It can be a frustrating thing when you’re asked from your realtor to have the house empty the by the 1st. As the summer has arrived, the estate market has undergone their busiest period ever, as realtors and homeowners being under a lot of pressure to empty estates.
With such a difficult, and very stressful, task ahead we’re pleased to tell you that you can hire an estate sale company that will manage all of your belongings and sell them. But how do you choose the best one? Stick around as we’re going to explain that in this article.
Don’t Throw Anything Away
Many families think that the best course of action to take before they interview an estate sale company is to throw the simple things away. This could not be a bigger mistake as most people aren’t interested in furniture or china, but rather in the small, collectible, things. Those little vintage items that have been in your possession for god knows how long are the things that bring in the dollars at an estate sale. And you should not throw them because these companies can get the most out of those things.
Do Some Research
Once you’ve removed all the things you want to keep, it’s time to hire an estate sale company that will liquidate the rest of your belongings. The best course of action here would be to do your research on the best ones in your area. A great place to start is to ask for a recommendation from your real estate agent, as they tend to know all of the people in the business. According to Attics to Basements, an estate sale company, a quick Google search will reveal all the estate sale companies in your area. But don’t settle for the first one. Always go for the one that has a nice website that looks professional with listed services, photos, and staff. Another excellent tip is to look at customer satisfaction and ratings from previous estate sales, to get a better understanding of how good the company is.
Interview
Once you’ve found your first candidate, it’s time to do an interview face to face. While most people would do it over the phone, we believe that it’s best done if you meet the company officials in person. Make them come over for consultation on-site because it is the best way for the estate sale company to assess potential liabilities that the property may have. They can take a look at the parking situation, the items for sale, and more.
Ask Some Key Questions
When you do your interview with the estate sale company, it’s crucial that you ask the right questions. Ask about their insurance policy, their staffing, what kind of contact is their staff on, and the type of contract they are willing to give you. Other questions such as the pricing should also be on your mind as you would want to know how much they will charge for the estate sale.
Types of Payment
When on the subject of pricing, the best estate sale company will accept credit cards as this is the best indicator of professional conduct. Checks or cash leaves too much room for error, and according to the laws of the United States, all estate sales company should be collecting sales tax.
