With so many estate sale companies, how do you choose the right one?
Finding an estate sale company is easy, in recent years many companies found it to be a lucrative opportunity and overnight started a home based business called an estate sale company, but is that truly the type of company you’re looking to hire for your or your loved one’s estate sale?
Estate sales have been around for decades, but understanding the fundamentals that truly differentiates one estate sale company from another will help you make the right decision if and when the time comes.
It’s important to contact the estate sale company and discuss your needs. The discussion is generally an interview process for both sides.
The estate sale company will want to know what your needs are and this is the perfect opportunity for you to discover a little more about their knowledge, experience in the estate sale industry and how long they’ve been performing estate sales. Your first question should always begin with, are you insured and bonded?, Although many new estate sale companies start each year, they are equally matched by the amount of companies that don’t last past their first sale, you’ll only want to bring an estate sale company in your home that’s well established, insured, bonded and knows exactly what they’re doing.
Cleanliness and Professionalism
You’ll want to know more about the services they offer, will it include unpacking, organizing, staging, pricing, selling and leaving your home debris free after the estate sale or will you have to hire another company and incur additional costs.
Methods of Pricing your items
Experience and network comes into play when it comes to pricing your estate sale items. A well established estate sale company will have a network of experts in every area of the industry. The goal is to sell your items at the highest value the market will bare, under pricing or over pricing your items does not serve a purpose for you or the estate sale company.
Marketing your estate sale
A successful estate sale only happens when a company has built a large network and following of both buyers and sellers. An estate sale company serves as a liaison between all parties involved. A well established estate sale company will have thousands of buyers that only frequent their estate sales. Ask about their plan to market your sale. You’ll want to choose a company that is active in the online community and doesn’t simply put up a sign at the corner and wait for buyers with a hope and a prayer.
Selling resources
Sure you want to hold an estate sale, but a successful estate sale company will provide you with other options depending on the items you are liquidating. Companies such as Grasons Co. has sold items such as boats, RV’s, automobiles, fine jewelry, Rolls Royces, antique rare clocks that are 20′ high, and collections of over 8000 toys or coins. Finding buyers that are willing to pay premium for rare items such as these is not easy for most companies, but a well established estate sale company has built the connections necessary to sell your items at the highest value buy reaching direct collectors, placing items in an auction, or using other methods. You should not only ask, but expect an estate sale to provide you these options.
At Grasons Co. we love what we do because it’s much more than just an estate sale.