Can I stop by during setup or on sale days?
Many companies will not allow any clients or family members on the property either during the setup and sorting process or during the actual sale. That is not how we do business. This secretive practice is not the policy of our company. Though we do discourage clients’ or family members’ presence on setup days due to emotional attachments, we will never, ever prohibit the family members’ presence. We have nothing to hide.
What is your upfront fee?
This is a fee charged by many companies. If they sell NOTHING at the estate sale, they are guaranteed a profit of at least this amount. We do not charge any up-front fees. We also do not charge any "advertising" fees, "credit card usage" fees, or ordinary trash removal fees.
Do you research item prices before pricing?
Of course we do. Not everyone can be an expert on every type of item they may come across. Our research is extensive and many hours are spent obtaining correct and fair market values. Research is included with any sale and is part of our service to you. There are no extra or hidden fees for research and valuation of your estate sale items.
Do you own or operate a store or consignment shop?
No, we have found this to be a huge conflict of interest in the estate sale business. Consider this, the estate sale company owns a retail store they have to keep stocked with merchandise; what better way to stock it than with YOUR property? We liquidate your items, at your residence and donate the leftovers if you approve after the sale is complete. This means we are completely focused on you... and not stocking a store.
How do I reserve my sale date?
This property is yours. We do not own it, nor do we attempt to "claim" it or purchase it after your sale. Avoid a company whose contract remands all unsold estate sale items to themselves. This property is YOURS...you may donate it, keep it or we can arrange a donation for you. We charge a percentage of the total sales... if we do not sell, we do not profit, it's that simple. We strive to liquidate the entire estate with very little leftovers.
What does all of this cost to me?
You pay nothing up front. Our fees are based on the amount of work needed to complete a successful sale. They vary between 20-30% and flat fees for small estates are available as well. We will never leave you in a bind during this emotional time. However, we cannot take an estate that another company has failed to perform in. We also cannot take estates where there have been garage sales, craigslist sales or any other online sales by the client prior to the estate sale, estate downsizing, or estate liquidation.
How do I reserve my sale date?
We will provide a contract for every client to read through. However, we do not hold dates without a signed contract. Contracts must be received in our office before your date is officially "locked in." We do not reserve any sale dates without a signed contract, even if we discussed a future sale date during your consultation.
What should I get rid of ahead of time?
When you decide to hire an estate sale company, DO NOT throw anything away! We sell everything from open bottles of motor oil to Steinway Grand Pianos. Do not try and "clean up" before the estate sale company arrives. You could be losing thousands of dollars. If you wish to donate anything, please wait until after the sale and then arrange for your donation. We will advise you on what needs to be thrown away before your estate sale.
We do not take consignments or do buy-outs. We do not purchase
estates in part or in whole, either before or after a sale. Thank you.