As many of us downsize our homes, we think about ways to sell our extra items. I thought many of you
might want to peer behind the scenes into how estate
sales organizations work and what you should expect from a professional approach.
Estate Sales have operated at a local level in this country
for many years. Today, with over 14,000
independent businesses operating in the United States, Caring Transitions® has
emerged as the industry leader. With offices in most major markets, Caring
Transitions® offers consumers more options for selling or buying household
goods.
Our recent series of newsletters on estate sales and liquidations have prompted some of our
followers to ask about the value of
hiring a professional versus trying to downsize mom and dad’s belongings on
their own. Caring Transitions® is pleased to provide insight and share what
really goes on “behind the scenes” at an estate sale. In our next three
newsletters, we will explain what consumers should expect from truly
professional estate sale companies.
Customers
First: If you’ve tried to hire an
estate sale company recently, they may have informed you that you simply do not
have enough items of value to hold a sale. There are a few reasons many
companies will not accept clients without at least $10,000 in estimated value
of household goods, but most of it boils down to the company’s bottom line.
Most small estate sale businesses charge for their sale using a commission structure
of 35-60%. Out of this commission they must be able to cover their labor,
overhead expenses and profits. You may
find companies who charge less or who accept smaller sales, but in many cases
you will find those companies will take advantage of their clients and make
their profits “on the side” through unethical resale and pricing practices. On
the other hand, professional companies like Caring Transitions®, the nation’s
largest estate sale network, are up front with clients about the fees involved
in a full-service estate sale. For smaller sales, Caring Transitions® will work
with sellers to try and find the best option for their goods. We can often
provide in-house alternatives to estate sale, such as such as CT online auctions, donations or
private buyer sales. Our objective is always to help the client resolve their
personal situation with as little stress as possible.
Disbursement
Strategies: A truly professional estate sale company will not only help the
seller decide what to sell or what has value, but they will also provide
direction and advice for working with siblings and heirs. They can offer advice
on how or when to determine “who gets what” before sale items are
advertised. Companies who are
experienced or well-trained understand that they are often dealing with highly
personal, sensitive or complex family dynamics and that they have been invited
to share in a family’s private matters. Respect for the client, the home and all its contents are hallmarks of a
truly professional organization.
Safety
and Security: When working in a private home, estate sale professionals are
granted access to many highly valuable and highly personal items. It is of the utmost importance that executors
and families hire companies that they can trust with personal data, financial
documents and valuables that may be hidden in drawers, cabinets and closets.
Professional companies such as Caring Transitions® have policies in place for
identifying and documenting such items. Every Caring Transitions® office is
fully insured to protect their clients and all employees are industry certified
as well as security screened for an added layer of assurance. During the sorting process, Caring
Transitions® will identify and secure the most valuable items and during the
sale they will post employees to oversee items that may be subject to theft.
Next week we’ll share more “behind the scenes” information
in Part 2.
© Caring Transitions 2016 no reprint
in part or entirety without express permission.