(a) Upon issuance by the court of the order prescribed in section 492 (a) of this title, the executor or administrator shall sell such personal property from time to time for the purpose specified in such section 492, and as often and as much thereof as may be necessary. Such sale shall be conducted in the same manner as a sale of personal property on execution, unless otherwise provided in this chapter.
(b) If, upon the application for an order of sale, or upon a subsequent application for that purpose, it appears to the court that it would be for the interest of the estate, it may order that the executor or administrator may sell all the personal property of the estate or any article thereof at private sale.