Additionally, you may want to create a separate category for especially expensive items. You may even decide to keep expensive antiques and the like out of the estate sale and try to sell them separately for a greater profit. [2] X Research source
Don’t hold items back or throw them out because you think they’re too dirty, too damaged, or just plain junk. Remember that one person’s trash is another’s treasure. [3] X Research source
Don’t ignore the possibility of theft, especially of smaller valuables. Place valuable items like jewelry near the checkout table, or even under lock and key in display cases.
Do your homework. If you set prices too low, you’ll be throwing money away; if you set them too high, you’ll scare off potential buyers. If you do not need to liquidate your entire stock, include a price below which you will not be willing to sell.
You can post some of these photos in your online advertising, or use them to separately place some of your most desirable items for sale online.
Try to avoid dates when other people are holding estate sales in your area, to reduce competition.
Take security precautions to protect your estate sale. To deter theft, keep only one entrance/exit open and place your checkout table nearby. Do not leave an entrance or exit open and unattended, and make sure someone is available to monitor these places. Also, keep cash and loose change in a secured box and do not leave it unattended. It is also a good idea to keep high value items, like jewelry, at the cashier’s table, where it will be kept under constant supervision. Make sure any hazards (uneven floors, low ceilings, wobbly railings, etc. ) are clearly marked or kept off-limits. You may be legally liable for any injuries that occur.
At the same time, it might be a good idea to ask the manager if you can place an ad for your sale in the window of their business. This can be a good way of spreading the word. [8] X Research source
Do not skimp on online advertising, through avenues like social media and estate sale-specific websites. [9] X Research source Make fresh posts each week online if you are holding the sale over more than one weekend. Keep the word up. Try to contact your local radio station to see if free airtime is a possibility at any point. This can be an unlikely but unrealized opportunity.
Recruit reliable, trustworthy, and knowledgeable people to help out.
Many people will expect better deals and special discounts later in the day, or on the last day of a multi-day sale. Consider beforehand how low you are willing to go in order to liquidate an item.
Think long and hard about “holding” items for customers. Serious buyers should come to an estate sale with an adequately-filled wallet. If the house gets too crowded, place someone at the entrance to do entry control. Ask newcomers to wait to enter until someone else has departed the house.
Also, if there are any other individuals with a stake in the estate, you need records to provide them with as well. Watch carefully for counterfeit bills as you take in cash (especially in larger denominations). Accepting credit cards is a bit more work but provides a lot of convenience for customers. In most cases, avoid accepting checks.
Especially if you anticipate having some excess stock at the end of the sale, make contact ahead of time with any charities or trash haulers. That way, you can clear out the house more quickly and efficiently.
Research estate sale professionals in your area, get references, do interviews, and get a contract in writing before moving forward.
