COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS REGARDING
ESTATE SALES

How do I know if I need to have an Estate Sale?

 This can be a difficult question to answer, but generally, if you have a substantial quantity of quality items to sell, then an Estate Sale is your best choice.  Perhaps you have lost a family member or moved them to a care facility, maybe you are downsizing a residence or experiencing a divorce….a professionally planned Estate Sale will generate more profit for you than selling all of the contents to one buyer and certainly without the work and effort of a "Do It Yourself” sale"

 We generally hold a 2 to 3 day sale, depending on the amount of items and size of the estate.  The last day of the sale is our “crazy” discount day.  We will then coordinate with you as to the remaining items and how you want us to deal with them, there are several options.  We can leave your property “broom-clean” or leave it in the post-sale condition, if the owner prefers to deal with the remaining contents themselves.

Do I need to clean up before you come to evaluate the Estate?

  PLEASE do us both a favor & "leave it alone". Be sure NOT to clean, throw out, sort, or rid the house of ANYTHING prior to calling an estate sale professional to empty the house. Too many times your idea of "cleaning" is an estate liquidator's idea of stripping and possibly of ruining the chance of a virgin estate to the public. You never know what someone might buy….even the smallest things can be exactly what someone was looking for!  We are experienced set-up professionals, we'll decide what needs to be thrown away.  We will sort, clean, organize, design placement and stage your sale for maximum profits. There is no need to burden yourself with cleaning up & organizing before we come. We've seen it all and it's OK.  However, the items you choose to keep or pass onto the family should be removed prior to your evaluation, not after.  Also all personal papers, documents and family photos should also be removed before we begin.

Do I have to have antiques to have an Estate Sale?

There are MANY estate sales where there are few, if any, collectibles or antiques and they still do well with the end net worth. The fact is, if an item is needed for day to day living, it can be sold at a profit above donating, giving or throwing into a landfill. There is no reason to ignore items of worth simply because they are not new or what you might consider everyday items.  You never know what will interest someone!

What if there are items I would like to have from the Estate?

We encourage families to take those items that have sentimental value to them before we assess the home.  Once we have contracted with you for an Estate Sale, we ask that nothing be removed since the contract is based on the ENTIRE contents of the estate when our assessment is made.  If it is helpful and there is room, many times we can use an extra bedroom as an “off limits” storage area for the owners if all items are not vacated beforehand.  

 How far in advance do I need to schedule my sale?

 Generally, when the sale is contracted with SEASIDE ESTATE SERVICES the sale can occur within a few weeks depending on the number of other sales which may already be scheduled.  We will work with you to fit into both our schedules.

 How long does the preparation and the sale actually take?

This really depends on the contents and condition of the home. If you have a FULL house, garage and garden, inside & out-it could take a while.  If your Estate is on the small side we need at least seven days to set up, advertise and conduct the sale. We understand that there are times that the sale needs to happen more quickly and we do our best to accommodate such instances.

What if I change my mind and decide not to follow through with the sale?

This rarely happens because by the time the family has contacted us, they have spent a great deal of time contemplating their options. However, if the sale must be cancelled, we charge for the time and expenses incurred by SEASIDE ESTATE SERVICES up to the cancellation of the sale, PLUS a penalty fee.

 In what areas does your company conduct sales?

 SEASIDE ESTATE SERVICES AND SALES is served in all of Orange County in Southern California.

Does your company provide internet advertising?

 Our clients & customers are able to look at aproximately 100 preview pictures on our company website www.seasideestateservices.com prior to the sale.  This way they have a good idea of what’s available before they arrive.  We additionally list your sale with 100 pictures on www.estatesales.net and three other major online estate sale websites the week before your sale date.  Estatesales.net is a premier, nationwide site that all avid estate sale shoppers, dealers and collectors check every week in their local area.  We also list on local Craigslist as well as sending out a huge “email blast” of over 1500 subscribers.  The pictures are very important....buyers always pre shop with their eyes!

How is SEASIDE ESTATE SERVICES compensated?

Seaside Estate Services receives a percentage of the sale gross, plus labor. We cover the ”up front” costs for the sale and will then be reimbursed from the sale proceeds. Our commission and charges vary from sale to sale and house to house depending on:

• Challenge of the project
• Preparation and setup time required
• Supplies needed to prepare & run the sale and the amount of labor required.
• Other factors will ALSO be discussed that could come into play that COULD affect the pricing structure.

 We carefully go over the contract with you to ensure there is no confusion concerning our services or payment. Seaside Estate Services believe that having a qualified Estate Sale representative is the best way to have a profitable sale.  We know the fair market pricing of the items we sell and this ensures you have a great sale!

 How will I know what sold and for how much?

 Within a few weeks time following your sale, we will provide an inventory of items sold. You will get a final settlement accounting containing both the major and minor purchases, all costs, labor hours involved, advertising materials and receipts and any special item that may pertain to your sale.