Estate Sale FAQ's
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Where do we start?
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The first step is to have us come out and do a walkthrough with you. At our free consultation, we will walk through the house with you and determine the best plan to liquidate your belongings. We will also discuss your timeline and dates while also discussing our process.
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Before the sale, all personal and items you would like to keep should be removed from the house. We can assist with packing these items and deciding if they are sellable or not if you would like us to.
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How do you setup for a sale?
We will empty all the cabinets and drawers to determine what is sellable. We then research high value goods to determine the best prices. Rearranging the furniture is often part of the process to maximize retail space.
When we find personal documents and memorabilia, we set it aside for the executor of the estate to go through.
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How much do you charge?
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We are different than many estate sale services. We charge a flat fee instead of commission. We will evaluate the contents of your house and give an estimated cost of services. On average, a small sale with 25 pieces of furniture will cost around $1600.
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How much of a notice do you need?
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As much time as you can give us and at least two weeks. Once you receive an offer on your house, let us know and we can start our process.
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When is the best time to hold an estate sale?
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Due to how many estate sales are held Friday-Sunday, we start our sales on Wednesday and run through Friday. Sales start at 10am and end at 4pm.
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How many customers typically come to your estate sales?
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On average, 200-500. We use EstateSales.net, Nextdoor, EstateSales.com, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist and have an extensive email contact list to market the sale.
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What happens to the items that don’t sell?
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We sell approximately 85% of the contents of a household. What is not purchased will be donated. In some cases, the unsold items can be donated to a charity of your choice.
What sells well at an estate sale?
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Anything from the 1950’s and 1960’s (furniture, vintage purses and hats, costume jewelry)
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Dining room sets
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Jade and other precious stones
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Clocks
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Roseville pottery
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Quilts, cotton fabrics and vintage textiles
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Sports memorabilia
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Old metal trucks and toys
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Stereo equipment from the 1960’s
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Bedroom furniture
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Tools
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Bottles and colored glass
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What items do not sell well?
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Figurines such as Hummel’s and Precious Moments
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Candles, floral baskets and vases
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Frames (unless ornate and old)
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VHS tapes, and cassette tapes
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Clear glasses
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Furniture from the 1980’s
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Printers, computer monitors
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Rugs
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Pictures
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Should I throw things away or donate things before the sale?
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You should not get rid of anything until we look at it, even if it is broken or incomplete. Many times, items that you would not think could sell, do sell. Let out team help you decide.
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Can I be there the day of the sale?
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Unfortunately, no. Seeing memories and heirlooms being sold can be quite emotional for many people. It is detrimental to the success of your sale to have family members competing to make decisions in a sale.
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Can I assist in the pricing?
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To some extent. Our team has extensive knowledge on how to price items to receive the best return. At times, you may select a starting price, but it will be our job to decide how much to discount as the sale progresses.