FAQ

It can be very difficult for the first timer to begin to organize and run a successful estate sale. Not only does it take a tremendous amount of time and effort , but it takes the knowledge and experience to be able to organize, stage, research, price, host, conduct the sale and receive top dollar for your family items.  In addition, it can be very emotional for family  during this process to deal with the memories  surrounding a loved one’s belongings.

There is also a greater perceived value on items in an estate sale as opposed to a garage sale. Many times you will see pricing at a family run sale either too high and not reflecting current market value, or too low and not maximizing the items' worth.

Estate sale companies not only have the knowledge, but also the resources including tables, risers, tablecloths, professional signage, lighting, showcases, cash registers, outstanding staff, and an established customer base. We are able to market sales through email lists, Facebook, and a variety of online and hard copy advertising businesses including Estatesale.org and Estatesales.net. Through these resources, we are able to liquidate a large amount of merchandise in a short amount of time, earning top dollar for our clients.

Once the family has chosen the items they want to keep from the estate, we begin preparing remaining items for sale.  On average, we work about 2-3 weeks preparing for a sale.  During that time, we go through every closet, drawer, basement, and attic, then clean, organize, research, price, and professionally display all remaining items.

Our estate sales usually run for three days.  All items are offered on first day at full price.  On the second day, prices are discounted by 25%; and on third day, discounted by 50%  The family is always offered the opportunity to establish a base price for a specific item, so that it would sell at no less than that base price.  We call this "redlining" an item.  However, we do caution against choosing too many redline items as it limits the profitability of the sale.

CS Estate sale has developed a reputation as the “most organized and well run  estate sale company”.  We pride ourselves on having everything very clean and displayed in a beautifully organized way. Our linen section looks like it came out of a department store!  It takes us a little longer to stage, but we and our clients think it's worth it. Additionally, our customers appreciate our efforts and tell us often that we have become their “favorite” estate sale company.

One of our best resources is our staff.  They are outstanding!   Always friendly, helpful and knowledgeable, they enjoy interactions with our customers as they assist them in making buying decisions. They even help tote items when the need arises!

You would be amazed at how much stuff the average person has. Our sales include not only lovely antiques, silver, jewelry, guns, furniture and tools, but also household, garage, clothes, and even opened cleaning products. When dollars are tallied at the end of our sale, totals can amount to a nice sum of money! 

While we frequently host sales that are closing out estates, many of our clients are merely downsizing or moving to assisted living. (Or maybe their home has sold really fast or their neighborhood doesn't allow sales.)  Since they are furnishing their new residences, they only have half of a house to sell.  That's okay.  With the permission of many of our clients, we are able to supplement their "half a house" sale with items from outside consignors.  Many of our consignors are also downsizing, and we are able to integrate their items to help make a full sale - a draw for our customers and a boon for maximizing sales for all involved.

First and foremost “DO NOT THROW ANYTHING OUT”!  You would be amazed at what one person considers junk and the other considers treasure. We know one family who got a dumpster and threw out countless antique glass milk bottles. They figured nobody would by them, and they were taking up too much space.  In today’s market, they would sell from  $10-40 each! That was a lot of money that went in to the garbage. As part of our service, we will “pitch and purge” those items that are not sellable.

The family also needs to get legal matters in order. If an estate is be closed out, a designated person needs to have proper authority, such as power of attorney, to be able to sell your loved ones items.  Since some estates are in probate, it's always best to consult with your attorney before beginning the sale of the home and its furnishings.   

Estate sales often include the sale of cars.  If a car is to be offered, we would need the title available in order to finalize the sale.

The family should choose the items they are going to keep and that information should be shared with the estate sale company at the time of initial consultation.  Our decision to accept a sale is based on the items to be included in the sale and what we expect gross sales could be.  Items removed from the sale after the contract is signed are subject to full commission.

 This is a challenging question and would probably be best answered in consultation with client, realtor, and estate sale company.  For all participants, timing is everything.  If the house sells prior to contracting for an estate sale there might not be enough time to schedule, prepare, and host a sale unless adequate time is allowed prior to the closing of the house sale.  Conversely, if a sale is held while the house is on the market, things can get a little messy during house showings  We understand that your home is a large investment and we want to work with you and your realtor so that all parties profit.  We have an excellent track record of working with our clients' realtors.  When our sales are held before the house is sold, we work collaboratively with the realtor to make things tidy for showings.  Additionally, we establish a prominent location for flyers and the realtor's business cards during the sale.  We regularly get inquiries about the availability of the home and direct our customer to that information.  Normally, we'll have 1000 customers, and potential home buyers, pass through the house on each of the three sale days. 

Our initial consultations are always free.     
Our  commission is based on the quantity and market value of items to be  sold, as well as how much time and effort is necessary to create a  beautiful sale.    
There are no out of pocket expenses for the  client.  Our commission generally covers all sale costs, including  advertising, credit card fees, prep days, and  sale staffing, and is deducted from gross sale proceeds  at the end of the sale.   
Occasionally, unusual expenses may be  necessary and are charged to the client.For example, it might be necessary to rent a commercial  dumpster to empty the house of years of debris.  Other times, out of the  ordinary advertising or security could be beneficial for productive  sale results.  These situations are few, and we always consult with the  client before we commit to unusual expenses. We cover the initial cost in these  circumstances and then deduct from the clients portion of the proceeds.