How It Works

If you are getting ready to hire an estate liquidator, the best way to decide is to make an appointment with us at the home where the sale will be held. We can tour the home; you can share the details of your situation and get your questions answered. We will give you a sample contract so you will know what you can expect from us and what we will need from you.

Ideally, things that the family plans to keep will have been removed before we begin. Some family members may live in other cities, and this can sometimes be a long process.

Once you are able to select dates for your sale, we create your contract.  You will have already read the sample we gave you at our first meeting.   You give us access with a key and agree not to be present at any time during the process of Phase I and Phase II of your project.

We have a three-phase business plan.

Phase I

We prepare your home for the sale, bringing in our tables to display your smaller items. We stage your home for the sale, plan your  space for security and safety, and concurrently keep appointments with our most important buyers. These people are successful antique dealers, interior designers, and gallery owners. They are hunting for art, finery, jewelry, unusual things and vintage items. Our normal hours on site during this phase are 11am to 4pm, but we will only be present when we are preparing or have appointments.

 At the end of Phase I, we price most everything, take photographs of the remaining items which will be posted with your ads,  and perform the marketing for your public sale. At that point,  your sale goes dark for four or five days to give everyone a chance to find your ads.

Phase II

This is your Public Sale. We will post directional signs if it is allowed by your city or municipality.  There will be a sign-up sheet at your entrance.  People will stand in line for hours before we open and there will be a great deal of activity throughout each day.  About 75% of the time, we conduct sales on Saturday and Sunday with shorter hours on Sunday.

Yes, we do conduct private estate sales with no public ever invited. See frequently ask questions for a complete explanation.

Phase III

Without guidance, clients or realtors will sometimes schedule carpet cleaners, window washers or painters the day after a sale is over.  Please allow three or four days before scheduling any such work.

Years ago, we usually had an almost empty house at the end of the sale. However, 12 or 14 publicly held companies are having furniture manufactured in China and imported to the United States every single day. They are able to deliver an entire dining room set for under $500 to a first-time retail buyer. Yes, the glue may dry out in five years, but no one seems to care. So, the generation who once would have haunted second-hand stores to furnish their first home are gone.  Consequently, a number of things, mostly furniture,  will remain at the end of your sale.  Cleanouts are not part of our service, but we will coordinate it for you at your request and deduct the cost from your proceeds to pay for it if you so choose.

You can order a special pick-up from your refuse company if you live in an area that offers it on a regular basis. Some areas allow you to put things on the curb for free. But they are sometimes never taken. You can contact a charity but most of them don’t pick up furniture anymore because of the surplus. Sadly, this isn’t an easy project. The quicker, more efficient alternative is to hire a cleanout company. We work with a few and can recommend one or two if you like.  Most of these companies will donate what is acceptable and provide you with a receipt. Rarely, you might find someone who will give you a break on the fee to keep some of it to sell at a swap meet or secondhand outlet.