Once a company starts setup, the house becomes a workplace. They sort, clean, stage and price everything in it. Most of the disagreements families describe start here: an item someone meant to keep got priced, or a relative arrived to find the door locked. A short written agreement before setup prevents both.
Take out what the family is keeping
The safest plan is to remove keepsakes, papers and anything undecided before the company arrives. If something must stay in the house, mark it clearly and list it in writing.
Don’t leave behind:
- wills, deeds, tax records, bank statements, photos and letters
- jewelry, cash, keys, firearms and medications
- anything a family member hasn’t decided on yet
Put access in writing
Agree with the company:
- who holds keys during setup and the sale
- whether family can visit once pricing starts, and how to arrange it
- what happens if you take an item out after it’s been priced, and whether there’s a fee
Record changes
Things change. A cousin decides they want the dining table. Write each change down with the date, and send it to the company by text or email so you both have the same list.
Agree the end before the start
Before you sign, ask what happens to unsold items (donation, buyout, haul-away or return to the family), who pays for it, and when you’ll get the final statement and payment.
Our free “Before setup” checklist has space for all of this. And when you call a company, please mention “Joel from Fairhaven Design sent me.”
General guidance, not legal advice. Your signed agreement governs. Have a lawyer review it if the estate is large or the family disagrees.