The nonprofit organization Community Forklift gave Orion’s Attic a big boost on our Lanham estate liquidation and home cleanout project last week. The effort served as another case study in doing financial good for homeowners, heirs and executors of houses full of stuff. It also did a ton of social and environmental good.
Lanham estate liquidation and home cleanout at a glance
A client in Lanham, Maryland needed a home he inherited cleaned out so that he could put the house up for sale and make the real money. Remember, the goal of most estate liquidation and home cleanout projects is effectively clear the home and get it sold. The goal is not to pay mortgages and property taxes for multiple months trying to sell Hummel figurines for $3.
This home contained a lot of furniture, art, books, and knickknacks that were best suited for donation rather than sale. Rather than charging the client for us to transport the stuff to a charity, we reached out to our friends at Community Forklift, one of our favorite partners. Orion’s Attic brings truck loads and van loads of stuff to its facility in Edmonston, Maryland all the time.
We love the organization because it accepts donations of a wide variety of home contents — everything from building materials to quality furniture. It in turn makes the items available to people in need through its various programs for free, and for below-market prices at its warehouse store.
How we worked with Community Forklift to clear the house
We sent Community Forklift a link to detailed photos of the home’s contents. It reviewed the photos, gave us its wish list, and sent a truck to the Lanham home on the day we did the job. Orion’s Attic got there early and used our big and diverse labor force to remove all of those items from the house. Part of what makes the partnership with Community Forklift work is that we have loads of man and woman power and a few trucks — and Community Forklift has even bigger trucks.
We promptly handed up everything the nonprofit wanted to the two staffers on the truck. The hard-working and super friendly Community Forklift folks promptly packed it all and headed out, providing the client with a tax donation receipt.
“This is amazing,” our client said, while watching us work in tandem with Community Forklift and finishing his entire project in less than a day. (We transport high-end items to auction and private dealers, haul away all the trash and leave houses broom clean.) “I can’t believe you made all this happen.”
End results of Lanham estate liquidation team effort
- We cleared the entire home in less than one work day — enabling the client’s Realtor to come in the next day and put the house on the market.
- Putting so many household items on Community Forklift’s truck made the above possible. We fit everything else on our two trucks and didn’t need to return the next day.
- Finishing the job so quickly enabled us to present a final bill to the client that was $1,000 less than the estimate. He was thrilled. “Everybody comes out ahead in this,” the client said.
- Working with Community Forklift meant that a house full of items got second lives. This is good for the people that need those things and good for the earth. It’s sustainability in action.
How the Lanham project worked for Community Forklift and for Orion’s Attic
The Lanham estate liquidation project accomplished our company goals for eliminating the burden people feel when it comes to downsizing or dealing with a loved one’s estate. We pulled away with yet another happy client. It also gave us yet another chance to put our environmental principles into action.
Community Forklift liked it, too, because it’s not used to companies like ours providing so much labor and making life easier for its staff.
“The crew also had a great experience and appreciated how efficiently everything was organized and ready to go,” Assistant Director of Donations Martina Ivanova shared with us. “We truly appreciate your willingness to collaborate, and we’re excited about the possibility of building on this model moving forward. Your proactive approach, detailed notes, and teamwork make a huge difference, and we look forward to more opportunities to work together.”
Orion’s Attic and Community Forklift loved the good old win-win.
“We’re glad we could help streamline the process and make things easier on your end while also ensuring that as many items as possible could be repurposed for a good cause,” Ivanova added. “It’s especially rewarding to hear how happy the client was with the outcome—that’s exactly the kind of impact we strive for!”
Contact us today! Orion’s Attic is a full-service estate liquidation, downsizing and home cleanout company based in Silver Spring, Maryland. We also buy antiques and collectibles. We serve the greater Washington, D.C./Maryland/Northern Virginia region. Our service area includes Montgomery County (Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Gaithersburg, Germantown, Olney, Potomac, Rockville, Silver Spring, Wheaton, Takoma Park, etc.), Frederick County, Howard County (Columbia, Ellicott City), Prince George’s County (College Park, Greenbelt, Hyattsville) plus DC and Northern Virginia.
Learn more about liquidating estates in our Estate Liquidation and Downsizing Guide.
See why we’re the environmentally responsible choice for your estate liquidation in Green Choice.
Get the scoop on why estate sales can be bad ideas here.
