Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between an estate sale and a tag sale?
An estate sale is a fully appointed home containing a substantial amount of salable merchandise, that an owner or heir decides is to be sold on-site, and is conducted over the course of several days. Estate sales often contain items gathered over the course of several generations and may be conducted by a professional team, such as ours. In addition to estate sales, we also host partial, one day sales, which are generally referred to as tag sales.
When is an estate sale necessary?
Downsizing is the most common reason our clients choose to liquidate their estates. There are many other reasons which can include divorce, death, a move out of state or country, or simply the desire for a clean slate. Our team is discreet and will never comment on the particular reason a family chooses to host a sale.
Do I have enough for a professional sale?
If in doubt, let’s schedule a complimentary on-site evaluation. Since we are compensated largely on commission, we want to make sure you have enough merchandise to have a successful sale. If we decide you do not have enough items to warrant an on-site sale, we are always happy to refer you to someone else who can help.
Do you host out of town estate sales?
We do! While our core business is located in Savannah, Georgia, we work throughout the state of Georgia as well as South Carolina. We evaluate opportunities outside of our core market on an individual basis. It can be helpful in these cases for prospects to email us photographs as well as a brief description of the estate to be liquidated. We will follow up with a preliminary phone call to see if an onsite consultation is recommended, and if our team will be the best fit for your sale.
What if I live outside of the area?
Not a problem! We can manage your sale from start to finish while keeping you informed with phone and/or email updates throughout the process. Our clients need never be physically involved with the liquidation process.
Can I be onsite during the sale?
Our clients enjoy being hands off throughout the entirety of the process. Enjoy peace of mind knowing that you have hired an experienced team of professionals to run the sale and to handle even the smallest of details.
Can you host sales in a condo/gated community?
Yes! We have conducted many successful estate sales in condos or gated communities, notably the Landings on Skidaway Island, Sea Pines and Palmetto Dunes in Hilton Head Island, Savannah Quarters in Pooler, and Causton Bluff in Savannah. When parking or gate restrictions are an obstacle to having an open access sale, we are often able to accommodate your needs with an “Appointment Only” or “Virtual” sale.
Do I need to clean the house?
It is normal for estates to be disheveled as you prepare for liquidation. Our team is experienced and professional and will always present your home and its contents in the best light possible. Under normal circumstances, we do not ask our clients to tidy up or clean before the project start date. As a matter of fact, we ask our clients NOT to throw anything away before we arrive. Time and again we have seen well meaning homeowners or families clear out or throw away items that could have made for a profitable estate sale. Our experience pays - and we love finding diamonds in the rough!
Lost treasure in the house?
When the family is looking for a misplaced and much wanted family heirloom - chances are that we can help. As we clean out closets and open up drawers and boxes that have not seen the light of day in years or even decades, we may find these special items. Just let us know before we get started to keep our eyes peeked and we will exclude these items from the sale if we find them, and store them safely for you. We routinely gather family photos, letters, and other personal mementos and store them in a box for our clients.
I’m ready for an estate sale - what’s next?
It is helpful to remove or tag any items that will be retained by the family before an estate sale professional arrives onsite to do the initial consultation. If an item cannot be removed they should be tagged “not for sale” prior to the signing of the agreement. Once a sales timeline has been established, and the agreement has been signed, we ask that nothing further be removed from the house by the client.
Your privacy is important to us.
We are often called in to help with sensitive situations. All of our clients benefit from our compassion and professionalism. We believe in confidentiality and will provide such privileges to our clients.