When should you contact an estate sale company?

Moving, downsizing or selling? Do you need an estate sale company? Things to consider: I interrupt the dining room table search series with this important message inspired by a visit to a potential estate sale client yesterday. As I walked up to the lovely ranch on a wide, desirable street, I was excited by the sale potential. The house had a large and inviting portico and in my mind I was already placing an estate sale sign there. It was a prime location in an affluent neighborhood with plenty of parking. All signs were a go. At the door, I was greeted by the daughter of the homeowner. Her brother soon joined us. As they showed me around, reality set in. All the components of a great sale were there…except the contents. I don’t like to be the bearer of bad news. Unfortunately, these wonderful folks contacted us too late. Prior to my visit, the contents had been sifted, sorted and picked through leaving behind crumbs of the original contents with little left to support a sale. Some outdated furnishings remained and some lovely vintage items such as a few pieces of milk glass, a ruby glass pitcher, an adorable friar cookie jar, a cast iron piggy bank, a green glass bankers lamp, and a mid century rattan lighting fixture (see photos below). However, it just wasn’t enough to warrant an estate sale.

• 

• 

• 

The best time to call an estate sale company is immediately upon deciding that you want to empty the contents of a home. Don't worry about cleaning or organizing before you start interviewing estate sale companies. A good company will have the eye to determine if a sale is beneficial to the company and the homeowner alike. They may even offer tips on what you can do to help prepare for the sale prior to their setup.

The pictures below are real pictures from an actual client's home (see photos labeled before and after below).The customer was not aware of the values, display potential or advertising strategies that would produce a successful sale. It didn't look like much at first, but, as indicated in the pictures, we went through every item in the house and staged them to properly present them to prospective buyers. We ripped out the carpet to improve the appearance of the selling floor. Every item was priced based on research and experience (we did call in an art appraiser for backup). The untrained eye of the owners had no idea that there were hidden gems amongst the rubble, nor did they anticipate the magnitude of success the sale would bestow. So may I suggest that, rather than making the determination yourself about the potential of your sale, interview an estate sale company or two. Let an estate sale specialist assess the estate prior to cleaning it out or donating. Remember, items that do not sell can be donated at the end. A good company will bring in far more sales than a homeowner would on their own, plus, and perhaps most importantly, you won't have to lift a finger.

This was a bit of a rushed post due to the urgency of the subject but I will revise it shortly to improve the read and the message. Please check back! Thank you.

I