A Primer of Estate Sales

An Estate Sale is a way of liquidating the belongings of a family or estate. More than a garage or yard sale, they are generally held when someone is in need of a way to sell items due to downsizing, moving, divorce, bankruptcy, death, or simply redecorating.

The public is invited into the home and given the opportunity to purchase any item that is priced for sale. Sometimes there are items on the premises that are not for sale because the family has decided to keep them or new owners of the house have made them part of the buyer's contract.

Estate Auctions are where everything is auctioned instead of being marked with a selling price. Sometimes auctions are held on site, and sometimes they are at a consolidated warehouse and involve more than one estate.

There are several ways that Estate Sales are run. Items are marked with a selling price, and if you want an item you usually pick it up and carry it with you until you are ready to pay. If an item is too large to carry, you can have it marked with a sold sticker. If you do not want to pay the marked price, some companies accept bids. However, you are taking a chance that someone else might be willing to pay the marked price before the end of the sale when bids are opened.

Depending on the size of the sale (or the fame of the family), you may have to line up to enter on a first come-first served scenario. Lines may start several hours before the sale opens. Most people know how to use this system, however there are always those who feel they are entitled to a front spot. Different companies use different protocols like number systems or sign-up sheets, and they usually have some sort of policy regarding this, so be sure to check with the individual companies for their rules.

There is such a thing as Estate Sale Etiquette. The number one rule: be respectful. You should respect the family, the estate professional, and others in line and treat them as you would expect to be treated. Hold your place in line with your presence and do not cut in line. Do not rush the door when the sale opens. Do not block others from entering. Everyone has just as much right to be there as you, whether they are making a living at it or just enjoying a day out. If someone picks an item up, do not grab at it. If something is marked sold do not remove the sticker. Do not hoard items you do not intend to buy. Honor your bids.

If you need to hold an estate sale, there are several good companies in Los Angeles. Hiring a pro to take care of this makes the process less stressful. Also, professionals tend to have extensive knowledge about the market prices of household items. The higher-end companies have "concierge service" where they stage the home to best showcase the items. They may also offer consignment and an online store. Of course, there are many good estate sales agents who are professional, secure and caring who will open the home and take care of your sale for a smaller fee.

If you want to attend an estate sale, check out the websites of estate sale companies or lood at https://estatesales.org/. There are increasing numbers of online estate sales and auctions, so you can participate in events that are far from home. You can also browse by category, so if you are looking for that special something, like cocktail glasses from Pan Am Airlines first class, you might just find them there. Incidentally, they also have a free guide to hiring an estate sale company. They've been around the block a couple of times.