HIRING AN ESTATE AUCTION COMPANY FOR YOUR LIQUIDATION?
Hopefully this section will show it pays to take the time to thoroughly screen whomever you hire to handle your estate. Here are the answers you need to know to some key questions!
How long have you been in business?
A quick search online for estate sale companies can yield hundreds of confusing results. Don’t just ask how long a firm has been in business and the extent of their expertise – ask them to show you proof they are who they say they are. A full-time estate auction firm should be able to show you a professional website with a list of past and future sales. There are very few full-time companies in the area and these firms conduct auctions every month! Smitty’s Estate Liquidator’s website shows you every sale we have conducted for the last few years, as you can see, we have experience. Our 100's of positive online reviews over many websites are always up to date with recent client experiences - just google us!
Are you licensed & insured?
We provide copies of all documents required by the State of Maryland to conduct your auction. If a company can show you ALL of the below documents – they are allowed to conduct your liquidation. Although you may hear different, we are a very regulated industry and lack of compliance is enforced.
*Secondhand Dealers License with the Dept. of Labor & Licensing
*Certificate of Incorporation with the Dept. of Assessments & Taxation
*Weights & Measures Compliance - Maryland Dept. of Agriculture
*Current Good Standing Notice with the State of Maryland
*Active Sales & Use Tax ID to collect 6% Maryland Sales Tax
Lack of compliance with any of the above regulations risk your sale being shut down in progress – enforcement is always ongoing. Can you afford to risk rescheduling your sale a few months due to hiring an estate company which is not in compliance?
In addition to these laws, Smitty’s Estate Liquidators requires all our clients to have Active Homeowners Insurance where the liquidation will occur. In addition, we also carry a Large Liability Policy thru Erie Insurance to further protect you.
Record Keeping & Transparency : Be sure to ask your company if they will provide you with a COMPLETE list of items sold from your estate. We list every transaction that occurs in your auction. Many companies provide realized prices for just larger value items (furniture, jewelry, art ect). Don't be fooled by this method - a large portion of your estate's value is in common household items - they add up and should ALL be accounted for. Our sales logs list everything sold as trivial as staplers, snow shovels, books, screwdrivers, tupperware, even house plants ect - it's all part of the estate. More important, our online auction process enables you to watch the liquidation from your computer. You will see every item sell and the final price it realized.
How do you advertise your auctions?
On any given weekend in the region, there can be upwards of 25 or more estate liquidations for shoppers to choose from. An extensive marketing campaign for your sale can be the difference maker in a successful event. We pride ourselves on leaving no stone unturned when it comes to advertising your sale. Below are just a few tools we will use:
*Proprietary e-mail list containing over 10,000 local estate auction bidders.
*Company Web Page
*Company Facebook Page
*Membership on Top Regional Estate Sale Marketing Websites
*Targeted Postcard Mailers
*Neighborhood Door Hangers
What forms of payment will you accept during the sale?
Estate Liquidators accepts cash, debit cards, credit cards, and checks that meet our requirements. Credit & Debit Card purchases will make-up a very large part of each sales total purchases. Any company that accepts cash only will have a significant, negative impact on the sales total and usually has an alternative motive. We collect 6% Maryland Sales Tax as required and record every transaction processed - FULL TRANSPARENCY.
What happens to any unsold items at the conclusion of the sale?
Unlike a traditional on-site estate sale, our online auctions virtually guarantee most everything in the home is sold. Many companies will tell you a "free clean out of unsold items" is part of their package. Give some serious thought to how motivated they are in selling your lifelong treasures knowing they haul off what doesn't sell.
Can the family members of the estate be on-site during the auction process?
A successful auction requires lots of hours finding, sorting and organizing the contents of a home. Only then can professional photos be taken for the online gallery and "auction lots" be safely arranged for future pick-up. We empty every cabinet, closet, dresser drawer, shed, attic, basement ect and organize for cataloging/marketing. For these reasons, we literally will fill the property with tables making occupying the home during our process virtually impossible. Imagine 100s of lots staged in every room like a traditional auction house - the only exception being our event will be virtual. We sometimes also allow prospective bidders to come "preview" the sale in person and they will need a safe, well organized setting. You can imagine working around anyone still living on the property will not yield a successful outcome.
Call Today For A Free Consultation
410-336-0277
Our 2000 sq. ft. warehouse has everything needed for even the largest estates. 250+ banquet tables, 100+ showcases, mobile credit card terminals, advertising signs & banners, event tents, clothes racks, even floor coverings. Our 30' travel trailer is ready to set your sale up today! Call 7 days a week. 410-336-0277