When a family needs to empty a home in The Villages, the estate sale company you choose will handle your loved one’s belongings, set the prices and hand you a check at the end. It’s worth an hour of phone calls to get it right.
It’s worth talking to two or three companies before deciding. These eight questions will help you compare them fairly.
1. How do you charge?
Most estate sale companies work on commission, a percentage of what the sale brings in. Ask for the percentage in writing, and ask whether anything else is added: advertising, cleanup, trash removal or a minimum fee. Some companies have no upfront costs and take everything from the proceeds. Others charge certain fees whether the sale does well or not.
2. Who sets the prices, and how?
Good companies research items before pricing them, especially jewelry, art, collectibles, firearms and vehicles. Ask how they price valuable pieces, and whether they bring in an outside appraiser when something is beyond their expertise.
3. Can we keep things out of the sale?
Families almost always want to set aside photos, papers and keepsakes. Ask how much time you’ll have to remove them before the company starts staging.
4. How will you advertise the sale?
Ask where the sale will be listed and how many buyers typically attend. In The Villages, also ask whether the company sells golf carts and vehicles.
5. What happens to items that don’t sell?
This question is easy to forget. Some companies arrange donation pickup and leave the house broom-swept. Others leave the leftovers for you. If it’s not included, our directory lists cleanout crews and charities that offer free donation pickup.
6. When and how do we get paid?
Ask how many days after the sale you’ll receive payment, and whether you’ll get an itemized report of what sold and for how much.
7. Are you licensed and insured?
People will be walking through the home for two or three days. Ask whether the company carries liability insurance and how it handles security during the sale.
8. Can you work with our realtor?
If the home is being sold, the estate sale and the listing need to be coordinated. Some estate sale owners are licensed real estate agents themselves, and others work alongside the family’s agent.
Start with a short list
Our directory of estate sale companies lists 16 companies serving The Villages, Wildwood, Lady Lake, Leesburg, Summerfield, Fruitland Park, Oxford and Belleview. Each listing shows the phone number, website and services, taken from the company’s own website. Listings are free, and none is ranked above another.
Not sure who to call? Call The Villages Estate Sales at (352) 436-8828 and we’ll help you talk it through.