One of the most frequent questions we get is: "What do we need to do to get ready for you all to come do our sale?" Talk about a loaded question, lol. Seriously, this is one we answer all the time and there is a basic answer.
Take what you want out of the house before you call us to come look. If you can't remove it, tag it or move it all to one room.
Throw away trash. If you know there are boxes of dry rotted magazines there, throw them away. If you aren't sure if it's trash, leave it and we'll take a look. Generally, if something is mildewed, dry rotted or covered in animal feces, it's trash. Sorry to be so graphic but you'd be surprised...
If you will do these two things, it makes it super easy for us to evaluate the estate and decide whether it is large enough to hold an on-site sale or whether we need to do an online auction of the estate. A successful on-site sale needs lots of "stuff" to make sure it is well attended and profitable for everyone. If there are nice, sellable items, but not an abundance of them, then we can do an online auction. These are an easy way to accomplish your liquidation goals and still realize the most profit. Our app is available in the Google Play Store and in the Apple App Store for free. Search Southern Estate Sales and download today!
Now, this next part is just extra, it's things not to do even if you are just considering an estate sale.
1. Don't give or donate anything until you have spoken with a professional. Many of the things you will give away are the things estate sale companies make the majority of money on. Things like linens, cleaning supplies (even open ones), toiletries, dishes, pots, etc. are always big sellers at sales.
2. Don't pull everything out of cabinets and drawers...we'll do it and it is easier if we do it knowing where it will go than having to pick things up off of floors and round stuff up from all over the house.
3. Don't stress over stuff that is packed up and hasn't been seen in years. We will pull it out and go through it, clean it, prepare it for sale or throw it away if it is ruined. We WON'T throw away any personal items like pictures, letters, financial info. We put those things aside for the family.
4. Don't wait until you have a contract to sell the house before you call us. We usually work 4-6 weeks out and need some time to get you on the calendar. We try to accommodate everyone so please call as soon as you even consider doing a sale.
5. Don't think that a sale needs silver and crystal and diamonds to be successful and great. Some of our most profitable sales have been held in average middle class homes with everyday belongings. People are always looking for quality items at a great price and that's what we offer!
I hope this helps if you are considering an estate liquidation, please don't hesitate to call us for a free consultation. We would love to help you decide if it's the right decision for you.
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