Handling the belongings of a loved one after they pass—or even preparing for a major life transition like downsizing—can feel overwhelming. It’s not just the emotions involved; it’s the sheer volume of decisions that need to be made. Where do you begin when a home is full of furniture, memories, and years of collected items? What if there’s also a storage unit—or in one recent case, an entire garage full of transferred storage—added to the mix?
These are the moments when having the right team can make all the difference.
Not long ago, a client reached out after the passing of a close friend. They had been entrusted with settling the estate, which included a fully furnished condo and a storage unit’s worth of items now stacked in the garage. “We were overwhelmed with the contents of her home and a storage unit and were at a loss as how to proceed,” they shared.
Within 24 hours of their call, REALTOR®/Auctioneer Frantz Merceron and I were onsite evaluating the situation. With HOA rules prohibiting a traditional tag sale, Frantz proposed a full-service online auction. What followed was a carefully executed process that provided both structure and results. Frantz cataloged 347 lots—each one thoughtfully grouped, photographed, and listed. Every single lot received bids, leading to a final outcome that far exceeded expectations: 181 registered bidders, with 63 ultimately winning and claiming items.
But the support didn’t stop there.
Once payment was complete, we scheduled and facilitated a buyer pick-up day, ensuring everything was removed efficiently and respectfully. With the condo finally cleared out and cleaned, Frantz then listed the property for sale on the MLS, taking the estate from full to finalized with as little stress as possible for the client.
“When it was over, we had eliminated almost all the items and it was all overseen by Kaufman Realty with little to no involvement on our part,” the client said. “We found Frantz to be a caring and professional in every aspect of the process… We couldn’t have done this without them.”
At Kaufman Realty & Auctions, this is what we strive for. Whether you’re facing an estate settlement, preparing for a move, or simply trying to downsize, our team is here to carry the load with you—from sorting and selling to staging and closing.
If you or someone you know is facing a similar situation, reach out. We’d be honored to help.