FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The first step in the process is to contact an estate sale company, share your situation and schedule an appointment. Allowing us a chance to view the home and hear about your unique situation will help us better serve you. We will work with you to find out the best plan of action whether that be an estate sale, a clean-out, buyout or individual item purchase.

We would like you to call as soon as you believe you might need our services. We usually ask for a two-week notice but also understand that situations arise suddenly and abruptly. We often have sales lined up for several weeks in advance but by calling as soon as you are aware of your needs we may be able to fit you in at the last-minute.

Our consultation and meeting with you is free of charge.

Once on site, we can assess and determine the feasibility of a sale. We will work with you to find out the best plan of action whether that be an estate sale, a clean-out, buyout or individual item purchase based on what we see at the home. It is during this time that we will review the contract with you, discuss availability and answer all questions you may have.

There is no up-front or out-of-pocket expense to you. We charge a percentage of total sales for our commission, and simply deduct that from the proceeds at the end of the sale.  For a full list of what is included in the percentage visit the “Estate Sale Services” tab under the “About Us” section of our website.

Do not discard anything! Old magazines and newspapers are highly sellable items and should not be discarded. Even items as simple as cleaning supplies usually sell well, you would be surprised at what people are interested in buying. Items that do not sell can always be discarded or donated at the end of the sale.

While that is charitable, these items are completely sellable at an estate sale and bring in additional profits to benefit the estate. Please refrain from discarding or donating any items within the home as these donations can be determined after the estate sale. If you feel that you must discard or donate any items please contact us to receive a professional opinion to make sure the item is not of high value. We would be happy to help!

Simply put, every house and situation is unique. Within the last 6 years we have encountered setups that range anywhere between 3 days to 2 weeks depending on the size and contents within. This timeframe is established on the first appointment and is based on the situation.

First, we set up our display tables throughout the home and re-arrange furniture to maximize retail space. We then unearth any drawers, boxes and cabinets throughout the home and clean items as necessary. From there we separate sellable from non-sellable, research antique and high valued goods and finally, affix prices to all the displayed items. Throughout the process we often find personal effects such as social security cards, bank or tax documents and other sensitive material which we set aside to be gone through by the owner of the estate.

The average estate sale is open to the public for 2-3 days (between Thursday and Sunday). In some circumstances we have conducted multiple sale weekends for one home due to the amount of items and having to do the sales in sections. With that said, a typical estate sale can be completely set up, advertised, run and completed within one weeks time frame.

Every situation is different. The short answer is yes, we tend to offer slight discounts on the second day of a sale (upwards of 20%) and may increase the discount on the days following (upwards of 50%). Our pricing begins slightly under retail value and as we discount, the prices become more enticing to secondary market customers. Any discounting after the initial price drop is done to ensure a liquidation of the contents of the home while keeping fixed prices on items of high value. Discounts are all based on the situation and are established with the owner prior to holding the sale.

Yes! We handle everything through email, faxing and registered mail so living outside of Michigan during the process is no problem. This process is simple and we have been handling out-of-state residents for many years. If you’re working with a local realtor or with a lawyer, we can go through them as well.

We accept all major credit cards and cash.

This is Ultimately up to the client. We can assist with donating the left overs and also offer full clean out services.

Unfortunately we are unable to work in a home that someone is living in.