Estate Sale shoppers are always on the search for the next great find, with certain types of items shifting in popularity each year. At EstateSales.org, we decided to dig into our website logs to see what types of items buyers are searching for the most, and here’s what we uncovered. The Top 20 Search Terms…Read More
Events are being canceled, schools are closing, and the CDC is urging social distancing. Whats more, your client may have just called and wants to cancel or postpone their estate sale over fears of having a crowd people in their home. As an estate sale company, what are your options? While the decision to completely…Read More
Estate sales, tag sales, picker sales, digger sales, and downsizing sales all serve the same purpose. They are sales that occur over a period of time to liquidate the personal assets inside a home. What Is a Picker Sale? Estate sale companies organize picker sales. The quantity of items, type of items, location of the items or…Read More
Have you heard? Vintage fashion is in! There’s a nostalgia about vintage clothing with people throughout the country and for various reasons. Vintage clothing from estate sales and accessories are gaining in popularity, creating a sense of style that recycles past styles to create today’s new aesthetics. Vintage Fashion Styles If you’ve been, you know…Read More
As online reviews increase in popularity, your estate sale company’s reviews have a ripple effect that can determines your company’s reputation and continuity in the industry. It’s easy to find online negative reviews for estate sale companies. While we all try to focus on the positive side of things, it’s important to address why this…Read More
In the business world, the customer may always be right, however, there’s never a shortage of problem customers in estate sales. Even when you want to kick difficult customers to the curb, you want to maintain a good reputation, and stay in business. We hope these techniques to help you along the way. Who Are…Read More
Ethnographic art objects and collectibles are often found at estate sales across the country. Identifying and pricing tribal art items aren’t as simple as looking for similar items recently sold online. Use this guide to help you identify, research, price and sell ethnographic art and collectibles. Ethnographic Art Origin Identifying the region an ethnographic art…Read More
In estate sales, it’s never a simple answer. Online estate sale shopping continues to grow, but onsite traditional estate sales are still the preferred method of liquidating an estate. Estate sale shoppers still prefer the in-home estate sale experience where they can see the items before committing to purchase, but are traditional on-site estate sale…Read More
Like any business, proper planning leads to success. An estate sale business plan is a good idea whether you’ve been in the business for a while or just starting out. Here are some things you should know about putting together an estate sale business plan and what estate sale business requirements must be maintained. Why…Read More
Liquidators have a daunting task filling estate sale jobs. Employment in the estate sale industry differs from other retail or service industries for many reasons. Across the country, there are hundreds of estate sale companies. They are generally family-owned and operated by the owners themselves. Many owners would rather handle the various estate sale jobs…Read More
There are thousands of estate sales held on a weekly basis. Almost every home will have books. Identifying valuable, old books from the common books can be tricky. We’ve gathered some information and tips to help you properly identify and sell estate sale books at the highest value possible. Can You Judge Valuable Old Books…Read More
Every estate sale company will map out an advertising strategy to increase brand awareness and shoppers. This comprehensive guide to estate sale video advertising will help you boost the foot traffic to on-site estate sales and help you get noticed in your local community. Value of Estate Sale Video Advertising? Whether you follow an organic…Read More
Understanding proper numismatic value of estate coins and collections will help you fetch the right price for your estate sale clients. Many estate sales may have a few old coins or entire coin collections. The coins will vary from gold coins, to silver coins, ancient coins, world coins, and rare, odd coins. We’ve researched and…Read More
As an estate liquidator, making sound decisions relating to the products being sold at an estate sale is not only important, but it’s the law. As a re-seller of products, understanding the U.S. Consumer product safety regulations is essential for your estate sale business. Understanding the law, will help you avoid selling products that may…Read More
When it comes to estate sales, the contents of a home often vary, however it’s very common to find area rugs in almost every home. From contemporary area rugs to antique Persian rugs and tapestries, researching and properly pricing them can be quite a task. We hope to shed some light on estate oriental rugs…Read More
Safety and security at estate sales are essential, and is one of the many reasons a client will rely on a professional estate sale company to handle the liquidation of their items. A professional company should have policies, rules, and guidelines to minimize liability issues and protect itself and the client at all times. Estate…Read More
No matter what business you’re in, it’s exciting to get a potential lead. Estate sale leads can be initially evaluated over the phone but in almost all cases, a follow-up on-site estate sale interview is needed to further evaluate the items being sold, scheduling and what’s required of you as an estate sale company. Here are…Read More
With thousands of estate sales held on a weekly basis, one would wonder what happens after an estate sale? Where do the items go, and what estate sale procedures are generally followed by estate sale companies? We’ve reached out to our group of estate sale professionals to gather up as much information as we can…Read More
Although the estate sale industry has been around for years, there is no governing body that establishes estate sale rules, industry regulations or estate sale guidelines for companies to follow. Professional liquidators establish their own rules and guidelines to follow, and those may even change from one sale or company to another. In this article,…Read More
Porcelain dolls can be found at hundreds of estate sales nationwide each week. Antique porcelain doll collecting isn’t as popular as it used to be with today’s generation, but there are plenty of collectors worldwide that will browse estate sales and online estate auctions just to find their prized piece. Antique Doll Collecting The obsession…Read More
Estate sale email marketing is a great strategy that will help you get more buyers to the sale, it’s also an affordable strategy to generate estate sale leads. A successful email campaign begins with a great subject line and a targeted audience. Let’s discover some tools and strategies that will boost your email marketing campaigns…Read More
With thousands of weekly estate sales going on across the country, you’re bound to run into a few that have very bad odors. An estate sale setup involves much more than staging and pricing. The goal is to make the entire home presentable, clean, and inviting for potential shoppers. From old musty smells, to mildew,…Read More
Experienced estate sale professionals and auctioneers across the country have estate sale pricing perfected. Unfortunately, there’s no single guide to pricing an estate sale, but getting the liquidation value and pricing right has a big impact on the success of an estate sale, company reputation, and the bottom line. The Art of Estate Sale Pricing…Read More
Estate jewelry is a loosely used term to identify jewelry from a collection of a deceased, but what it really means is jewelry that’s pre-owned. Whether it’s new, vintage estate jewelry or antique estate jewelry you have, not all estate jewelry pieces are created equal. Here are some tips to help you identify and get…Read More
There are thousands of estate sales held across the U.S. every week, and just as many estate auctions. Finding decorative estate ivory carvings is very common during the staging process, but can it be sold? This is a question that’s often asked by new liquidators to the industry, and an important question to answer because…Read More
If you offer professional liquidation services, estate sale accounting is not only important for your business, but is also essential for your consignors or estate sale clients. There are many liquidation accounting methods being used and various merchant services implemented at estate sales throughout the country. Let’s discover them together and see what works best…Read More
When starting an estate sale business, one always wonders how much to charge in estate sale fees or establish a standard estate sale commission to follow. How much do estate sale companies charge? It’s not as simple as setting a number, there are a few factors to consider. Experience Quality and level of service provided Geographical…Read More
Estate sale signs are an important part of the liquidation process, it gets the buyers there! but there’s much more than directing buyers to an estate sale. Marketing and branding play a big part in creating catchy estate sale signage. In today’s fast pace, high tech world, there’s a lot of conversation about social media,…Read More
A new year always brings with it new beginnings. If you’re starting an estate sale company and becoming a professional estate sale organizer or liquidator you’re in the right place! We at EstateSales.org are home to thousands of estate sale professionals who advertise their companies and upcoming estate sales with us. They also use our online…Read More
When it comes to the estate sale industry, social media plays a big part in marketing estate sales and advertising for estate sale companies. A successful marketing plan should be varied and robust. Having a solid social media plan for your estate sale business only adds to your marketing efforts and makes them more successful.…Read More
Proper business management and customer service are a given in any industry. For the liquidation professionals, estate sale customer service and estate sale management are essential because they have a direct effect on their reputation and longevity in the industry. Any typical business organization may consist of different departments or functions. While sales, marketing, production,…Read More
The estate sale industry is quite unique, an estate sale business is made up of everyday people dealing with other everyday people and their belongings regularly. Being it’s Halloween month we are inspired to bring you stories from the field that will give you an appreciation for the people involved, some that are here, and…Read More
There are many factors that contribute to the success of a sale. Properly staging an estate sale for potential shoppers is one of those factors that can be quite labor intensive. Impulse purchases with shoppers account for a big chunk of consumer spending. According to a study by Marketing Support, Inc. about one-third of all…Read More
A lot goes into being a successful estate sale company. Knowing how to properly appraise and price items takes time and research, and acquiring that breadth of knowledge comes from many years on the job. In other words, there aren’t any short-cuts in this business. Successful estate sale companies have also mastered soft skills like…Read More
Do you collect state sales tax at estate sales? Should you? When it comes to estate sales, sales tax laws can be confusing. Between different state laws and certain exemptions, estate sale laws and auctions laws, it can be time-consuming keeping up with the changing laws and regulations. And what if you’re an estate sale…Read More
Hoarding is a serious mental disorder that manifests differently with each case. The Mayo clinic defines hoarding as “a persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions because of a perceived need to save them. Excessive accumulation of items, regardless of actual value, occurs…often creating such cramped living conditions that homes may be filled to capacity,…Read More
We hear a lot of success stories from the estate sale companies that list on our website. Whether they’ve been in business for decades, have special expertise, are particularly good with clients, or they’ve found the “special sauce,” successful estate sale companies have a lot to teach us about standing out in a sometimes over-saturated industry. What…Read More
Avoid Harming Clients, Customers, and Yourself An estate liquidator faces numerous liabilities when walking into someone’s home with the intent to open it up to the public. This is one reason why people hire an estate sale company in the first place. A professional knows how to make sure everyone stays protected, bodily, legally and…Read More
Taking good estate sale photos should be high on your priority list, whether you’re a seasoned liquidator or looking to start your own estate sale company. In an industry more competitive by the minute, you need to set your estate sale company apart. Investing in good estate sale photography is a start and can bring great…Read More
So you want to start an estate sale company? You’re not the only one. According to the New York Times, there are over 14,000 estate liquidators in the U.S. alone – and that was in 2015. Since then the estate sale industry has only gotten bigger. It makes sense. With the Baby Boomers entering retirement at…Read More
Estate sale contracts vary from company to company, but no matter how many sales you conduct, your contract is your most important document. In fact, your entire business—and reputation—depends on it. And while your contract should always evolve, when you’re starting an estate sale company, you just need to start somewhere. Here at EstateSales.org we recommend hiring an attorney…Read More
Whether you’re a smaller mom and pop estate sale company or you run a bigger outfit with sales that generate thousands of dollars, you probably have some employees helping out. Since many estate sale companies don’t have experience managing employees, we rounded up a few of our frequently asked questions from the Estate Sale Company…Read More
More estate sale companies and auctioneers are meeting customers where they already are: online. Online auctions are smart ways to move more product and can be easier and more convenient than setting up an in-person estate sale or live auction. Check out these ten tips for selling in online auctions. Follow the law. While most states don’t…Read More
It’s the big day of your estate sale. If you’re new to the estate sale business, you’re still figuring out what you need to make the sale go smoothly. Even if you’re an estate sale veteran, it can be easy to forget things last minute. We compiled a check-off list of best practices for the…Read More
Whether you’re a late adopter or a creature of habit, conducting business the same way just because that’s how you’ve always done it comes with a price. While doing-it-yourself may work well up to a point, not adopting certain digital tools can end up costing your business money by making you appear behind the times. This is especially true…Read More
These days more estate sale companies are reaping the benefits of online auctions. Like everything else in the industry that has gone digital, including advertising on the web or accepting payment by credit card, buyers are doing their shopping online. So if your estate sale company doesn’t keep up with the times, but the company…Read More
While holidays come just once a year, estate sales are year-round. Should business stop just because it’s a designated holiday or long weekend? Only you can really decide, and learning via trial and error, talking to estate sale companies, especially those near you, and scoping out the activity in your area are all smart ways…Read More
You’ve heard it before, usually right in the middle of your estate sale: “Do you offer discounts?” “How much are discounts?” “When do discounts start?” Like everything else these days, the estate sale industry has changed, especially in the last decade or so. Blame it on a down economy or savvier shopping habits, customers have become…Read More
Looking for estate sale leads? Whether you’re in the beginning stages of building your estate sale business, or you’ve noticed sales have gone stagnant lately, you may just need to breathe new life into your method of getting leads. Finding customers is the foundation of your business and can take a lot of energy, as well…Read More
Some estate sale items are harder to sell than others. Selling vintage can be fickle. Location matters, depending on the region, city, or even neighborhood you’re in—because what’s hot in one area might be uncool in another. But times have also changed, and what used to be considered rare or valuable might not fetch the same price it once…Read More
Before conducting any kind of auction, it’s important to make sure you’re compliant with your state’s auction license laws. Here’s a caveat: laws can be tricky to interpret with plenty of “grey” areas. Between auctioneer licenses, business licenses, and online auctions, it can be difficult for an auctioneer or estate sale company to know what their state’s regulations…Read More
The History of Auctions While women auctioneers may be more ubiquitous these days, auctions have long been an important part of American culture, ever since the Pilgrims brought the practice back from Britain. The first recorded American auction took place in 1662, as the early settlers found they could sell everything from livestock, to tools,…Read More
Estate sale industry regulations are a complex issue. The matters of personal property have always been…personal. When it comes to people’s things, the old cliche is often true: one person’s trash is another one’s treasure. But can just anyone determine what “treasures” are truly worth? On one hand, it’s a mid-century Kroehler sofa; on the…Read More
Part of the beauty of being an estate sale company is getting to work for yourself. How you run your business is a reflection of you and your values—and that includes how you’re going to deal with your estate sale customers and all the little things they do to keep us on our toes! Whether they’re regulars, or just…Read More
Estate sale clients. They’re our bread and butter. But as much as we love them, they can do things that make running your estate sale difficult (and sometimes downright scary)! Unfortunately, these nightmares don’t just happen to newbies. Whether you’re a fledgling estate sale company trying to build your business, or you’re a veteran pro who’s…Read More
Selling taxidermy is part of being an estate sale professional or auctioneer, and no doubt, you will have to deal with it at some point if you stay in the business long enough. Depending on which state you live in, you may find selling taxidermy can be a pretty complex process, especially when it comes to more heavily regulated items, like ivory. It…Read More
You’ve got the estate sale business part down. You’ve observed and attended several estate sales in your area to see how they work. You’ve taken appraisal courses. You’ve brushed up on your customer service skills. You’ve joined an estate sale company networking group. You’ve even established a client list. But it’s 2016. And that means you need to…Read More
A lot of work goes into being an estate sale professional, and appraisal and pricing is a pretty big part of the job. While learning hands-on can never be replaced with anything online, there’s no denying the Internet has been a boon to the estate sale industry. Aside from the big guns like WorthPoint, Kovel’s, and…Read More
Whether you need to hire an estate sale company, or you’re a new estate sale company just starting out, it can be tough to navigate the murky waters of licensing and accreditation and estate sale organizations. If you’re in the position of needing to liquidate an estate, you probably feel an overwhelming amount of responsibility…Read More
