MYTH VS FACT

MYTH: Someone has to die in order to have an estate sale

 FACT: Not true! Many of my clients just want to downsize their lives by moving into a smaller space. Many retirees are just wanting to simplify their lives, in other words, lets pack up the RV and hit the road baby!

Conversation Piece

I love my job! Once our customers realized what this piece would have been used for by midwives, it was the talk of the day. Yes, its a birthing chair. Can you imagine? Although, it got me to thinking about my own house. Outside of an original painting on my wall (and trust me its nothing too special but has generated conversation), I don't have anything in my home interesting enough to be considered a conversation piece. Well, if I needed an excuse to do some estate sale shopping; I've just found it. What do you have in your home that has made for a good conversation piece?

www.ciajestates.weebly.com

Interviewing Estate Sale Companies

It's wise for anyone in need of an estate sale to do their homework. Hiring an estate sale company requires a lot of trust in the company you hire. Here are a few tips to guide you along the way:

1. Interview a minimum of three companies and take notes on each company to help you keep track.

2. Ask for references. Be sure to call a couple of them. You may think that no one is going to give you the name of someone who may give them a negative review. However, previous customers tend to be very honest about their feedback and will give you both the negative and positive. They will feel more comfortable sharing information with a prospective customer that they may not have been comfortable sharing with us.
   
3. Ask if they are bonded and require proof. 

4. Ask what services are included with their fee after the sale. Cleanup, handling of leftovers etc. Is it at an additional charge?

5. Find out what type of advertising for the sale is involved and if those expenses are included with their fee.  One of the keys to a successful and effective estate sale is high foot traffic.

More tips coming soon! Take a look at our upcoming sales at www.ciajestates.weebly.com
Thank you!

My Sweet Valentine

Valentine's Day is upon us. Although my husband and I don't get caught up in the big celebration of the day (we limit ours to a romantic dinner/no gifts), I know many couples who do look forward to the day-- well at least my female friends. Not so sure about the guys. My advice to those couples is to use this day to be more creative. Online shopping is cool, but, you did that at Christmas. Retail shopping is always an option, but, a more expensive one as well. Wait for it....wait for it.....hit your local estate sales and put those creative juices to work! You can find some sales beginning as early as Wednesday's now (www.estatesales.net or www.estatesales.com). Visualize yourself walking through a home and you come upon a beautiful Longaberger basket; hmmm, what can we fill this basket with? Picnic items with the promise of an indoor picnic during the wintry weather? Books and bubble bath maybe? Or, CD's and movies for a romantic night in? The possibilities are endless. Dare to be different and surprise your boo with great finds from an estate sale!

New or Used?

During this time of year, most estate sale professionals avoid scheduling sales too close to the holidays. Of course, if a family is facing a time emergency and the home must be vacated- the show will go on. However, if there is flexibility we tend to work around the holidays. This decision can be based on personal reasons or  strategic business decisions. For me personally, I avoid the weekend before Thanksgiving and Christmas. I always wonder, do normal estate salers (excluding dealers) prefer to shop new or used during this time of year? After all, this time of year brings the thrill of retail shopping with major discounts. Do shoppers prefer black Friday shopping for new or used items? Or, does it matter? Whatever your preference, I hope the goal is to enjoy the experience.Praying many blessings for you all this Thanksgiving and happy shopping whatever route you choose!  

Contract Clarity

Estate Sales Contract

Estate Sales News wants you to have every available resource and here is a check list for an estate sale contract between you and the estate sale company.
The contract should lay out the following in clear language.

• Name of the estate sales company
• Your name (you’re hiring the liquidator)
• Date of the contract
• Address where the sale is to take place
• Dates the sale is to be held and time
• Party responsible for advertising costs
• Who is responsible and paying for permits (i.e. sign, sale etc.)
• Cost of the sale – commission, fee or both, make sure it is explicit
• How the net proceeds of the sale will be paid out, i.e cash or check.
• Payout for sale is end of each day or end of sale
• Any items to be excluded from sale
• Will you be charged if an item is removed from sale after contract signed
• Who is responsible for the clean out after the sale is concluded
• Does the liquidator provide a written account of items sold
• Any additional costs for specialists i.e. appraisers
• Is the company bonded and insured

All of these items should be covered in the contract for your protection and the estate sales company and to prevent misunderstandings during the liquidation process.

Information taken from Estate Sale News at estatesalenews.com 

Worry-free Estate Sales

 

 Courtesy of carringtonrealestate.com

Estate Sales are Worry-Free, Profitable Options for Getting the Most out of 'Too Much Stuff'

Whether it comes about because of a death in the family, divorce, downsizing, the need to meet tax or court-ordered requirements, or simply because you have a house full of things too valuable for a garage sale…

… an estate sale is ideal for getting the most value out of a home's treasures with the least amount of trouble.
What is an estate sale? In many ways, it is the definition of peace of mind: you hire a company to go into a home, appraise its entire contents, then organize, market, and manage an in-home sale (typically two days) with the goal of selling every item; you don't even have to be there during the sale.
If the company is a good one, it will do all of the heavy work and you'll pay nothing out-of-pocket. Instead, it will typically take as its commission 10 to 25 percent of the net proceeds, excellent motivation for the company to get the best price possible on every item. Professionally managed estate sales are key sources for antique dealers, collectors, and decorators, so the likelihood of the home's inventory selling for the correct price and ending up in the right hands is very good.
Depending on your needs and the company, an estate sale can even include provisions to haul away unsold items, leave the home vacant and clean, and arrange for donating all the things that didn't sell to charity and giving you the tax-deductible receipt.
Here are some important things to remember:
1. Don't clean the items and NEVER throw anything away in an attempt to "help" the estate sale company. Leave it to the professionals: they know how to clean without causing damage, and they know the potential value of what lay people perceive as junk, such as old postcards, political campaign memorabilia, and other hidden treasures. Be sure to remove items you intend to keep.
2. Do your due diligence in selecting the estate sale company. Interview at least two, check to confirm their licenses, insurance, and references, and back off if the company wants to charge you for an interview and inspection of the home's contents. If you can, attend one of their sales to see if it is well-staged and well-run.
3. If the home's collection is especially rich in categories such as antique furniture, jewelry, and antique collectibles, take special care that the estate sale company has appraisal specialists on staff in those particular areas.
A well-done estate sale, where you leave it all to the professionals in order to get the highest profit, is proof that the best way is also sometimes the easiest!
For more information about preparing for a home transition, contact your local Carrington Real Estate Services sales professional.