Estate Sale Overview
Thank you for taking the time to consult with our company regarding your estate. We have put together this website to give you a better understanding of what we can do for you, and to try to answer questions you may have for us.
Experience
Every estate sale is unique. No two estates sales have the same contents. Some sales have tons of antiques, while some are quite modest with normal household contents. Although many sales are quite large, most sales are smaller and some are partial estates. Because each sale is different and the contents can vary, it is especially important to find a company to suit your specific needs. The value of an ordinary teacup can double, given the right place and timing. The coffee maker in your estate may be worth more or less than the coffee maker in last week’s sale. This is why we look at each house and scrutinize the items we are selling. We take location, brands, condition, and past experience of our 31 years, from over 1,000 estate sales, into consideration when determining the value of your items.
Knowledge
Every month, we usually conduct between three and four estate sales. We use the volume of sales we have to develop customer relations and to promote upcoming sales. By getting to know our customers’ wants and needs, we are able to market your estate to the proper buyers. Even before your estate sale opens, we will have notified most of your future customers about your sale. Many of your belongings will already have buyers lined up because of our extensive buyers' wish lists we keep on hand.
Benefits
The benefits you receive from hiring our company go beyond selective advertising, crowd control, and negotiations. Depending on the size of the sale, we may staff it with as few as 4 or as many as 15 people. Our staff has extensive knowledge and many are experts in various fields including gems and jewelry, art, silver, tools, antiques, sterling, clocks, collectables and general household items. Some of our staff may move furniture, show valuables in locked cases, or even go on test-drives, in the event we are selling a car for the estate. All of our staff have spent years in sales, and truly build strong customer relationships.
Integrity
For your protection, our company is licensed, bonded, and insured. We have many safeguards built into our business practices to help avoid shoplifting and tag switching. Pricing is done only by a qualified appraiser in order to avoid mistakes. It usually takes us from 1-2 weeks to set up and price a sale. During this time, all contents of the estate are researched and inspected and every item is priced by a qualified appraiser. Gas-driven appliances are started, if possible. Any cars for sale are washed and detailed. Your valuables are cleaned and displayed in locked show cases. We take great care in preparing and presenting your estate to make each item as desirable as possible and making the sale reach its full potential.
Our standard service includes:
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Rearranging furniture to handle the traffic on the sale day, as well as to display it
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Providing tables, clothing racks, and locking show cases for valuables
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Cleaning, displaying and organizing household contents for sale
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Hanging of caution signs for steps and blocking off any unsafe or private areas
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Researching, inspecting and evaluating every item in the estate for sale
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Pricing every item in the home for sale
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Handling all advertising and promotion of the sale, including newspaper ads, signs, flyers, e-mail notices, and personal alerts
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Obtaining the proper permits to have the sale and collecting and remitting of sales tax.
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Staffing the sale with qualified, professional assistants to answer questions and assist with selling items
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Providing bags, boxes, and wrapping supplies to buyers
Optional services at extra cost include:
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Providing a printed list of each item sold
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Staffing of professional security
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Arranging for charitable donations on remaining items
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Providing the client with a signed copy of IRS form 8283 for tax deductions, as needed for donations
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Leaving the home in broom-clean condition
Professionalism
Throughout the liquidation process, your household contents will be treated with respect. We understand you are not only liquidating personal property, but you have memories associated with many of the items sold. Our goal is to provide you with a professional liquidation and to help eliminate any stress normally associated with such life events.