Handling a loved one’s estate can be emotionally and physically exhausting. Many families search for reliable family estate liquidation advice after discovering that the hardest part isn’t the belongings—it’s the people. Relatives make promises they don’t keep, disagree about the smallest decisions, or suddenly vanish when it’s time to help. Executors often find themselves stuck in the middle, trying to keep the peace while also preparing the home for sale, emptying, or settlement.
When Relatives Say They’ll Take Items—and Don’t
This is one of the most common frustrations families face. A cousin swears he wants the dining room table. A sibling insists she’s coming back for the sofa. A nephew confidently claims three pieces of artwork.
But when the time comes to remove these items, they disappear faster than a drop-in helper on moving day. Sometimes the truth is simple: people like the idea of taking something, but not the work required. It’s heavy, it won’t fit, or hiring movers is too much trouble. Sometimes they just don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings by saying no.
Set Clear, Non‑Negotiable Deadlines
To keep your project moving forward, give every family member a firm deadline. Not a suggestion—a real boundary. Let them know, kindly but firmly, that anything not removed by the deadline becomes part of the estate liquidation. This prevents last‑minute delays and avoids awkward scenes when someone suddenly remembers they wanted something after you’ve already hired professionals to clear the home.
Get Everyone’s Real Commitments Up Front
Executors often take relatives at their word, only to find out later that commitments were never serious. Before scheduling a walkthrough with Orion’s Attic, gather everyone and walk through the home. Ask each person to identify what they actually intend to take. Encourage honesty—no one needs to keep objects out of guilt or obligation. Explain that being truthful now prevents frustration later. Once the decisions are made, ask everyone to stick to them. For out-of-state relatives, send them a link to photos of the home or use a video phone call to go through it.
Handling Disagreements Over Valuable Items
High‑value items like gold coins, silver, jewelry, watches, artwork, and rare collectibles often create tension. In one estate we handled, several siblings wanted their father’s gold coins, while others wanted the coins sold so
everyone could share the proceeds. The fairest solution—and the one that prevented a family feud—was dividing the collection by value rather than by quantity. Orion’s Attic can help assign accurate values so siblings can make equitable decisions without guesswork or resentment.
What to Do When Some Want to Sell the House and Others Don’t
Another frequent point of conflict occurs when some family members want to sell the home while others want to keep it. If the will does not specify instructions, the most straightforward solution is for those who wish to keep the house to buy out the others. For example, if a home in Maryland is worth $500,000 and three siblings want to sell while two want to keep it, here’s what you do. The two who want it must compensate the three who prefer to sell. That means the two siblings pay the other three a total of $300,00. This avoids bitterness and gives everyone a clear, fair outcome.
Assign One Family Spokesperson
To prevent miscommunication, families should choose a single point of contact to work with Orion’s Attic. When multiple people give different instructions, the project becomes confusing and delayed. One decision‑maker keeps everything streamlined and respectful of everyone’s time.
Expect Emotions—and Understand Them
Estate liquidation is emotional. People grieve differently. Some cling tightly to items, convinced they need them to hold onto memories. Others shut down entirely. Some avoid involvement because the process is too painful. Old family grudges may surface. Executors can feel overwhelmed trying to manage these emotions. Remember: the goal is not to make everyone perfectly happy, but to honor your loved one while moving the process forward in a healthy way.
Once the Agreement Is Signed, Stop Removing Items
After Orion’s Attic evaluates the home and provides a proposal, please avoid removing additional items. The estimate is based on the condition and contents of the property at the time of our walkthrough. Removing belongings afterward can change the scope of work, affect pricing, and disrupt scheduling. Finalize family decisions before signing so the project can proceed smoothly.
Estate liquidation is never just a logistical challenge—it’s an emotional journey for families. With clear communication, honest commitments, and strong boundaries, executors can prevent the most common sources of stress. Orion’s Attic is here to guide Maryland families through every step with compassion, clarity, and professionalism.
Learn more about liquidating entire estates in our Estate Liquidation and Downsizing Guide.
Do you have great collectibles you need to sell?
Call us today to find out about selling your collections of all kinds of things. We’re always looking for more antique toys, coins, jewelry (fine and costume), sports memorabilia, and more. We can also connect you with dealers specializing in everything from rare books to military antiques.
About Orion’s Attic
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 (Ashton, Aspen Hill, Barnesville, Bethesda, Boyds, Cabin John, Chevy Chase, Colesville, Derwood, Gaithersburg, Germantown, Glen Echo, Laytonsville, Montgomery Village, Olney, Potomac, Rockville, Silver Spring, Spencerville, Takoma Park, Wheaton, etc.), Frederick County, Howard County (Columbia, Ellicott City), Prince George’s County (College Park, Greenbelt, Hyattsville) plus DC and Northern Virginia. We will occasionally go further if a project is big enough.
Our best piece of family estate liquidation advice is emphasizing good communication to keep everybody happy.
