Choosing An Esate Sale Company – Printable Estate Sales News Check List
Estate Sales News has written many articles about how to choose an estate sale company, but today we have added a printable check list to the top of our home page on how to choose an estate sale company. Click on it, read it through, and print out your check list before you start your search for an estate sale company.
This list was created based on 25 plus years as a former estate liquidator. Our information is based on actual working experience conducting professional estate sales.
Our mission at EstateSalesNews.com is to empower you, the perspective seller.
Be informed, know what to look for, and ask questions. It’s your financial bottom line.
Pay Out After The Estate Sale – When Something Goes Wrong What To Do
Estate Sales News hopes you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Almost two weeks ago we received an alert that had an investigative reporter looking into an estate sale company that had several sellers that had not been paid. As this matter is still being investigated we will not divulge the name of the reporter, TV station or the name of the estate sale company, however, we want to pass along what we know has happened up to now.
The newsman had been contacted by several families and individuals that claimed this estate sale company had not paid them for the estate sale. The reporter after reviewing documents provided by these families went to an estate sale being run by this company and confronted the company owner on camera about the people who said they had not been paid. The owner said that “most” had been paid, however, some had consigned personal property which sold for very little and the gentleman claimed after taking the commission owed, nothing was left.
Estate Sales News spoke in depth with the television reporter and asked to have the families contact us and also asked the reporter to send us copies of any paperwork in his possession with the families permission. So far this has not happened.
When we received the alert we immediately called EstateSales.NET and EstateSales.org where this company was listed to alert them to the problem.
At this time we understand that this company has paid some individuals, but we are still waiting on further news in this case.
What we have learned up to now is that if you have an estate sale company that fails to pay you after the sale (and 99% of the estate sale companies across this country are reputable, honest companies who serve their clients expertly, and have integrity) you should contact your local attorney general, a TV news investigative reporter, the Better Business Bureau, and any estate sale listing site that the company or your estate sale may have been featured on. You will need to provide them with information that they can follow up on, but this gives them the opportunity to remove the estate sale company from advertising on their website.
Performing your due diligence in speaking with prior clients of an estate sale company cannot be stressed enough.
Black Friday – Shop At Estate Sales and Avoid The Chaos
Go green – save $$$ – avoid chaos and “possibly” pay no sales tax depending on your location.
Happy Thanksgiving From Estate Sales News
From our home to yours we wish you a Happy Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving Week And Estate Sales
This is family week for millions of Americans celebrating Thanksgiving and either cooking at home or traveling to family.
This week reminds us that families dealing with the estates of loved ones is often a difficult time and part of the job of the estate liquidator is to be understanding and help relieve some of the stress. The estate sale liquidator and many of their staff wear many hats.
For most this week is a day to rest, recoup, and enjoy their family.
EstateSalesNews.com will be enjoying this Thanksgiving week with our family too.
Today is our last day to publish this week. We’ll be back on Monday, December 1st.
We wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving with the joy and blessings of family and friends and our United States.
4 Days Until Black Friday – Estate Sales Are You Ready?
The day after Thanksgiving is called Black Friday.
The name Black Friday started in Philadelphia before 1961 mainly because of so many shoppers, pedestrian and vehicular trafffic, but the term started to be used more on a national basis around 1975. The reason given was that traditional retailers spent the majority of the year operating at a financial loss and the day after Thanksgiving signaled the day their accounting went from red to black. Hence Black Friday.
This has not been the case for estate sale companies. Due to the nature of the estate sale business most companies must operate in the black to stay in business, however, Thanksgiving and Black Friday present challenges to the estate liquidator.
Those that hold sales on this weekend know that they must be creative in their advertising and the way the sale is handled.
Many will offer some type of modest refreshments (cookies and perhaps cider), their sales are published not only on estate sale listing websites, but on all forms of social media, some in print, while many estate liquidators have started walking the surrounding neighborhoods leaving flyers about their upcoming estate sale and some may even offer modest gift wrapping.
Estate Sales News wishes you happy shopping. Remember to check out the estate sale ads and websites today to see if a good buy can be had without all the pushing and shoving that can take place at the big retailers. Save $$$$ and go green this Friday.
Estate Sales News Investigates – Watching Out For You – Buyers, Sellers, and Estate Sale Companies
As we start another estate sales Friday and the last before Thanksgiving Estate Sales News wanted to let you know we are watching and listening to what’s happening at estate sales. From buyers that try to walk out with unpaid items, threaten estate sale staff, pass bad checks, to estate sale companies that don’t pay their sellers and fail to account.
Estate Sales News cannot take legal action, nor do most states have regulations, however, we will follow up on complaints and do our best to alert buyers, sellers, and estate liquidators to people that give a black eye to an industry providing such an wonderful opportunity and hopefully fun and enjoyable experience.
We will notify estate sale listing sites of companies that fail to pay and we will notify estate sale companies of buyers that create serious problems.
Do you have a provable concern about a buyer or estate sale company. EMAIL US at carol@estatesalesnews.com. Be sure to leave us your name, phone number, and pertinent information.
We have provided a variety of companies with tips and information on estate liquidations, and we want to provide you with our printable list within a week.
Today as you attend and shop at estate sales across the country EstateSalesNews.com is your source for estate liquidation information, news and tips from an experienced former estate liquidator. Happy estate saling.
Majolica – ThrowBack Thursday For Estate Sales From the 19th Century
Today Estate Sales News is throwing back to the 19th century to some beautiful earthenware pottery that we call Majolica which was first created in 1851 by Mintons Ltd. in England. It was created for the Great Exposition then and known as Palissy ware. Palissy was a tip of the hat to Bernard Palissy a 16th century potter who used naturalistic and animal motifs with bold splashes of color.
Tin glazed pottery had been made by Mintons for sometime which was opaque, white, shiny, and painted with color. This was in the Italian Renaissance maiolica which they Anglicized to majolica.
Wedgwood began manufacturing majolica 10 years after Mintons and soon numerous smaller Staffordshire potteries around Burslem and Stoke-On-Trent and specialized in green majolica wares. According to Wikipedia majolica was influenced by the design of old “Cauliflower” and “Pineapple” teapots made by Thomas Whieldon.
As time passed European potteries started making majolica and then it was started to be made in the United States in the 1880s’.
Here is the link to the complete article, makers, and more on Wikipedia.
Here are some current samples available at estate sales starting today across the country.
Photos Of Estate Sales – Showcase Items, The Clutter Look Discourages
Estate Sales News looks at many estate sale listing websites every day and at 100’s of photos looking for news worthy estate sales.
Having been an estate liquidator for 25 plus years we are use to looking at the obscene clutter and hoarding that could take place in a residence, however, buyers don’t want to see this and neither do we. Nothing is more discouraging than seeing boxes and bags and “stuff” in general in piles or heaps. It doesn’t look professional or present items that may have value or be of interest.
When taking photos (even in a hoarder property) clear enough room to create a small stage to photograph some of the more interesting items. Make sure that the photos are in focus, without glare from a flash, lights or sunshine. If possible keep some dark cloth and some white or off white cloth with you to create a nondescript back drop. That old saying a photo is worth a thousand words is true and can be the most effective way to create interest in a sale.
If you are taking photos of interesting items to post on listing sites, make sure you know what they are before you post. Professionalism is paramount in the estate liquidation business today more than ever before. With so many estate sale companies now in business you never know when a perspective seller is looking at an estate sale to decide whether your company should be under consideration.
Good photos will help your estate sale success and that affects the financial bottom line for both parties.
