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.
Support The US Economy And Buy American At Estate Sales
Support the US economy and buy at American estate sales. These sales are run by American small businesses. Their staffs as well as the liquidators spend their dollars here in America. Although many household items may have been made overseas, buying it from estate sale companies supports our small business owners and the people that work for them.
Several articles have been published lately about estate sales and all the items the reporters have said are selling. These articles are based on interviews with a few liquidators and a few auction companies.
With 15,000 plus estate sale companies across the United States and more companies forming everyday, the interviews of a few do not speak to the majority.
Yes, there may be some areas where estate liquidations aren’t producing the results hoped for, but there could be several reasons for this, including the number of estate sale companies in the area.
We encourage estate sale companies to remind their buyers to buy American. After the recent election where millions of Americans wanted jobs brought back to the United States here is your opportunity.
It’s Not To Late To Buy That Estate Sale Valentine Gift
Valentine’s Day is three days away. There is still time to visit 1000’s of estate sales taking place across the country to find that special gift.
Jewelry, art, clothing, designer accessories, antiques, collectibles are just some of the items available this weekend.
Please visit these estate sale listing websites to find the estate sales nearest you. Many companies only list on one website so be sure to check them all out.
It’s only 6:40am ET so get ready and go!
Estate Sale Companies Use Research And Knowledge To Price
Estate sale companies use research and knowledge to price your estate sale items. It is amazing what is found in estate sales that require research and where and how to conduct that research.
An experienced and knowledgeable estate liquidator friend recently shared information about luggage labels and baggage tags that have become collectible. The take away is knowing where and how to research these collectibles.
Gaining knowledge and more importantly knowing how to research items is important to both estate sale companies and sellers.
The experienced estate liquidator will conduct research by book, computer, auction catalogue results and networking with other estate sale companies. They will also consult with certified appraisers. Many estate sale companies keep an appraiser on retainer. Especially a CAPP (Certified Appraiser Personal Property).
Having the knowledge to know where and how to research is an important reason for hiring a professional estate sale company. The average seller just isn’t equipped with the knowledge or know how to properly price and advertise their sales. Many times money is lost because of lack of experience or where to research. It’s more than just eBay.
When choosing the right company to conduct your estate liquidation or downsizing sale ask about their experience and how they research. It’s your $$$$ that are at stake.
What’s Hot This Winter At Estate Sales?
We asked a network of 486 estate sale companies “what’s hot this winter at estate sales. Please let us know your area”. EstateSaleNews.com received a great response.
The answers show a real diversity of estate sales and estate sale buyers from coast to coast.
In the Buffalo, New York area Pyrex, any kind of small furniture (end tables etc.) vintage Christmas ornaments and “snow blowers”.
In Tallahassee, Florida Roseville pottery, primitives, high end glassware, and ephemera.
In Essex Junction Vermont, Danish Modern furniture.
In Raleigh, North Carolina, Pyrex, most anything vintage including jewelry, linens and funky rugs etc.
Toledo, Ohio is selling Pyrex, vintage toys and some antique accent pieces.
Northwest Arkansas is selling vintage pocket knives, name brand furniture, smalls from Japan, Germany and Italy. Vintage and mid-century items and high end items to name some.
North Carolina, mid-century items and furniture, primitives and crates with advertisements.
Meridian, Mississippi, Pyrex, Tupperware, anything industrial and ephemera.
Eastern Washington state, guns, coins, militaria, mid-century modern, wooden fishing lures, and primitives.
South of Houston, Texas, Pyrex and Fire King, primitives, most do over pinterestable furniture, good butcher block work tables.
St. Louis, Missouri, good brand electronics, painted furniture, early Chinese pottery,
Virginia, jewelry, mid-century, guns, military.
Houston, Texas vintage electronics, mid-century modern, tools, garden decor, vintage rattan, primitives, farmhouse chic.
These are just the responses received in the last ten hours. We wish to thank all the estate liquidators that took time to respond and we will update again in the Spring.
We did not hear from anyone in the northeast and southeast or California, but this is the start of another estate sale weekend.
One item that does stand out is Pyrex. What was once old and put in rummage sales is now prized and collected.
Estate sales offer renewal, an opportunity to bring the past into the present and present us with happy memories.
Shopping at estate sales saves $$$, recycles keeping our planet green and keeps our past in the present.
Check out these estate sale listing websites for estate sales near you.
Buying Valentine Gifts At Estate Sales
Buying a Valentine gift at an estate sale is special.
Instead of overpriced flowers or candy and better than a crowded dinner out.
A Valentine gift purchased at an estate sale tells your Valentine you took time to be thoughtful.
Estate sales have so much to offer right now and you still have three weeks to find that special gift.
You may even find vintage Valentine cards to give. Romance, art and love were in the air then.
Here are some of the great Valentine gift ideas at estate sales. From jewelry to vintage, art to games you can find it at an estate sale.
Choose An Estate Sale Company By Reputation Not %
Today there are more than 15,000 estate sale companies working across America. Choosing an estate sale company should be about experience, reputation, reliability and integrity. The very last consideration should be commission or a fee.
Speaking with an estate sale company, asking to see referrals and conversing with them, reviewing their experience.
Seek out reviews on the internet and don’t hesitate to ask the estate liquidator about the reviews, especially those in question.
So many companies have come on line that it is now more important than ever to ask about their experience in the business, how they got into the business and why estate liquidations.
The very last question should be about commission and in the end this is not that important. If an estate sale company does a poor job a low commission won’t help you.
Like any other specialist, estate liquidators consider all their costs, plus the profit they need to make their living and the commission is usually based on that.
When choosing an estate sale company, choose by previous results with others, not what they want you to pay and make sure you sign an estate sale contract that covers everything. Success doesn’t just happened, it is earned and comes from knowledge. Be a savy consumer and choose wisely.
Removing Hazardous Waste Items From Estate Sales
Removing hazardous waste items from estate sales is important and necessary with estate sales.
Hazardous waste items include leftover paint cans, chemicals, pesticides, motor oil, old television tubes and other items which require special handling and can not be put in a trash dumpster.
Sellers, if you are not taking these items with you, discard of them properly or ask the estate liquidator what they will charge to eliminate them.
Disposing of what is considered hazardous waste today is not an inexpensive process and most estate sale companies will now include a clause in their contract that deals with who will and the cost of hazardous waste disposal.
Matters that use to be so simple to deal with our now becoming more important and most times more difficult. As the result, many estate sale companies are adding to their contracts to cover these situations and prevent misunderstandings.
We would like to take this time to discuss the weather across the nation right now. In most areas of the United States severe rain, heavy snow falls, high winds, and in some cases tornadoes. Estate sale companies are constantly monitoring these situations.
We urge estate sale buyers to exercise caution attending sales and stay alert to weather conditions and estate sale company postings.
Be sure to check these estate sale listing websites for updates on estate sales in your area.
Estate Sales Help For 2017
EstateSalesNews.com for 2017 has offered estate sales help for almost four years now.
We have covered almost any topic you could think of.
As we enter the winter season for much of the country let’s do a general review.
Sellers – How to choose a estate liquidator, do your own due diligence, what to expect and what not to expect, estate sale contracts. Over 100 topics to think about and consider as a seller.
Buyers- Buyers etiquette, where to find estate sales, how to enter an estate sale. Having an estate sale kit and what to bring to an estate sale, and how to negotiate to with estate liquidators in an unoffensive and successful way.
Estate sale companies – What to include in an estate sale contract, how to work with sellers that don’t understand the liquidation process. Where to advertise your estate sales. Using social media to be found and get your message out. Working and networking with other liquidators and appraisers. Where to list your estate sales. Working with a website.
We have also covered estate sales of the rich and famous.
All this information is in our archives along with videos and is free to assist you.
Our goal is and has been to educate and inform you without cost and provide answers and solutions. Liquidating personal property is a stressful experience whether you are downsizing or selling off a loved ones belongings.
Estate sale companies wear many hats and the experienced companies that have great reputations understand what is required for success for all parties.
We hope that as the number one internet source for estate sale information we provide you with the estate sale help you need. We no longer liquidate estates, but we use our twenty plus years of experience to hopefully guide you in the liquidation process.
We welcome your thoughts, comments and suggestions. Please email us at carol@estatesalesnews.com. We will respond as soon as possible.
