By Robert Lamb, B.S. C.A.G.A, P.E.L.

1. Do a thorough search of the house and remove personal items.
2. Make a list of your valuables so as to keep track of them and for insurance purposes.
3. Decide what to sell and what not to sell. Talk to your family and remove items that will be retained by family members.
4. Place items in plain sight that you believe to have high value so we can make an assessment. Note: consider that jewelry, gold, sterling, coin collections, guns, unique items or collections, and other higher value items can add significant value to an estate. 
5. Don’t worry if the house is in perfect order. We are not in the business of judging and it is our task to see through it all and find the solution.
6. Provide pictures of items not presently in the house that you wish to sell.
7. Ask questions:

• Is there enough here to do an estate sale?
• Does the company have availability?
• How many days will the estate sale be over?
• How much lead time does the company need to prepare for a sale?
• What is your companies set up and sales process?
• How does your company control crowds?
• Is your company insured with liability insurance?
• Does your company inventory and provide a detailed list of items sold?
• How does your company determine value?
• Does your company negotiate discounts with customers and when?
• How does your company advertise the sale?
• Who retains the items which did not sell after the sale?
• Does your contract state that your company owns the items remaining after the sale?
• Can we place price a reserve on an item with a high value?
• What is your company’s fee? What do your fees cover? Additional set up and sales fee? Credit card processing fees? Pre or post estate sale debris removal fees? Is there a minimum fee you charge?
• How long does it take for your company to issue a check to the estate?
• Ask how the higher valued items in the house will be sold- at the sale or at a specialty venue?