HOW TO PREPARE FOR YOUR ESTATE SALE
Four Factors for a Successful Sale:
Quantity – Quality – Condition – Location
Quantity – Quality – Condition – Location
You are obviously thinking about an estate sale or you probably wouldn’t be reading this article. The reason for your estate sale may be a number of reasons, relocation or downsizing, divorce, and of course, the passing of a loved one. In any case, a few decisions need to be made. You only get ONE chance – ONE weekend to conduct a successful estate sale. So it’s important to make wise decisions as to who is going conduct your sale for you.
Aversa Estate Sales has conducted Professional Estate Sales throughout Southern California for over 20+ years! To help our clients, we have put together a series of Information Fact Sheets to help you make the best decisions.
The first thing to decide is… “Do I really need a professionally conducted Estate Sale? To determine if you do, read our article on “What is An Estate Sale”. After you read this information, you may want to contact a professional Estate Sale Service for additional information and to get a professional opinion and guidance on how to proceed.
The following article is based on our 20+ years of experience in the estate sale business.
The FIRST important rule is Never Throw Anything Away. Over the years we have found countless valuables in the trash because the family thought “they were worthless”. Remember the old saying… “One Man’s Trash, is Another Man’s Treasure”. This quote is never more true than today. There are countless collectors around the world who collect just about anything and everything. Just because you personally don’t want it, doesn’t mean it’s not worth something… to someone!
Also, you never know what might be hidden in items mistaken for junk. We found a $30,000 dollar Art Deco ring hidden in the home office of a client’s aunt. The family had no idea it even existed, and it could have easily been thrown away.
The next thing to remember is to NOT DONATE anything until it has been professionally examined for value. Here again, because you personally do not like or want something, does not make it valuable to someone else. And every dollar spent at an estate sale adds up to 100s or 1,000s of dollars, and increases the total bottom line. A few years back we met with a client to discuss her estate sale. We walked around the house and eventually went in the garage. Sitting in the garage there were several boxes marked “DONATE”. We asked her what was in them and she replied, “Oh… nothing valuable, just stuff”. We talked her out of donating the boxes and that “STUFF” brought over $1,000 extra dollars to the total sale!
Remember! EVERYTHING can be sold during an Estate Sale. Although Aversa Estate Sales specializes in Antiques, Fine Art and Collectibles, the majority of our sales consist of “General Household Content” INCLUDING:
Furniture, Fine Art, Collectibles and Collections
Crystal, Fine China, Pottery and Ceramics
Sterling and Silver-plate – Brass – Copper
Figurines: Lladro, Hummel, Royal Doulton, Precious Moments
Clothing, Accessories, Fine and Costume jewelry (we test ALL jewelry)
Large and Small Appliances, Kitchenware – Tupperware to Pots & Pans
Garage and Yard Items – Tools to “nuts & bolts”; Patio Furniture and Plants
Canned, boxed, & packaged Food (if not expired)
Soaps & Cleansers – Toiletries, Colognes, Perfumes (full or not)
Books, Magazines, Records, CDs, DVDs
Old PAPER items including: Newspapers, Maps, Sheet Music, Postcards, etc
Bottom Line… EVERYTHING sells in an estate sale!
Some additional things to remember:
We ask that ALL family designated items be removed prior to the Estate Sale
Due to the Staging and Preparation Process for the Sale, we do not
begin work or conduct sales while someone is still residing in the home
When in Doubt… Call us Anytime With Questions
We Provide FREE Consultation – (714) 749-3887
Aversa Estate Sales has conducted Professional Estate Sales throughout Southern California for over 20+ years! To help our clients, we have put together a series of Information Fact Sheets to help you make the best decisions.
The first thing to decide is… “Do I really need a professionally conducted Estate Sale? To determine if you do, read our article on “What is An Estate Sale”. After you read this information, you may want to contact a professional Estate Sale Service for additional information and to get a professional opinion and guidance on how to proceed.
The following article is based on our 20+ years of experience in the estate sale business.
The FIRST important rule is Never Throw Anything Away. Over the years we have found countless valuables in the trash because the family thought “they were worthless”. Remember the old saying… “One Man’s Trash, is Another Man’s Treasure”. This quote is never more true than today. There are countless collectors around the world who collect just about anything and everything. Just because you personally don’t want it, doesn’t mean it’s not worth something… to someone!
Also, you never know what might be hidden in items mistaken for junk. We found a $30,000 dollar Art Deco ring hidden in the home office of a client’s aunt. The family had no idea it even existed, and it could have easily been thrown away.
The next thing to remember is to NOT DONATE anything until it has been professionally examined for value. Here again, because you personally do not like or want something, does not make it valuable to someone else. And every dollar spent at an estate sale adds up to 100s or 1,000s of dollars, and increases the total bottom line. A few years back we met with a client to discuss her estate sale. We walked around the house and eventually went in the garage. Sitting in the garage there were several boxes marked “DONATE”. We asked her what was in them and she replied, “Oh… nothing valuable, just stuff”. We talked her out of donating the boxes and that “STUFF” brought over $1,000 extra dollars to the total sale!
Remember! EVERYTHING can be sold during an Estate Sale. Although Aversa Estate Sales specializes in Antiques, Fine Art and Collectibles, the majority of our sales consist of “General Household Content” INCLUDING:
Furniture, Fine Art, Collectibles and Collections
Crystal, Fine China, Pottery and Ceramics
Sterling and Silver-plate – Brass – Copper
Figurines: Lladro, Hummel, Royal Doulton, Precious Moments
Clothing, Accessories, Fine and Costume jewelry (we test ALL jewelry)
Large and Small Appliances, Kitchenware – Tupperware to Pots & Pans
Garage and Yard Items – Tools to “nuts & bolts”; Patio Furniture and Plants
Canned, boxed, & packaged Food (if not expired)
Soaps & Cleansers – Toiletries, Colognes, Perfumes (full or not)
Books, Magazines, Records, CDs, DVDs
Old PAPER items including: Newspapers, Maps, Sheet Music, Postcards, etc
Bottom Line… EVERYTHING sells in an estate sale!
Some additional things to remember:
We ask that ALL family designated items be removed prior to the Estate Sale
Due to the Staging and Preparation Process for the Sale, we do not
begin work or conduct sales while someone is still residing in the home
When in Doubt… Call us Anytime With Questions
We Provide FREE Consultation – (714) 749-3887
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