Category Archives: Estate Sales Help & Tips
Moving And Downsizing And Estate Sale Companies Can Help
Recently my husband and I moved and although we have downsized and I was an estate liquidator in New Jersey I wish I had listened to my own advice and had an experienced estate liquidator help.
Moving, downsizing and estate sale companies all fit together.
Having an outside, detached individual or company can be so helpful.
Although we all want to keep those most important keepsakes, an estate liquidator can be of great service.
We wish now that had time and thought permitted we would have discussed our new digs and what we have.
Instead we have over 125 boxes and some furniture in our garage that don’t have a home, we aren’t sure what is in each box and we are both still working.
If you are getting ready to move, downsize call a reputable, knowledgeable and experienced estate sale company and explain your situation. Seek advice and then if you feel comfortable arrange for an interview.
We all have items we cannot part with, however, estate sale companies can be of great assistance to relieve stress and help.
Don’t be caught short and left in a state of “what do I do with it now”. Estate sales can be the answer to so many problems.
Cancelling An Estate Sale Contract Can Be Costly For Sellers
Cancelling an estate sale contract can be costly. It isn’t a simple matter of deciding to use another liquidator or do it yourself.
An estate sale contract is an agreement between owners, heirs or an estate attorney and an estate sale company. The estate sale contract details what is required of both parties in the transaction.
When an estate sale company has begun working on a sale they have many costs involved. This includes labor, possibly using dumpsters for trash, advertising, transportation, permits and more. They have given up their business time to conduct your sale while someone else needing an estate sale may have been turned down.
A cancellation clause in a contract protecting the estate sale company has become a necessity almost everywhere today.
This clause details as a seller you will be expected to pay for and how. Many estate liquidators now charge an upfront fee to begin work on your sale. Similar to an attorney’s retainer fee. This money is usually reflected and deducted on the final accounting of the sale.
It is becoming increasingly apparent that many sellers allow estate sale companies to come in sort, clean and prepare for a sale and then cancel leaving estate sale companies out thousands of dollars.
It would not be unusual for an estate sale company to take a seller to small claims court or further depending on the accountable amount of expenses incurred by the estate sale company.
If you have doubts or concerns about using an estate sale company, the time to ask and decide is before you sign the contract. If you want a less expensive company to handle your sale, hire them, not the more expensive one who does the work and then is cancelled.
Estate sale companies support themselves and their staffs. This is “not a hobby”. This is a profession and sellers should recognize this work as such.
If you are thinking of cancelling your estate sale contract, think twice. It could be a costly proposition and stressful experience for you. Estate liquidators work to lessen your stress and help you profit as the market will allow.
ISA Conference In Chicago On Estate Sales
The discussion of estate sales at the Chicago conference of the International Society of Appraisers was engaging and brought forth many views.
We discussed how ISA appraisers can be beneficial to estate liquidations. The degree of commitment that is required by an ISA appraiser to conduct estate sales. Estate sales are a business not a hobby.
Is an estate sale the right choice for the client. It isn’t just quantity. The best market for some items may be at auction and an ISA appraiser can assist with brokering this. As part of their training they are educated in the larger auction houses across the country.
We discussed how ISA appraisers can work in tandem with estate sale companies in a beneficial manner for both.
Our discussion included how estate sales work. Learning about staging, security, advertising, crowd control were just a few of the topics we touched on. How many hats does an ISA appraiser want to wear.
We also discussed online auctions and franchises. These are two hot topics.
It should be mentioned that online auctions and franchises have found a place for estate liquidators as well as considerations for appraisers.
We were booked for a 1 hour and 15 minute discussion and we ran over our time a bit.
Much information was covered and more will be discussed in greater detail.
Many thanks to the International Society of Appraisers for inviting me and giving me this platform to discuss the wonderful world of estate sales.
Estate Sales Information And Topics
Estate sales have so many topics to cover and information to be discussed.
This Sunday in Chicago I will be speaking at the International Society of Appraisers (ISA) Conference about estate sales. So many topics to cover in a short time, but I hope this will be informative and lead to an educational exchange of ideas and information. Appraisers are important to estate sales and estate liquidators, but the same can be said for the importance of estate sale companies and appraisers.
The estate sale business has grown into such a large small business industry, that the number of topics and information needed to be successful requires continuous reading and education.
Since I retired from the estate liquidation business in 2011 much has changed.
Todays’ estate liquidator has to be concerned with the sale of ivory, liability insurance, disposal of hazardous materials, permits, mold, better security, greater use of social media advertising, where best to research items of value or the unknown, and how to do time management and the list continues and grows.
There are many sources for information on estate sales available on the internet. We feel you should not, however, pay for that information. Buyers and sellers should be able to obtain reliable, knowledgeable and useful information for free. If you are obtaining it from any source that also collects fees from estate sale companies question what you are learning if you too pay for this information.
EstateSalesNews.com celebrated our 4th anniversary this month. Although we have a small variety of diverse companies paying for advertising, this is to help defray our cost for our website out to enable a free resource for buyers, sellers, estate sale companies and the estate sale information and the topics we cover.
We encourage you to sign up for our newsletter, utilize our free RSS feed if you are an estate sale company and follow us on Facebook and Twitter. We also have a Pinterest page and videos on YouTube.
Estate Sales Advertising Without Pictures Of Items For Sale
Estate sales that advertise items without showing pictures certainly is disturbing to buyers and sellers.
Looking at estate sales and searching for items is a regular practice. What is disturbing is the written advertising includes items (many larger), but no photos are on the estate sale advertising listing website.
We were looking today for vintage appliances and found one estate sale advertising a galvanized tub, but no photos were included. Advertising vintage items with no photos of a vintage tub, yet a photo of a walke. This is not good advertising.
It is vital to a seller and to attract buyers that items of serious interest have photos on websites that advertise estate sales.
Many estate sale advertising listing websites limit the number of photos or an additional charge is incurred. This should be taken into account by the estate sale company when deciding on their costs.
Advertising items of interest in an estate sale, however, should have photos on advertising websites unless it is a security situation.
Sellers, if you are looking for an estate sale company ask to see their online advertising. Ask how they decide what is and isn’t important. Discuss what items of interest to buyers are in your sale and would they feature photos of them.
Searching for items of serious interest that are included in the listing section of the sale without a photo on the website page is not good marketing and that is not beneficial to your bottom line.
Advertising is a knowledge of marketing and requires experience. Anyone can post a list, but knowing what is of interest to buyers is the trademark of an experienced estate sale company.
Estate Sale Companies Need Their Own Email List
Estate sale companies need an email list. Preferably their own. Why?
Most estate sale companies set out a estate sale email list for their sales, however, not all buyers may be appropriate to invite back.
An estate sale company that has it’s own culled list of buyers know who they are dealing with, what they buy and when necessary for a private liquidation who to invite.
Estate sale listing websites have email blast lists, however, this is an anyone can sign up list.
Estate liquidators want to attract as many buyers as possible, but most companies have their own list for sales where the client doesn’t want the general public or the buyers must be in controlled numbers.
It is in the best interest of sellers and estate sale companies to keep separate lists.
As a buyer ask the estate liquidator if they have a list and do they keep track of buyers that buy or look for specific items.
This is a good time to remind buyers, that estate sale etiquette is important to be maintained on a private list. To review what estate sale etiquette is click here on this link.
Another Monday starts with estate sales beginning on Thursday, just four days away.
Top Questions Sellers Ask About Estate Sales
The top questions sellers ask about estate sales is based on our Google analytics. We offer this review with links to pages on our website to answer some of these questions.
#1 Estate sale contract – what to know and expect. Estate sale contracts.
#2 Downsizing or moving, estate sale or garage sale and what’s the difference.
#3 Estate sale costs. What you need to know.
#4 Selling cars and vehicles at estate sales
#5 Estate sale clean outs – under estate sale contracts.
On this Thursday as estate sales begin for another weekend we hope these top five EstateSalesNews.com topics answer some major questions.
International Society Of Appraisers And Estate Sales News
EstateSalesNews.com has been honored by asking to speak at this years International Association of Appraisers conference.
We will be speaking about selling out the house and how to avoid the pitfalls of estate sales.
The conference this year is in Chicago, IL.
We will be addressing that conducting estates sales are a business, not a hobby.
Understanding the estate sale contract.
Why ISA (International Society of Appraisers).
What to do with left overs from estate sales and wearing three hats for one client.
We are excited to have this opportunity to speak about a subject we embrace and encourage and to such a prestigious group as the ISA.
Today is the start of another weekend of estate sales and their are thousands taking place across the country.
Please look at these websites for estate sales in your area.
Updated Checklist For Estate Sale Contracts
Here is an updated checklist for estate sale contracts for estate sale companies and sellers.
We are not an attorney, but these items should be included and understood in the estate sale contract.
The estate sale contract should lay out in clear language.
- Name of the estate sales company
- Name of owner/s, heirs, or attorney
- Date of estate sale contract
- Address where the sale is to take place
- Dates the sale is to be held and time
- Dates the estate sale company will be given access to setup and price
- Any items excluded from sale on addendum when contract is signed
- Utilities – electric, plumbing, heating and air conditioning should be working
- Liability insurance for estate sale company
- Homeowner must have active homeowner insurance policy
- Ramifications of removal of items by sellers after contract is signed
- Fee or commission that will be charged if items removed or sold ahead by seller
- Cancellation clause of contract
- Party responsible for advertising and costs
- Who is responsible for obtaining and paying for any permits required
- Cost of sale, commission, fee, any additional sale related costs
- When seller will receive net proceeds and form of payment to be made
- Will seller receive written account of sold items and what it will or won’t include
- Who is responsible for the clean out when the estate sale is concluded
- If estate sale company cleans out any costs associated with clean out
- Any additional costs for appraisals or specific appraisals
- **If needed winter expenses and responsibility, i.e. plowing, shoveling, sand etc.
Visit the top of our front page for Choosing An Estate Sale Company.
Finding And Hiring An Estate Sale Company
Finding and hiring an estate sale company is becoming more involved as the number of estate sale companies continue to grow.
To find companies you can ask your attorney, ask your Realtor, look on estate sale company listing websites and look at estate sale companies who have memberships with estate sale associations and societies.
If you are asking a Realtor and they give you a recommendation ask them if they have any type of working relationship with them. Do they receive a referral fee? Your best interest is served when a real estate company refers you simply because they are familiar with your work and ethics and believe you can best handle the job for their clients.
If you are looking on estate sale listing websites, remember all these sites are paid by the companies on them and in most instances the listing company will provide several names of companies listed with them in your area. They do not have personal or direct knowledge of these companies.
Your attorney may be able to provide a recommendation based on previous experience with a liquidation company.
When you are trying to find an estate sale company, be sure to check for reviews online as well. Toss out the frivolous or silly ones (there are many of those) and be concerned with those who truly question business practices. If you are still interested in the estate sale company speak with them. Ask them about the review and what their side was.
Using several sources and your own research is the best way to find and hire an estate sale company.
