Dining Room pictured before a successful estate sale with Not Your Mother’s Estate Sale Cleveland OH
The Best Client is an Informed Client
Having an Estate Sale?
1. Do not throw anything away!
Whether using a liquidator or an appraiser, get someone to advise you before you donate anything or throw it out.
A. Using an estate sale liquidator?
Whether you are having a traditional sale or online compile an organized file of what is in the house, pictures of the home's contents, receipts, and any past appraisal information to share with your contracted liquidator and or family members.
2. Compile a list of recommended estate sale liquidator candidates to interview
Estatesales.org, Estatesales.com, Estatesales.net, Auction.zip, or Google Estate Sale companies in your nearby location.
Friends and family
Attorneys and CPAs in your network
3. General questions to ask:
A. How long they have been in business. This will
determine how much experience they have,
following, and their ability to produce a successful sale.
B. What are their fees is it a flat fee or is it a percentage
with hidden charges, ie advertising, security, clean up,
or credit cards.
C. Types of sales they offer In-home or online, know
and understand the difference and which one fits
your goal the best.
D. What happens with the leftovers from the sale
E. Do you get a line item report at the end?
F. How long does it take to get paid?
G. Do your timelines fit.
4. Red Flags:
A. They want you to sign the contract immediately during
the first interview.
B. The liquidator has a store, shop, or warehouse,
This removes any incentive to advertise or promote your
sale, your items will become low-cost/free products to
fill their shop at the end of the sale.
C. You have to turn over the keys and do not have access
to the home after the contract is signed. You are still
paying homeowners insurance, taxes, and maybe
the mortgage, while people you don't know work, bring
their pets, use your appliances, your swimming pool and
some will actually move in under the guise of security
D. They will handle your cleanout themselves.
While that sounds great the incentive to sell everything
is removed from your event. The cleanout allows them
to get the product(your items) for free and
sell it (at their shop).
E. They will be bringing other "client's" items into your sale
so they can "Pad" yours to make it more desirable.
If you would like to discuss your sale or are looking for more estate sale insight visit our website and blog at www.notyourmothersestatesale.com