Tag Archives: Estate Sale Companies
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.
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.
