Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What IS an estate sale, anyway?
A: There are many reasons for people to have an estate sale: a death in the family, moving to a new home, poor health, or altered financial circumstances. The term has been more loosely applied to any sale involving an entire household of possessions. Regardless the reason the details can sometimes be overwhelming. We are here to help!
Q: How far in advance should I call you?
A: Obviously, the sooner the better. We often have sales lined up for several weeks in advance, although some of them may be flexible, and we may be able to fit you in at the last minute.
Q: What will it cost me for Strictly Business Services to execute my estate sale?
A: There are no up-front or out-of-pocket expenses to you. We will negotiate with you a percentage of total sales for our commission, and simply deduct that from the proceeds at the end of the sale.
Q: How long does it take you to “set up” an estate sale?
A: Each sale varies, depending on the amount of contents involved. Large estates, or “hoarding” situations can take a couple of weeks. An average home normally takes only a week to get ready for an estate sale.
Q: How many days to you hold an estate sale open?
A: We usually hold the estate sale open to the public for 3-4 days.
Q: Where do you advertise your estate sales and liquidations?
A: We advertise on our web page, by means of our email list of over 500 buyers, as well as thousands of buyers on estatesales.net, estatesale.com, estatesales.org, on Craig’s List, and with directional signs throughout the area.
Q: How do I arrange for the Strictly Business to execute my sale?
A: Just give us a call at (760) 963-4208 or email us at StrictlyBusServ@aol.com and arrange for a free initial assessment.
Q: I don’t have an “entire household” of possessions. Can you help me sell what I have?
A: We do need a certain quantity of sellable items, in order for us to hold a liquidation sale for you. However, it does not need to be an “entire household”, especially if there are lots of tools, jewelry, desirable collectibles, etc. Give us a call, and we will tell you whether or not we can do a liquidation sale for you, based upon what you have to sell.
Q: What happens to the items that don’t sell?
A: We strive to sell every last item in the house for the highest price we can achieve. However, unlike a store, we can’t sit back and wait days, months, or years for items to sell. We only have 3-4 day to get it all sold. So there probably will be items left over. At the end of the sale, if you wish, we can arrange to have a charity of your choice come and pick up the remaining items and provide you with a form for deducting a write-off from your income taxes. Also, you can choose to keep any unsold items.
Q: Why should I hire Strictly Business Services to execute my estate sale?
A: The main reason: We make the entire process stress free!!
We are insured & bonded
We have NO hidden fees
We pay all advertising
We send out an email to thousands of estate customers
We have experienced staff members (sales & antique qualified)
We set up the entire estate top to bottom
We control the prices according to today’s market
We accept credit cards (to insure higher gross sales)
We have wonderful references
We only work for you! We strictly work on a percentage basis. We do not own a shop; we feel this is a conflict of interest!! We take pride in our customers and their belongings!
Q: What do you do to “set up” an estate liquidation sale?
A: First, we set up our display tables throughout the house, and re-arrange furniture as necessary. Then, we go through the house, emptying drawers and boxes, cleaning items as necessary and arranging them on our display tables. Finally, we affix prices to all displayed items.
Q: Should I sort items out, or clean the house up before you arrive?
A: NO, NO, NO! Please do not throw anything away, even if you feel certain it is of no value. And sorting and arranging is our job. Typically these situations can be emotional and we can do it quicker and more efficient – you don’t need to do anything.
Q: Can I assign minimum prices to my possessions?
A: We do allow our clients to set minimum prices on a limited number of items, and will work with our clients to meet their needs. However, we know the area marketplace, and will tell you what the maximum price something is likely to bring. We will allow clients to set minimum prices on some items, but obviously we have to have the freedom to price items to sell, at the prices we know will sell.
Q: How do I know what sold, or how much any given item sold for?
A: We provide you with a detailed accounting of the sale, showing exactly what sold, and for how much. (Note: minor items, such as towels and washcloths, kitchenwares or toiletries, are sometimes grouped into general categories, but all major items are listed in detail.)
Q: How soon will I, the client, be paid after the estate sale is over?
A: We deliver your proceeds and a detailed accounting of the sale the day after the sale, or we can mail you a check along with the accounting sheet; whichever is convenient for you.
Q: What if my estate contains fine art or very rare collectibles?
A: An antique or collectible has to be very rare indeed for us not to have prior sales experience or knowledge of it. For fine art and ancient artifacts, if we cannot find the necessary information, we have sources of appraisers and dealers who do. If we can’t price something confidently, we will let you know before the sale, and if you wish, put it out for bid.
Q: What if my estate contains motor vehicles?
A: We have had great success in selling all sorts of motor vehicles at our estate sales. Typically the commission rate for vehicles is 10%-15%, which is much less than the commission rate for the household items. We simply ask that you have all the registration and ownership papers available as soon as possible as we prefer to advertise any vehicles immediately to maximize exposure for you.
Q: Should I wait until the house is sold, to hold my estate sale?
A: Some real estate brokers may disagree with us, but our answer is no. Once the house is sold, time for holding an estate sale can be very limited or even nonexistent. It is far better to have the estate sale right away, then clean, repair, paint the house as necessary, once everything has been removed. With the amount of traffic during the sale, we have had cases where houses have sold as a result of the exposure to potential buyers who can view the house at their own pace and then contact the real estate agent to make an offer.
Q: Do you sell items on Ebay or other online auctions?
A: Generally, no. The time delay, shipping and other complications usually make this unfeasible.
If you have any questions not addressed here, please feel free to contact us at (760) 963-4208