Conduct A Sale FAQ’s
Interested in conducting an Estate Sale? Unsure where to begin?
Check out some client FAQ’s below that may help with the decision making process.
We’re Here To Help!
Whether it be the responsibility and hardships that occur with the loss of a loved one or the unending & overwhelming tasks involved with relocation, Emerald Estate Sales is here to help you.
Our roles as estate sales professionals is to be aware, acknowledge and assist with the circumstances that have been presented to you. We are here to help alleviate the stress of your given situation with positive solutions and peace of mind.
First Things First
PLEASE DO NOT DONATE OR DISCARD ANYTHING
Discarding or donating items prior to a consultation, in many instances, results in the loss of hundreds and/or thousands of dollars towards total sales. As a professional company, our first job of many is to determine what items can be sold, donated or discarded. For example, those old clothes, broken chairs, canned goods, damaged wristwatches or vinyl records have been known to attract customers while positively attributing towards overall sales. Dependent on volume, we are able to complete this portion of our job at zero extra cost to the client.
The Basics
How much time is necessary to prepare for an estate sale?
All estate sales are never alike and preparation time for any estate sale cannot be predicted without a preliminary consultation. Estimated times to prepare, setup and conducting an estate sale will be determined upon initial consultation. With consultation, we are able to address items of value, assess the amount of labor involved to complete the job, estimate overall attendance and predetermined fluidity.
How does your company determine pricing?
With a knowledgable staff of 6 and over 75 years of combined experience, we are able to determine pricing based on fair market value. By brand recognition, evaluating product condition and researching comparable values of items, we can successful determine a value that is acceptable to the client, the customers and to Emerald Estate Sales.
What types of items can be sold at an estate sale?
Anything and everything can be sold at an estate sale.
Estimated Costs
What is your commission / costs to conduct a sale?
Our commission is based on numerous factors and coincides with the industry norm of 30-40% of the gross proceeds of the sale. Any additional costs are determined and explained to the client after initial consultation.
Are there any additional fees besides your commission rate?
Any additional fees will be discussed with the client during consultation. These fees generally involve the removal of large or heavy items such as pianos, billiards tables and armoires that cannot be sold or donated or need professional assistance to be removed. Soiled & unacceptable mattresses are subject to landfill fees. All fees will be disclosed to the client prior to removal.
Do you charge sales tax?
Yes. Being a licensed business, Emerald Estate Sales charges sales tax determined by the state of Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia. Tax ID and all tax exempt customers are required to prove exemption with proper documentation.
The Setup Process
What do I need to do in order to begin the setup?
We ask that anything items that are considering to keep be removed from the home or sequestered into a room that we are able to mark off limits. Once this is done, the rest is up to us. If you don’t want it, leave it and we will take care of it.
Will you remove any trash or rubbish from the home?
Depending on which option of our contract you decide to choose, yes. Prior to our initial setup, we will remove anything and everything that we know cannot be sold at the sale or donated after the sale.
What do you do in order to setup for an estate sale?
After the removal of any rubbish, we focus on the organization and placement of similar items such as clothing, crystal, china, jewelry etc. With smaller items of value such as jewelry, we determine the best area in the home for display and organize accordingly. Any furniture or decor that is determined to have greater value that normal is also placed strategically throughout the home.
After the initial organization has been completed, we focus on brand recognition, item condition and presumed value. Most furniture, rugs, and artwork are measured for future research purposes and informative website descriptions. Precious metals and jewelry are weighed, inspected and tested for purity. Electronics are pre-tested for functionality. Books are inspected for age, edition, autograph additions and overall condition. Brand recognition of all items of perceived value are also determined. Cleaning, dusting and condition enhancements are also applied to items that need attention.
WE VALUE YOUR BUSINESS AND WE
HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN!
ENTER & SUBMIT YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS BELOW
AND WE WILL NOTIFY YOU OF OUR UPCOMING SALES