What You Need To Know
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Hire Us?
Two reasons…because we know the estate sale business and we care about you and your family. We don’t treat our customers like a number (unless it’s #1, of course!). We understand what you’re going through and how hard it can sometimes be to part with your memories and family heirlooms, so we take our time and make sure you’re comfortable every step of the way.
We’ve been selling antiques, collectibles (and everything but the kitchen sink!) for over 20 years in all venues from eBay to Facebook Marketplace…to your home. We come fully insured and with enough experienced staff to ensure your sale is well organized and well attended.
What Should I Do Prior to a Sale?
As soon as you think a sale might be what you need…STOP and call us now! Don’t throw anything away! I can’t stress the “ANYTHING” part of that sentence enough! Let us assess your estate and let you know what needs to stay and what can safely be discarded. Our customers are always surprised with “the little things” that are of value at a sale. These items can add up to hundreds or thousands of dollars…no kidding! It takes approximately two weeks from Day One of setup until sale day, so call us ASAP!
PLEASE NOTE: We kindly ask that you remove everything from the home that the family would like to keep PRIOR to contacting us for an estimate. If there are things that will need to stay, just tag them with a Post-it note letting us know they will not be a part of the sale. We are basing your sale on everything we see on the day we visit.
Will You Sell Everything?
“How much will it sell for?” That's a common question we’re asked, and the answer is different for everyone. Weather, attendance, quality of goods, etc. are all factors in what stays and what goes. Rest assured, we’ll price everything fairly with an emphasis on moving it. We won’t be undersold, but we’re not overpriced either.
What’s Included in Your Package?
What’s not included, I say!
We will bring in our tables and shelving units to arrange, display, and price everything in your home with attention to detail, order, and beauty! We make it easy for our shoppers to find what they need and hopefully more of what they don’t need! We are often complimented on the way our sales are arranged, and we’re proud of it! No junk in boxes where it’s hidden from view! We protect your carpets and flooring with mats and protective coverings when needed.
We take advantage of various social media sites (Facebook, etc.) as well as advertisements on estatesales.net, estatesales.org, and our personal website. We also send out emails to the hundreds of buyers who have signed up on our email list. We put up signs throughout your neighborhood on sale days, at every entrance, to make sure the sale is highly visible.
We pay you quickly! Within seven days after the sale, you will receive a statement with the total amount sold as well as a check for your profits.
We can also arrange for a clean-out service after the sale to remove all the unsold merchandise. Just let us know if this is a service you may be interested in. A cleanout will leave your home in broom-clean condition and ready for the realtor.
How Does Pricing of the Merchandise Work?
We have over 20 years of experience selling antiques and collectibles via online venues (Proud eBay Power Seller since 1998 with over 10,000 positive feedback and a seller rating of 100%)…and a few more years under our belt with estate sales. We know our stuff! If we’re unsure of an item's value, we will call in someone who knows…at no cost to you. (But we pretty much know everything…like a teenager! HA!)
The majority of our sales are two days, with the occasional one-day sale if your estate is small but mighty or a three-day sale if you have a lot of stuff! We sell your items at full price on Day One of the sale, and then we discount them on the remaining days. It's usually 30-50% on day two (or three!).
Do I Have to Be Present During Set-Up & on Sale Dates?
No…you don’t even have to be in the same state! We have many out-of-state homeowners who ask us to handle everything for them, and we’re happy to do it! Although we take care of your home like it was ours, we are also fully insured and bonded. No worries…we'll lock up and turn off the lights.
What is an Online Estate Auction?
It's a type of estate sale where we come into your home and take photos of everything and load them into an online auction. Some items (like furniture and collectibles) will be listed separately, and some items (like kitchenware and household items) will be listed in "lots". We put the photos onto an online auction, and folks will bid on them for 7-10 days...when they're then sold to the highest bidder. We arrange a 1-2 day pick-up window, and everyone shows up at your house and takes it away! This is a good alternative if you don't have a large estate or you have limited parking.
We also have a small shop in Pacific where we can transport your goods for auction if you absolutely can't hold a sale in your home (as in you sold it, and now what?! LOL!). We have limited space, so only small furniture would be allowed.
Side note: Call us before you call the realtor to make sure there's enough time to hold a sale before you close on your house! It's not uncommon to hear, "We sold the house faster than anticipated, and now we have 2-3 weeks to move. " Unfortunately, most estate sale companies are booked 4-6 weeks in advance, and a last-minute sale isn't always feasible. So call us first!
Can You Sell My House?
Yes, we can!
If you’re looking for a one-stop estate shop, we’re the man (or should I say woman) for the job! We offer realty services to our clients who would like for us to handle everything from estate sale to closing day. This is a great option for our out-of-town clients. Call us today and ask about our One Stop Shop Service!