FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Do you have a written agreement?

Yes. Everything is in writing.  Everything we have promised you and what your responsibilities are. We charge 35% of your first $20,000 of sales and you pay for any city permits and your cleanout. We have no cancellation fee.

How much do you charge for your services?

We charge 35% of the pre-tax sales for the first $20,000 of volume, and it drops 5% to %30 for the next $10,000 of volume. For sales over $30,000, you pay 25%.  There are exceptions: Fine jewelry, sets of sterling silver, rugs and other items that each sell for over $1500 are at 5% less than your current rate of commission.  You pay for any city permits and your cleanout.

How do you know how to price the items in my sale?

 The owner, Diane DellaValle, is a certified accredited personal   

  property appraiser. She owned an antique store for 25 years.

  Costly mistakes that frequently occur in this business with the

  Inexperienced don’t happen with us.       

I have many valuables in my home. Can you hold a private sale?

Yes.  We specialize in Private Sales. Many condominium complexes and retirement villages do not allow public sales.  Some clients live in areas where is little or no parking and other clients are concerned with liability. Vetted customers are invited by appointment only and no address is ever posted. We became acquainted with a large number of these clients during the pandemic.

How long does the process take from beginning to end?

When required, we can do a full-scale public sale in ten days from signing the agreement to collecting from the last customer. We prefer 14 days.

Will I need a permit from the City?

Many cities do require a permit. Most call it a ‘Garage Sale” permit. To name a few that do, Beverly Hills, San Gabriel, San Marino, and South Pasadena. Simply call your City Hall for the answer.

Do you hire armed guards? How do you protect my valuables?

We rarely need to hire armed guards. All valuables are sold to vetted customers during the private, appointment only, Phase I portion of your sale. Occasionally a few pieces of  art or Persian rugs may remain.

Do you charge sales tax at your sales?

Yes. As required by law, we charge the prevailing rate of sales tax for the jurisdiction in which your home is situated unless the buyer has a valid Resale Permit from the CA State Dept. of Tax and Fee Administration. If a company says they pay your tax or they include it in the price of the item, consider this, using an average sales tax rate of 10%: A $100 sale becomes $90 and a $3800 sale becomes $3,420. Unfortunately, there is no license to operate for estate liquidators. Be very cautious.   Some don’t even have a resale permit from the State of CA to collect sales tax.

Do you carry liability insurance?

Yes, $1,000,000. When hiring a company who will work on your property, always request a copy of the Certificate of Insurance, i.e., the Declarations Page of their liability insurance policy.

What forms of payment do you accept?

We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, AMEX, Pay Pal, Apple, Zelle, Venmo, and an occasional paper check, all with proper ID if we don’t know the customer. We also accept cash. Financial experts assert that accepting credit cards increase your sales volume by 15%.

Is your company a Franchise?

No. Franchises can be sold to people who may have no experience or product knowledge.  These companies can make innocent but very costly errors as a result. They are probably fine for a small estate with ordinary household items, but if you even suspect you may have something of value, vet your prospective liquidator.

Do you sell fine jewelry?

Yes, and we will get higher prices than you will achieve from your own jeweler. We always sell jewelry in the beginning of your sale to our informed private buyers with means. We are happy to arrange net arrangements from you.

Do you sell vehicles?

Very Successfully! We achieve high prices for vehicles by using the foolproof sealed bid method. We sell automobiles from antique to late models. We sell boats, airplanes, motorhomes, and trailers. The title must be present and clear. (Ask about our special rates). We even sell wheelless containers.

Do you write receipts that list the items being sold? Do customers get a copy? Will I get copies?

We use two-part receipt books that include our business name. Unless your liquidator uses a cash register with a tape, providing the customer with a receipt that includes a description of the purchased item is basic Good Business Practice.  You do not receive copies of the sales receipts. It is very rare for a client to be interested in copies of these receipts,  and a third copy is costly and difficult to read. If you request them, it can be accomplished by having our permanent, original copies reproduced. We can coordinate their duplication if you so choose.  Be prepared to pay a handling fee of $50 as well as  reimbursement of the fee charged by FedEx of $150 to $250.

When will I get paid?

We will provide you with a Final Accounting Report on an Excel Spreadsheet (both hard copy and electronic), along with your check within 15 business days of the conclusion of your sale.