Buried in Work StaffThis 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 ways to prepare for an Estate Sale consultation that will make the search for the perfect company much easier and less confusing for you as a client. Here’s a couple of quick tips prior to calling and setting up appointments with estate sale companies:
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Remove any personal photos or documents from the home. This insures that during the estate sale process they are not misplace. Some older documents can remain (i.e. antique photos, historical documents, older deeds, etc.) that may be of interest during the sale.
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Remove or clearly mark any items that are not to be sold. For example, if the home is/will be for sale and will include large appliances in the sale of the home such as fridges, stoves, or washer/dryer, be sure to mark these items Not For Sale or NFS. If there are multiple items that you plan on taking but can not remove at that time, gather them together and place them in an area (bedroom, closet, etc) that can be left unseen and closed off.
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Make sure that you are allowed to sell the contents of the home, this may require documentation. Have it available when you are meeting companies for consultations.
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Write a list of questions you may have for your meeting. Most common question are:
1.) Is your company insured?
2.) What happens to contents left over after the estate sale?
3.) Do you own a thrift store/consignment shop?
4.) How many days will the estate sale be held for?
5.) What is you minimum and/or commission rate?
These four points can help you be prepared for any estate sale consultation and make it a quick process when selecting your preferred Estate Sale company!
