Tag Archives: Estate Sale Companies
Estate Sales Nitty Gritty Downsizing, Moving, Estate Liquidation
Estate sales handle the nitty gritty of downsizing, moving and estate liquidation.
Recently the New York Times and other publications have written articles by non estate liquidators about this necessary and booming industry. Much of what is discussed could be called fluff.
Whether downsizing, moving or liquidating an estate there is much more to it than just sorting and making charitable donations.
The goal of the estate sale is to reduce or eliminate personal property, Trying to give the seller(s) or heir(s) some kind of monetary return on their past purchases or gifts.
Many estate sale companies have trained staff specifically trained to work with the elderly, but the business of liquidation is still the same.
Helping people part with years of accumulation is not an easy task. Emotional attachment comes into play. A third party without attachments is often beneficial.
It is important when the time for liquidation comes, unless you really don’t want to receive any monetary compensation, donating should be left for after the estate sale.
When interviewing estate sale companies, you should feel comfortable about asking them about their experience working with senior citizens. Ask how they feel about working with families. Especially with loved ones who may be liquidating a family members personal property for medical conditions.
A knowledgeable estate liquidator will recognize items of value that could be donated, but would be more beneficial to the individual being sold.
Many estate liquidation companies are happy to discuss the handling of downsizing or liquidation with emotionally attached family or friends.
The nitty gritty of estate sales is more than just sorting, pricing, advertising and selling. It requires estate sale companies to use compassion and understanding.
Consider these elements when interviewing estate liquidators. Wise choices should make the liquidation process less stressful and hopefully financially successful.
Importance Of Liability Insurance For Estate Sales
The importance of liability insurance for estate sales has become a necessary cost for estate sale companies.
With thousands of estate sales, thousands of estate sale companies and baby boomers moving or downsizing at an increased pace, estate sale companies need to protect their businesses.
The world has become a litigious place. Estate sale companies take care when staging an estate sale, but with hundreds of people moving through the occasional incident can happen. The estate liquidator works diligently to keep the estate sale a safe environment.
One company that works with a large majority of estate sale companies providing estate sales insurance is the ACNA (Antiques and Collectibles National Association),
Estate Sales Summertime Review What’s Hot And Behavior
It is time for an estate sales summertime review of what’s hot and behavior.
Let us start with what’s hot in estate sales.
Recurring themes are fishing and hunting items, Pyrex (seems to be selling everywhere), military items and linens. Tools, mid-century decorative items, wood working items. Pyrex appears to be one of the hottest sellers.
Other hot sellers include good gold jewelry, great costume jewelry, purses, perfumes and inexpensive holiday decor.
The area of the country also helps determine what are hot sellers.
Behavior at summer estate sales is also hot.
Storage Unit Filled Estate Sale Or Auction
Storage unit filled, estate sale or auction. Questions to be answered.
EstateSalesNews.com has received many calls and emails from prospective sellers concerning the liquidation of personal property they have stored in storage units.
Sellers want to know what venue to use.
First question is how much is stored? What is stored? Have they asked the storage unit company if they could sell from the unit?
Many estate sale companies will not sell from a storage unit. The estate sale company has to look at what is going to be for sale, how can they display, will the storage company allow it and is it financially equitable for them?
Simply unpacking boxes to examine what is in the storage unit(s) can present a challenge.
Many estate sale companies are not set up to remove property from a storage facility to another location. On site estate sales are easier to look at and stage. They usually provide space for parking and traffic.
There are some estate sale companies that will provide the service, but usually at a much higher commission because of the work and restrictions involved. Some liquidators may offer to sell via online auction. Other estate sale companies offer both on site estate sales and auctions.
Auction companies may choose to pick up the contents of a storage unit and move it to a facility to be included with other partial contents in an auction.
If you are moving, downsizing or liquidating a loved one’s stored belongings, all of the above needs to be considered and investigated to determine what liquidation process will work best for you and if anyone in your area can assist.
Do not hesitate to consult with your local estate sale companies. If they cannot assist you, they may provide leads as to who can.
Knowing your local estate sale companies can provide you with knowledge to make wise, informed decisions.
July 4th Holiday And It’s Impact On Estate Sales
The July 4th Holiday and it’s impact on estate sales is usually only noticed by estate sale companies. Most estate liquidators take this time off to celebrate our Independence Day with family and friends as most Americans do.
Auction companies often hold holiday weekend auctions. Their audiences often differ from estate sale companies.
Estate sale followers and attendees usually shy away from major holiday weekends. Christmas, Easter, and July 4th especially. Time for family and friends.
Our 4th of July celebration gives the estate sale companies and their staffs an opportunity to enjoy to enjoy some needed rest time and join in the celebration.
As summer vacations begin, estate sale companies will be working harder to get the message out about their sales and what each weekend the public will find.
Marketing strategies change to accommodate the summer season. Social media for targeting their audience will be a key player in their advertising campaigns. Vacationers following Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Google+ will find ads, photos, and snippets about estate sales. Click here for more information on social media marketing.
Summer Time Estate Sales Are Everywhere
Summer time estate sales are everywhere.
Estate sale companies have extra concerns with summer estate sales.
If the property is not air conditioned with the high heat in some parts of the United States keeping customers and staff comfortable is important. Shoppers at estate sales will linger and shop more if they are not suffering from intense heat. The estate sale company staff will have more stamina when they are not working in a stuffy, hot environment.
Most estate sale companies will try to bring in fans to circulate the air if the property is not air conditioned. Some estate liquidators will even provide small bottles of water for their customers.
This is also a great time to buy window air conditioners. They are quick sellers at this time of the year. If purchasing one ask to have it plugged in to see if it works, but remember that the majority of estate sale companies sell items “as is”, but if you are looking to stick to a budget this is a good way to shop.
Patio furniture, garden tools, portable pools, swing sets, grills, and potted plants are also in summer estate sales. This is the season for downsizing, moving, and buying new.
If you are attending estate sales in the heat take water with you in your vehicle.
Some areas of the country are seeing severe downpours and heavy rain. A towel and an extra pair of shoes should be in your transport along with listening to the weather in case you need to detour around a flooded road.
The summer season of estate sales, like winter has weather considerations. Being prepared will make you a better and prepared shopper.
Check out these websites for estate sales in your area and let the estate sale company know you read EstateSalesNews.com. Happy shopping.
Reputable Estate Sale Companies Choose Wisely
There are thousands of reputable estate sale companies, but sellers must choose wisely and with knowledge.
Recently a reputable estate sale company was contacted by sellers who had contracted with another estate sale company to run their estate sale. With less than a week to the dates of the sale, the estate sale company hired by the sellers notified them that they were not going to conduct their estate sale because a better sale had come along.
Here at estate sales news we have many articles and a printable list to assist and help sellers, heirs and attorneys with their decisions. Click here for a printable list.
Choosing an experienced estate liquidation company, with a good verifiable reputation is paramount to deciding on the right company. Reviews on the internet, speaking with past sellers, recommendations from former clients, and perhaps a visit to a current sale are all good ways to help you find the estate sale company to handle your sale.
Look at their advertising, memberships (not always necessary) and ask how they became estate liquidators. Question how long they have been in business and be sure to ask about their staff and experience. You are looking for knowledgeable, experienced individuals.
Ask about how they setup and price. What kind of research do they do. If needed do they have specialists they can seek out information from.
When you sit down to review their contract ask questions. This is a contract. Ask what repercussions could take place if either party fails to meet the the contract’s conditions and clauses.
There are 16,000 plus estate sale companies and the majority are hardworking honest people who do their jobs well and represent this profession in the highest manner possible.
Do your due diligence and remember that you can make a wise choosing an estate sale company.
Estate Sales Friday
Estate sales Friday and the number of estate sales keeps increasing.
Just look at such websites as EstateSale.com. There are three major estate sale listing websites which now include estate sales, auctions, and online auctions.
Estate sale companies are looking for every way possible to reach the public.
Social media advertising on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Reddit, and Google + supplements estate sale company websites and their listings on estate sale company listing websites.
What estate sale companies want to know is where do you find out about estate sales in your area?
Are you on an estate sale company mailing list? Do you receive email from estate sale listing websites?
When you attend an estate sale, let them know how you found out about their sale. Did you just happen to see their sign?
Estate sale companies want to hear from you so they utilize the most effective method of communicating with the public about their estate sales.
Here are a few items that area available at various estate sales across the country.
May 1st Graduations, Weddings, Moving & Estate Sales
May 1st has arrived and with it the season of graduations, weddings, and moving. Estate sales can be a major help with these events.
Looking for a graduation gift? Check out jewelry, designer handbags, shoes, wallets and other sought after high end items that are well below retail at estate sales.
Weddings and estate sales can be their own marriage. Estate sales are great sources for sterling flatware, holloware, china, crystal, high quality cookware, flat screen televisions, lighting and art. You can buy more or buy better items with what you save at estate sales.
The moving season is in full gear with baby boomers downsizing, generation X moving up and millenials creating their first residences. Moving can be challenging for any reason. Estate liquidators can help relieve some of the stress that accompanies these moves.
If you are looking for estate sales to shop at look at the websites listed below. Many estate sale companies do not list on all the websites. Check your area out on each site.
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.
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