Find an Estate Sale Company

THINGS TO KNOW FIRST

ESTATE SALE COMPANIES FIRST DETERMINE IF THERE ARE ENOUGH ITEMS TO ATTRACT BUYERS AND WHETHER THERE IS SUFFICIENT SALES VOLUME TO JUSTIFY A SALE. ALL THIS CAN BE THROUGH THE VETTING PROCESS OR INTERVIEW. NOTE THAT THE SIZE OF YOUR HOME DOESN’T MATTER AS MUCH AS WHAT’S IN IT.

BEFORE YOU DECIDE TO DO AN ESTATE SALE

MENTALLY PREPARE YOURSELF FOR THE PROCESS. IT CAN BE STRESSFUL AT TIMES BUT THAT’S WHY HIRING A PROFESSIONAL IS BEST.
DECIDE WHICH ITEMS YOU WANT TO KEEP OR GIVE TO FAMILY MEMBERS. DON’T PUT UNNEEDED ITEMS IN STORAGE IF YOU CAN HELP IT. KEEP IN MIND SHIPPING COST AND POTENTIAL BREAKAGE TO MOVE.
DECIDE TIMING. TALK WITH REALTOR, IF PRIOR TO LISTING OR AFTER A CONTRACT HAS BEEN SECURED IS MOST FEASIBLE TO HAVE A SALE. MANY TIMES, DECLUTTERING ISN’T NECESSARY. YOU MAY NEED TO STAY IN YOUR HOME AFTER THE SALE. SOME ITEMS CAN BE SOLD WITH DELAYED PICKUP. EX. BED OR COUCH.
PLAN AHEAD. DON’T WAIT TILL END TO HIRE A COMPANY. TYPICALLY, AT LEAST 2 WEEKS OF ADVERTISING IS PREFERRED SO SECURING A DATE IN ADVANCE IS CRITICAL.
DECIDE IF THERE SHOULD BE A MINIMUM PRICE OR RESERVES ON SPECIFIC SPECIAL ITEMS. BE REASONABLE. DO A FEW ITEMS ONLY AND A FAIR PRICE IS NECESSARY. REMEMBER THAT YOUR GOAL IS TO SELL THE ITEMS NOT WANTED FOR AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. THAT’S THE ESTATE SALE COMPANIES’ GOAL ALSO.

INTERVIEW

DON’T AUTOMATICALLY SELECT THE FIRST COMPANY YOU TALK TO. IT DOESN’T MATTER HOW LONG THEY HAVE BEEN IN BUSINESS. ITS THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITY TO DEAL WITH CUSTOMERS. USE YOUR BETTER JUDGEMENT BUT DO YOUR RESEARCH.
INVITE AT LEAST 2 COMPANIES TO SEE YOUR PROPERTY. LET THEM SEE WHAT YOU DIDN’T INCLUDE IN THE PHOTOS. QUANTITY, QUALITY AND VARIETY MEAN ALL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN OK SALE AND A GREAT SALE.
DON’T LET ANYONE WHO YOU INVITE OVER BUY INDIVIDUAL ITEMS. THIS ACTUALLY HURTS THE REST OF THE SALE. LEAVE EVERYTHING FOR THE ESTATE SALE.
ASK ABOUT FEES. NORMALLY, COMPANIES CHARGE BETWEEN 20-40% DEPENDING ON HOW LARGE THE SALE IS. DON’T HIRE ANY COMPANY WHO ASKS FOR MONEY IN ADVANCE. THE COMMISSION IS TAKEN OUT OF THE SALES. EXTRA FEES MAY BE CHARGED FOR CLEAN OUT SERVICES ONCE THE SALE IS COMPLETED.

Warning

IF AN ESTATE SALE COMPANY ASKS YOU NOT TO BE PRESENT DURING THE SETUP PROCESS OR ASKS FOR YOU NOT TO BE THERE DURING THE SALE, DON’T HIRE THEM. THEY DON’T NEED YOU THERE BUT IT IS YOUR HOUSE AND YOUR BELONGS. UNLESS YOUR SENTIMENTAL ABOUT BEING THERE, CAN’T HANDLE THE TRAFFIC, OR OUT OF TOWN, I WOULD RECOMMEND BEING THERE.

ASK QUESTIONS TILL YOUR COMPLETELY SATISFIED. KNOW THE PROCESS AND WHAT TO EXPECT. DON’T ASSUME.
DAYS & TIMES – A TYPICAL ESTATE SALE INVOLVES 2 DAYS. THE BEST DAYS ARE FRIDAY AND SATURDAY BUT SATURDAY & SUNDAY OR OTHERS DAYS MAYBE SUITABLE DEPENDING ON YOUR TIMING. YOU MAY JUST HAVE ENOUGH FOR A ONE DAY SALE. MAYBE MORE THAN ENOUGH FOR 3 DAYS. THE COMPANY WILL DETERMINE THIS.
SOME ITEMS MAY NEED TO BE AUCTIONED. ALTHOUGH EXPENSIVE ITEMS CAN BE SOLD IN AN ESTATE SALE, MORE RELEVANT ITEMS SHOULD BE SOLD VIA AN AUCTION PROCESS. EXPOSURE AND COMPETITIVE BIDDING USUALLY YIELDS MORE MONEY. SO KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE. DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH.
LOOK AT CONTRACT CAREFULLY BEFORE SIGNING. MAKE SURE YOUR RESERVES, IF ANY, ARE INCLUDED AS WELL AS YOUR ITEMS NOT TO BE SOLD.

PREPARE FOR SALE

SECURE ALL YOUR PERSONAL ITEMS. IF YOUR STILL LIVING IN THE HOME, SECURE ANY BATHROOM THAT YOU WISH TO BE LEFT UNOPENED. LOCK ANY CLOSET THAT HAS YOUR CLOTHING OR OTHER WARDROBE. IF IT DOESN’T HAVE A LOCK, BUY ONE IF POSSIBLE. REMOVE ANY VALUABLES LIKE JEWELRY FROM HOME. REMOVE CLOTHING OR PERSONAL PAPERWORK FROM FURNISHINGS THAT WILL BE SOLD. TIE WRAP OR TAPE OFF ANY KITCHEN CABINETS THAT YOU WISH TO BE LEFT UNOPENED.

*Note: THE ESTATE SALE COMPANY IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR STOLEN OR ACCIDENTAL SALE OF YOUR PERSONAL ITEMS. IT’S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY. PLEASE DON’T WAIT TILL THE LAST MOMENT TO DO SO. BUYERS WILL GO THROUGH ANY DRAWERS OR BELONGS THAT ARE PRESUMED FOR SALE.
ARRANGE FOR PETS TO BE SECURED OR REMOVED FOR THE DAY.
IF ANY GUARDED GATE IS PRESENT IN YOUR COMMUNITY, ASK FOR AN OPEN GATE (ANYONE WHO MENTIONS ADDRESS WILL BE LET IN AFTER ID CHECK).
DON’T SELL ANY ITEMS TO YOUR NEIGHBORS OR FRIENDS ONCE ADVERTISING HAS STARTED. INVITE THEM INSTEAD.
PRE-SALES. MANY COMPANIES WILL INVITE PEOPLE OVER THE DAY BEFORE THE OFFICIAL START DATE TO PURCHASE ITEMS. THIS ALLOWS EARLY ACCESS BUT DOESN’T MEAN A CHEAPER PRICE. ALL SALES SHOULD BE WRITTEN DOWN OR THROUGH RECEIPTS FOR FINAL TALLY.
ABSOLUTELY NO ONE SHOULD BE KNOCKING ON YOUR DOOR BEFORE THE OFFICIAL START OR WITHOUT SOMEONE FROM THE COMPANY PRESENT. SOME PEOPLE TRY TO VISIT BEFORE THE SALE. TELL THEM TO COME BACK WHEN THE SALE STARTS.

DAYS OF SALES

EXPECT EARLY ATTENDEES. IF THE SALE STARTS AT 9:00, PEOPLE WILL BE OUTSIDE AT 7:30. THEY WANT TO BE FIRST IN LINE OR GET IN BEFORE OTHERS. IT’S OK. LET THEM WAIT OUTSIDE.
PLACE CONES IN AREAS OF GRASS OR DRIVEWAY NEEDED TO STAY FREE OF VEHICLES. EXPECT MANY PEOPLE AND MULTIPLE VEHICLES UNLESS ITS A SALE BY APPOINTMENT.
BE READY. WAKE-UP EARLY. SHOWER AND MAKE A STRONG CUP OF COFFEE. IT’S A LONG BUT PRODUCTIVE DAY. SECURE LAST MINUTE ITEMS. THERE USUALLY ISN’T A BUNCH OF TIME BEFORE THE DOORS OPEN.
EXPECT IT TO LAST ALL DAY. TILL 5:00 OR SO. THE SECOND DAY ISN’T AS LONG. PLAN LUNCH AHEAD OF TIME OR EVEN LEAVE FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
UNDERSTAND THAT MANY TIMES, NOT ALL ITEMS WILL SELL EVEN IF THE ITEMS ARE REDUCED IN PRICE OR FOR FREE. A PLAN B NEEDS TO BE IN PLACE FOR LEFTOVERS.
UNDERSTAND THAT THINGS GET MESSY SOMETIMES. PEOPLE ARE TAKING THINGS OFF HANGERS AND OR MOVING THINGS AROUND. IT’S OK. THEY ARE MAKING PILES OR CARRYING THINGS WITH THEM. AGAIN. IT’S FINE. OBSERVE IF YOU LIKE BUT DON’T FREAK OUT. THIS IS NORMAL.
TRY NOT TO INTERFERE. LET THE SALES LADIES OR GENTLEMEN HANDLE THE SALES. THAT’S WHY YOU HIRED THEM.

AFTER SALE

IMPLEMENT PLAN B IF NECESSARY.
EXPECT A FULL REPORT OF SALES AND BREAKDOWN.
PLAN RECEIPT OF YOUR PROFITS AFTER COMMISSION.

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