The Six Effort Traps

An effort trap is when time and energy go into activities that feel productive but don't move the estate forward. Set your hourly rate first — $40/hour is a reasonable benchmark — and watch for these:

1. The Research Trap — most search results show asking prices, not what things actually sold for. Research categories, not individual items.
2. The Individual Listing Trap — does the return from this item justify the hours it takes to sell it alone?
3. The Storage Trap — storage is a monthly bill for a decision you haven't made. $150/month for a year is $1,800.
4. The Sentimental Value Trap — emotional value belongs to the family; market value belongs to the market. They're different numbers.
5. The Assumed Value Trap — age doesn't automatically create value; rarity doesn't automatically create demand.
6. The Do-It-Yourself Trap — for an entire estate, going it alone frequently leads to exhaustion before completion.