Selling a Loved One’s Belongings? Why DIY Is the Harder Route

When a loved one passes, the emotional weight of handling their estate can feel overwhelming. Amid grief and remembrance, you’re suddenly responsible for the daunting task of organizing, valuing, and selling their belongings. From furniture and jewelry to fine art and collectibles, deciding what to keep, donate, or sell is not only time-consuming—it’s emotionally and logistically exhausting.

For many, the first instinct is to try a do-it-yourself estate auction, thinking it will be simpler, more personal, and cost-effective. But this path often proves difficult. Luckily, there’s a better way to sell valuable estate items.

Why DIY Estate Auctions Are Harder Than They Seem

Taking on a do-it-yourself estate auction can feel empowering at first. After all, who knows your loved one’s possessions better than you? But soon, many families find themselves entangled in layers of logistical and emotional challenges:

1. Emotional Attachment Makes Objectivity Difficult

You may overvalue some items for sentimental reasons, or undervalue others in an effort to move on. Either way, emotional involvement clouds objective pricing and negotiation.

2. Lack of Experience with Valuations

Proper valuation is key in any estate sale. Without the knowledge of antiques, fine art, or collectibles markets, many families sell rare or valuable items for a fraction of their worth.

3. Time-Consuming Coordination

Planning a do it yourself estate auction involves:

Organizing and categorizing all items
Researching values
Coordinating signage, payment systems, and security
Managing unsold items and cleanup

4. Marketing Challenges

Without a professional network or targeted advertising, it’s hard to attract serious buyers, especially collectors who might pay premium prices.

5. No Access to a Global Audience

In contrast, a reputable online estate auction house reaches buyers across the nation—and often internationally—driving competition and final sale prices.

Estate Sale Companies: Is it Worth Working with a Professional Estate Auction House?

Without expertise in appraisals, pricing, marketing, and sales logistics, a do-it-yourself estate sale can be a path that proves more difficult, less profitable, and significantly more stressful.

Instead of enduring the trial-and-error of a do-it-yourself estate auction, families can turn to experts. With over 30 years of experience in estate sales, antique appraisals, and online estate auction services, Lion & Unicorn offers a full-service, compassionate, and knowledgeable approach that removes the burden from families, while maximizing the value of their inherited items. Lion & Unicorn handle every aspect of the estate sale process with professionalism and care.

DIY Estate Sales vs Estate Sale Companies: Which is Better?

Wondering what a DIY Estate Sale might entail? Here’s a breakdown of what is involved in a DIY estate sale versus services offered by Lion & Unicorn, an estate sales company.

Item Valuation: A DIY approach requires extensive research and guesswork. Lion & Unicorn offers certified appraisals from experienced professionals.

Marketing Reach: DIY sales are typically limited to your local area. Lion & Unicorn markets to a global network of serious collectors and bidders.

Photography and Listings: You must take your own photos and write item descriptions. Lion & Unicorn uses a professional studio to photograph and describe each item for maximum buyer appeal.

Storage and Transport: With a DIY estate sale, you handle all logistics yourself. Lion & Unicorn provides national pickup, secure transport, and storage of items.

Customer Service: DIY efforts can leave you dealing with buyers on your own. Lion & Unicorn offers compassionate, professional customer service every step of the way.

Auction Execution: DIY auctions often result in lower turnout and bids. Lion & Unicorn hosts live and online estate auctions that drive competitive pricing.

Emotional Strain: Handling a loved one’s estate yourself can be emotionally taxing. Lion & Unicorn’s team handles the heavy lifting—both literally and emotionally—so you can focus on what matters most.

Estate Sale Company Services

Lion & Unicorn offers a full suite of estate sale and liquidation services, including:

Certified appraisals and valuations
Inventory organization and cataloging
Professional photography and item descriptions
National pickup, packing, and transport
Secure storage and auction preparation
Marketing to curated collector audiences
Execution of live and online estate auctions
Post-sale settlement and documentation

Experts in Antiques, Art & Collectibles: Lion & Unicorn

The experts at Lion & Unicorn are specialists in:

Fine art and sculpture
Antique furniture and décor
Porcelain, glass, and ceramics
Coins, jewelry, and memorabilia

With decades of experience, the team ensures your family’s heirlooms are priced appropriately and sold to serious collectors.

Higher Returns with Less Stress: Estate Sale Companies

Professional auction houses like Lion & Unicorn often fetch higher prices for estate items than garage sales, Craigslist posts, or local classifieds. Why?

Their global network of collectors
Their ability to stage high-profile online estate auctions
Their skilled marketing and item presentation

As explained in their guide, The Auction Advantage, working with an auction house often leads to significantly better financial outcomes than a DIY effort.

Estate Sale Company: Support When You Need It Most

Lion & Unicorn understands that an estate sale is never just about selling objects—it’s about honoring a loved one’s life, finding closure, and protecting their legacy.

Their team offers:

Compassionate estate consultants
Transparent pricing and process explanations
Respectful handling of all items
Flexible services whether you’re downsizing, liquidating, or relocating

With offices in Palm Beach, Orlando, Miami, and Naples, and a main gallery and studio in Hollywood, FL, Lion & Unicorn provides local expertise with national reach.

Explore the Lion & Unicorn Estate Sales Consultants page for a closer look at their support services.

How To Do An Online Estate Sale

In addition to speaking with experts at Lion & Unicorn, families exploring and wanting to learn about the online estate auction world may find helpful general guidance at these reputable websites:

EstateSales.org: Offers national estate sale listings and education
EstateSales.net: Provides helpful resources on how estate sales work
Everything But The House (EBTH.com): Offers educational content on how online estate auctions operate
Invaluable.com: A global auction directory, showcasing how bidders participate online

These sites offer general information. For comprehensive and personalized service, contact Lion & Unicorn.

What to Do Next: Contact Lion & Unicorn

Selling your loved one’s belongings doesn’t have to be a burden. Whether you’re facing a full household, a collection of valuables, or a lifetime of memories, Lion & Unicorn can help guide you through a successful, dignified, and profitable estate sale.

Letting go is never easy. With Lion & Unicorn, you don’t have to go it alone.

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