FYI: What isn't an "Estate Sale?" (The best bet is to send me a dozen pics by phone/text of the major areas of your inventory. I will review them and let you know what I think. )
What is not an estate sale is: What is left in a home and property after you take all the goodies away, and leave only the beat up furniture, the trash in the shed, and basement, garage, etc. That is NOT an estate sale.
IF you have already had a half dozen yard sales, you should finish the job yourself and call charity for pick up. And charity won't take that stuff so just take it to the landfill.
I am trying to save you time and stress. In other words: don't "downsize" before you call an estate seller and expect us to make you and us money on the dregs.
Call me first and I will do the entire job for you. EstateMAX handles the entire project. The client is not present for setup, sale and clean up. They have taken everything they are keeping out, before the sale and we liquidate and clean out the rest. They get the tax receipts and a check at the end of the week.
Don't designate your mother's used sofa, the torn recliner, the stained linens, her scratched furniture, the oversized hutch, etc. Oversized is the kiss of death to an estate sale. But we put a price on it and depending on it's looks, brand and condition, it might sell. We beg people to buy some things like this and they will if the price is right!
So, obviously if you want a positive return on the estate sale so there has to be good stuff to sell! You have to have smalls, mediums and larges- a variety of inventory, including but not limited to: and not necessarily all of these categories, but a mix of stuff that people want to shop through, to find treasure: all of the rooms represented: and garage, shed, toys, books, smalls, collectibles, kitchen items, dining room, rugs, maybe vehicles.
It does not all have to be "perfect" or close to it-some imperfections are OK. We can put it all up for sale, and we do our best to take people's money and get the stuff out the door, but the obviously very used, torn and damaged furniture,will go into a dumpster, or be given away. With some exceptions like primitive antique furniture, collectibles, etc. I know which is which and that is why you should hire a pro... The mattresses and box springs too, so take them with you or find new owners for them, if you can. It's against the law In MD to sell. Charity won't even take that stuff.
I just did a sale that an auctioneer turned down...too much "brown furniture", typical household goods, etc. Well, good for him. I made my client $8,000-plus on that estate inventory! Auctioneers give it away for a buck apiece or box lots. And throw the antiques out the door. I price it. We did well, all things considered. My client was thrilled. She did not have to lift a finger.
Consider an estate sale all the things someone has been living with for years, minus the trash. We clean out the trash in advance of the sale, so you don't have to... BTW: Almost any estate deserves a 1 day sale then the clean out. Ask Laurie how it works!
