Advice on Estate Selling?

[michaelman2]

I have made a difficult decision to really downsize and sell off years of collected art, china, appliances, cookware etc.  Also home furnishings including both contemporary, mid-century and antiques.    

 

All of the items are high-end or considered luxury.  I have mulled over the idea about an estate sale and have someone that is willing to assist me in this daunting, very large task. 

 

Have been listing items on Craigslist and the only response has been scam type responses.  

 

I will be liquidating some of my parent's furnishings as well and am wondering the best way to accomplish a successful sale?  

 

Any tips or suggestions will be appreciated.

 

Mike

 

[pulltostart]

Mike

I've  not had to deal with an estate yet, but I've pretty much always thought it would be wise to hire a "professional" to handle the sale for me when the time comes.  Here in Mobile I've learned of 3 firms, any one of which I would trust with the task.  I figure if they can come in and get it ready (might take a couple of weeks - or more) and then handle the actual sale in a matter of 3 days, the cost would definitely be worth it to me.

 

I do know of one person in metro Atlanta, if you want to talk to an additional resource before making your decision.

 

If you are dealing with valuable items (such as you indicate above), I would definitely avoid CL.

 

Good luck!

lawrence

 

[michaelman2]

Hey Lawrence, 

 

Thank you.   I had considered an Estate Sale service, however, I am befuddled about the cost.   Absolutely correct about the use of CL for expensive items.   I have already been involved in a bad incident here, don't want to encourage another.   

 

Mike

 

[yogitunes]

or consider an auction house......

and seriously consider having it done at their site.......

you DON'T want a bunch of strangers roaming through your home....

unless you have a garage or warehouse to display the items....

 

[kevin313]

Mike,

While I don't have any experience having an estate sale, I've been to hundreds over the years and have seen them carried out in any number of ways. It sounds like you have some very nice, high-end things, and I have found that there are certain sellers that specialize in selling this kind of merchandise. I've even been to a number of sales over the years that were "by appointment only" because they didn't want a stampede of people rummaging through the house for an entire weekend, and in these cases the kinds of things they were selling were higher-end fare.

I put a link below to the Atlanta area listing of estate sale companies from EstateSales.net, which is a resource I use to find sales in my area that might have the kind of stuff I collect. Of course, I don't know anything about these companies, but you will see that many have websites where you could do a little research and perhaps find one that fits your needs. There is the issue of the fees - and often that is done on a percentage basis. I surely understand how some people may not have the time to sell things themselves, or even know where to start. You may want to try to find buyers for the more substantial items and then have a company do the bulk sales, as I have seen people approach it that way before.

Don't know if this is of any help, but I hope you find a solution that works best for you. Most of us - at some point - take a look around and realize that we have way too much stuff!! I go to some of these estate sales where the homes are packed to the gills and think to myself, "oh, I pray this isn't my house someday!" But the reality is that it may likely be the case, because I'm at estate sales buying things left behind from a person's life only to add them to my own stockpile so that someone else can buy them when I'm gone! It's kind of a crazy cycle collectors live in!

http://https//www.estatesales.net/companies/GA/Atlanta

 

[foraloysius]

I'm with Martin, consider an auction house, especially when it comes to art and antiques. You'll never get the value of those things selling them at an estate sale.

 

[michaelman2]

Thanks for the tips and suggestions ..... I had not even thought about an auction house....great idea!

 

[polkanut]

My advice would be to possibly check out Angie's List or your local Better Business Bureau.  An estate sale company that uses the number system, and limits how many people can be inside at a time is a plus in my book.  It lessens the possibility of items getting broken, pilferage etc.

 

My mom had to deal with cleaning out the house of an elderly woman that she's POA for, and she hired the job out.  They came in and staged it all, disposed of any items left, and cleaned the house afterwards.

 

[stan]

What if

You had a etaste sale, and acted like you were the hired pro.
Get a couple of trusty friends to be there with you to help keep a eye out.
Price everything ahead of time.. Put valuables that you don't want sold out of sight....In the garage, shead, or locked in a room that you don't want entered
There has to be a way to make this as easy on you as possible!