Estate Sale Companies: Finding The Perfect Fit

This article was originally published on LinkedIn by Krys Galakatos, a certified appraiser and the owner of Heritage Estate Sales, LLC and the Rummage Gala. This article has been posted with the author’s permission and has been lightly edited.

There are many estate sale companies out there and finding the right one can seem like an impossible task. You might find yourself just closing your eyes and picking a few out of the phone book at random. This doesn’t really work in your favor because each company has a different personality and way of running their sales.

Not every company will be right for you. Your best bet is to look at a variety of estate sale companies by using their website. A company’s website will tell you a lot about the type of company they are and give you a hint if they are the right match for you. Ask yourself these questions:

• Do I want a franchised company or an individual owned?

• Do they offer a variety of services?

• Is their website informative?

Franchised or individually owned

A franchised company is basically a cookie cutter company that has many branches, usually in different states. They provide a uniform service that has set ways in which they handle their sales. Some require a non-disclosure agreement and some require certain conditions to be met before agreeing to hosting a sale. An individual owned company also may require certain conditions to be met but normally can tailor their services to your needs.

Do they offer a variety of services?

Some companies strictly offer estate sales while others may provide a variety services. Be sure to see what other services they offer. They may fit your situation better than a standard estate sale or they may have options you would prefer to have added on. Some companies even have recommendations when you are looking to have an appraisal, sell the home or even suggest another company who may be able to better provide for your estate needs.

Is their website informative?

The more information a website provides, the more informed you are as a client. This isn’t to say you won’t have other questions. There are always details that even the best website will not provide unless you call and question them. The more information on their website, the more confident you can be when making a decision!

Even the aesthetics of a company’s website can give you a feel for what kind of company you would be contacting. Be sure to at least glance at each of the pages provided, this will help you prepare or even answer any questions you may have. Once you narrow down your choices, give them a call and schedule an appointment to meet. The best way to find your perfect fit is by meeting the people who will be working with you face to face!