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What is your commission? Are there additional fees included? Do you have a minimum fee? (Keep in mind that just because an estate sale company charges a higher commission, does not mean you will receive less money. Ask the estate sale company for an estimate of the total value of the estate? If they are experienced, they should be able to tell you within a few thousand dollars how much you should expect to receive at the conclusion of the sale – clean-outs included!)
May I have list of your RECENT referrals? (If a company is touting they conduct several estate sales each month, ask for several referrals within the past few months. Do not settle for referrals that are year’s old. Call and speak to referrals and get a sense of their expectation and their satisfaction of the services performed.)
Are you licensed, bonded & insured?
May I put reserve prices on certain items? (If you have items of significant value you’d like a specific amount for – let the estate sale company know. Additionally, do not be apprehensive about asking for reduced commissions on high-dollar items. Estate sale companies would prefer to have the car or motorcycle or Aunt Katherine’s diamond ring in the sale and sell it at a reduced commission rather than not have it in the sale at all.)
Do you sell items early, prior to the posted sale date?
How many days will the sale run?
Do you have a shop or store location? What is the address at which you can be reached? (Ensure the company provides an address, and not just a P.O. Box. If they are licensed – they have a physical address).
May I stop by during the sale? (Many estate sale companies prefer owners not be present during the sale, which is common. NO estate sale company should prohibit owners from stopping by briefly to witness how the sale is being conducted. In fact, they should encourage it so you can have peace of mind your sale is being run professionally, and in turn be able to comfortably leave them a good referral based on the conduct of the sale.)
Do you allow employees to purchase items from the sale?
Do you have certified appraisers on staff? What is their experience and with whom are they certified?
Do you charge sales tax? (Licensed businesses are required to charge sales tax).
Do you accept payments by credit cards or checks? (If a company is reluctant to incur any type of electronic funds tracking, it may be a red flag.)
What type of sales details are provided upon completion of the sale? Do I get an itemized list of what sold and for how much, or just a check of the total sale, less commissions and fees?
What happens to the items that do not sell?
Do you offer a clean-out service?
How long after the sale until I receive payment?
Heirlooms and sentimental items should remain with the family and close personal friends. Before an estate sale, it is recommended that these items not for sale be removed from the residence. If that is not possible, designate a space in the home (a closet, bathroom, etc) where personal items can be stored out of the way. If there are larger items that are not for sale and that will not be removed prior to the estate sale, tag your items with a Post-It Note.
Estate Sales are full of surprises and with surprises typically comes more money in your pocket. Before filling a roll-away dumpster with sellable (and surprisingly valuable items), give the experts an opportunity to sort through and attempt to sell all of your items first. You will be surprised at what sells! After an estate sale is over is the perfect time to donate or throw away items that did not sell. Check out our list of items that can be sold in an estate sale here:
We recommend not stripping your sale of the valuable and interesting items. Items such as tools, jewelry, sterling silver, antiques, collectibles, designer purses, and cars help draw a large audience of buyers, therefore increasing the value of your entire sale. Estate sale shoppers look at photographs and descriptions of items being offered and decide to shop based on the variety and quality of items included in the sale. Without having quality items to draw buyers, regardless of the volume of lower dollar items, the potential for a successful sale is limited. An estate sale company should always have your best interest at heart with the goal of selling as much as possible and ensuring you get a check back at the end of the sale.
Believe it or not, families may be doing themselves a disservice by first selling many of their small items at their own garage or yard sale. A successful estate sale is dependent on a wide variety of available items. Furniture is not the “big seller” at an estate sale. Instead, it is the smaller items that bring typically 75-90% of the value. By selling the small items first, families may limit the number of companies who can help sell the remaining items. If the majority of items left are furniture and other large items, many estate sales are unable to assist.
It is recommended that you speak to more than one estate sale company before signing a contract. There are many different types of estate sale professionals out there, many who bring their own special experience, knowledge, and process. Although traditional estate sales are often desired due to their popularity over time, interview companies who also offer online auction estate sale services. Be sure to ask them about the benefits of each. In today’s day and age it is important to ensure the company you hire has a strong online presence. Be sure to research their website, read their Google Reviews, look at their social media (Facebook and Instagram), and make sure they are listed as Gold Members on both Estatesales.net and Estatesales.org.
