the short and long term.
It makes good sense to have a professional service provider assist you – MOVING ON! First visits are always free.
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4. What services Are Provided by MOVING ON! ?
MOVING ON! provides a Single Point of Contact for as much or as little that needs to be done – related to the disposition of household items and personal property. First consultations are always free. Our services include: Appraisals, Estate, Consignment, Auction Sales, Personal Shopping, Errands, Senior Move Specialists, Sort, Space Planning, Pack, Move, Unpack, Redecorate, Reorganize, Charitable Donations, Books & Bibles, Disposal of Surplus Possessions, Deep Cleaning, Organizing, Redecorating, Aging in Place
It makes good sense to have a professional service provider assist you – MOVING ON! First visits are always free.
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5. Can I find a single company for all my needs?
MOVING ON! Services provides a single point of contact for as much or as little as you need. We provide customized services and options to help you meet your goals in a responsible, timely way.
It makes good sense to have a professional service provider assist you – MOVING ON! First visits are always free.
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6. I’m responsible for out of town estate; where do I start?
MOVING ON! always suggests that you obtain guidance from a lawyer for all legal matters. We work with the legal representative and/or with your attorney, accountant, real estate – to inventory, photograph, sort, pack, sell, donate, recycle, bulk trash pickup to accomplish the complete cleanouts of the property.
It makes good sense to have a professional service provider assist you – MOVING ON! First visits are always free.
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7. Should I sell the house first?
Many people look at the house and contents that they have to sell, and decide to start with the house. It often makes sense to tackle the biggest single asset first, and it no doubt provides some satisfaction knowing that the house is “looked after.” Getting the house “listed” from having the personal property “looked after” can be an overwhelming task. There may be a number of problems: is the house too cluttered, need cleaning, painting, maintenance or repairs; are there valuable items that should be removed to prevent theft? Moving On! Services assists with as much or as little as you need.
It makes good sense to have a professional service provider assist you – MOVING ON! First visits are always free.
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8. Should I have an appraisal or a valuation?
Appraisals (for insurance and estate purposes) and valuations (fair market value) may help you from making tragic mistakes. Things have changed a lot in the past 30 years, and things we used to consider junk can have substantial value – and the reverse is also true! An appraisal is often used for insurance or probate purposes, or for the more valuable pieces. When household item values are modest, a fair market valuation may serve as a general guideline. However, if you are responsible for dividing the assets among heirs, an appraisal can be an excellent tool in helping to ensure fairness – verified by an independent 3rd party.
It makes good sense to have a professional service provider assist you – MOVING ON! First visits are always free.
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9. Does an appraiser value items high or low?
Different types of appraisals require different definitions of value. The most common are “Replacement Value” and “Liquidation Value” which represent the extremes for high and low. Often the appraiser establishes the “Fair Market Value” of the goods which typically fall between replacement and liquidation. When you are intending to use the item values for internal fairness in dividing the assets among heirs, the most important factor to consider is that all items are considered under the same appraisal approach.
It makes good sense to have a professional service provider assist you – MOVING ON! First visits are always free.
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10. Should I hold an estate sale?
An estate sale – can be an auction onsite and/or online; or, a tag sale onsite and/or online – is held today in a rapidly evolving “selling environment” Market values change daily requiring decisions as to what type of sale will benefit the seller. The types of sale include (1) ON-SITE IN-HOME brings a number of buyers into the home when payment and pickup are immediate (2) AUCTION ONSITE GALLERY selected personal property is delivered to one or more specialized auction galleries for bidding (3) ONLINE ESTATE SALE items remain in the home, items are photographed and listed at one or more websites, payment by credit card with appointments for pickup (4) AUCTIONS ONSITE / ONLINE / REAL-TIME onsite at the gallery or home, online on one or more websites, and/or real-time auction bidding. Each sale features a catalog for viewing during a period of time and requires payments by credit card, arrangement may be made for freight delivery, or specific location with appointments for pickup. Estate Sales require decisions as to permits, online advertising, research items to be appraised, kept, gifted, donated, or sold. All items to be consigned for sale must be clean, without soil, mold, water or holes, or other damage, The sales records consist of a computerized inventory of items, the selling price, the commission, and other specific information. Proceeds must be paid to the owner or before 30 days of the date of the sale.
It makes good sense to have a professional service provider assist you – MOVING ON! First visits are always free.
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11. How do I know if my household items or collections have value?
There are many collector books & web sites available for research. Many ordinary household and personal property items have increased in value, and some collectibles have decreased in value. Some items can be very valuable, many have a modest value; just because an item is old does not mean it has a high market value. But, the existence of a collection may be a tip that there may be other significant items that require close attention during the sorting process.
It makes good sense to have a professional service provider assist you – MOVING ON! First visits are always free.
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12. How do I sell a mixture of household assets?
When there are many different types of household items and personal property all mixed together, the task can be overwhelming. The services may require specialized appraisers and significant sorting, inventorying and cleaning. If there is a lot of clutter, it can mean valuable items are hard to see, and may be in danger of being mistaken for trash and thrown away. The market has changed significantly; things we used to consider junk can have substantial value, certain antiques and collectibles may have decreased in value.
It makes good sense to have a professional service provider assist you – MOVING ON! First visits are always free.
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13. When is the best time to sell household items and personal property?
Generally household items and personal property can be sold anytime during the year. Sometimes people delay because of being overwhelmed with the tasks and don’t know what to do first, let alone – next. They may not be aware of how to achieve the best way disposition to pack to keep, sell, donate, recycle or throw away.
It makes good sense to have a professional service provider assist you – MOVING ON! First visits are always free.
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14. I have personal property in multiple locations; How should I proceed?
Personal property located in multiple locations can need very complex detail management. MOVING ON! can be a single point of contact which helps simplify a myriad of details, while helping bring focus and priority. Most people are busy already. Being forced to deal with many service providers simply because the properties are distant from each other, adds to the complexity. Our goal is to help you through the process.
It makes good sense to have a professional service provider assist you – MOVING ON! First visits are always free.
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15. The Will says sell everything, split the proceeds among four of us. I would like to keep some of the items. What can I do?
If the Will says to liquidate the items, and you each would like to keep some of them, there may be various ways to accomplish both. We always suggest that you first contact your attorney. Generally, you should compile an inventory of all items, then have a fair market appraisal so that all item values are determined under the same approach, this allows for internal fairness in dividing the assets among heirs.
It makes good sense to have a professional service provider assist you – MOVING ON! First visits are always free.
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16. Should I clean up the house first?
The natural instinct of most people is to clean the home up first. And if you are very comfortable with today’s personal property values, you may be safe. However, the past 30 years has shown growing value in what we once called junk. You will want to be sure that items of historical, collectible, monetary or emotional value don’t get tossed out by mistake.
It makes good sense to have a professional service provider assist you – MOVING ON! First visits are always free.
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17. What if I have an estate with heirs who are fighting?
MOVING ON! always recommends that you consult with a lawyer for all legal matters. MOVING ON! can assist with an fair market appraisal or valuation of the household and personal property items, develop and implement a customized liquidation plan, then share that strategy with the lawyer, or, all the heirs at the same time. This process may build trust and provide a setting where they can ask questions and get answers.
It makes good sense to have a professional service provider assist you – MOVING ON! First visits are always free.
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18. How are items sold at auction?
An Auction can be the solution when what the auctioneer typically sells is the same as the quality and value of your household and personal property, and, who has a following of buyers for that quality or type of property. It is to your benefit to have the correct auction house selected for the property to be sold that also advertises to create significant interest. At the end of the day, you have all of the items sold, and disposed of.
Subject to confirmation means that the item offered for sale is sold only if the seller accepts the best bid offered. Subject to reserve means that the item is not sold below the reserved price as agreed by both the seller and the auctioneer. Many auction houses do not accept items with reserves. Absolute auction means that the items offered will be sold to the highest bidder, on the day of the auction, regardless of price. This situation provides the most opportunity for a buyer, typically encourages the most competition, and sometimes the highest price.
It makes good sense to have a professional service provider assist you – MOVING ON! First visits are always free.
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19. What is physical depreciation?
Physical depreciation is when an item suffers loss in value usually due to damage, wear or use. Just because something is old, does not make an item valuable. An excellent or very good condition may have a higher value despite being used.
It makes good sense to have a professional service provider assist you – MOVING ON! First visits are always free.
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20. What is the fastest way to sell household items and personal property?
The fastest way to sell the entire estate in a short amount of time is to secure the services an auctioneer or estate liquidation dealer/buyer who will buy the entire offering. There should be care taken to select the correct auctioneer for generating the best net result. Estate buyers typically buy at extreme discounts; by buying everything they are assuming some risk, and are probably buying a lot of things they don’t really want.
It makes good sense to have a professional service provider assist you – MOVING ON! First visits are always free.
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21. Will a local charity come and pick up estate items?
Yes, although many are very selective – if the items cannot be re-sold through their thrift store, then they will refuse the item. If items are broken, torn, dirty, chipped or unusable, they will refuse to take the items. It is important to know which charities are active in your area, and what causes are consistent with your wishes. Many items have changed in value over the past 30 years, and all items you intend to dispose of should be considered with this in mind. Average clothes from an average house may be just what a organization for the homeless could make use of, but designer clothing can have value and could be sold. If the estate has been untouched for many years, there may be valuable items that are not obvious.
IRS regulations may have changed regarding the amount you may deduct for a charitable contribution. www.irs.gov
It makes good sense to have a professional service provider assist you – MOVING ON! First visits are always free.
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22. We’re downsizing; What do I do first?
First decide what you want to keep and use in your new home. Then, consider giving your children, relatives and friends those items that may have a family history, are unique or have emotional meaning. Typically the household has a mixture of valuable and not so valuable items. Moving On! identifies what may be of historical, collectible significance before you give, sell or donate. Many items have changed in value over the past 30 years, and should be considered with this in mind. If the personal property has accumulated for many years, there may be items with value that are not obvious.
It makes good sense to have a professional service provider assist you – MOVING ON! First visits are always free.
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23. Can MOVING ON! Redecorate with cherished items in my new home?
Yes, re-decoration is a popular service offered by MOVING ON! We first assist with space planning and selecting the items that you wish to have in your new home. The smaller items can be mixed in to create just the ambiance you want.
It makes good sense to have a professional service provider assist you – MOVING ON! First visits are always free.
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24. Will MOVING ON! just help me plan?
Yes, MOVING ON! is pleased to assist in the way that makes it easier for you to manage your unique situation. We do as much or as little as you need.
It makes good sense to have a professional service provider assist you – MOVING ON! First visits are always free.
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- Moving On! Services LLC
- Licensed, Insured and Bonded ~ Since 1999
- movingonservices@yahoo.com tel: (757) 393-1622
