Frequently Asked Questions
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1. What if I need help downsizing?
Downsizing is an opportunity to make choice lifestyle changes so you can focus on what matters most to you.
Every situation is unique, and efforts are made to accommodate you where possible and customize a plan that is effective and efficient so you can get to that next step quickly and with the least effort. Here are a few examples of transition and location services available to create a customized solution for you and/or your loved ones that we can assist with:
- Putting your house on the market privately or liaison with a real-estate agent (e.g., house ready, photographs, advertising, house showings, open house, etc.);
- Home staging;
- Management and coordination of estate content liquidation (partial or full);
- Janitorial and/or maid service;
- Move management (de-clutter, organizing, packing, moving); and
- Waste removal.
2. How much does an estate sale cost?
The following services are covered by us in a sale:
- Advertising;
- Staffing;
- Evaluations and/or Appraisals; and
- Pay Device Terminal(s), including transaction fees.
If there appears there isn’t enough content to hold a sale, we can offer suggestions for buy-out customers and local charitable organizations. Additional services are available upon request and identified in the contract as optional (i.e., janitorial, organizing/packing, waste disposal, etc.).
Note: If you have a partial household and still need help to clear out your home, we can offer commission based and/or hourly wages to clear a residence (whichever is greater).
3. What should I keep?
- Certificates
- Adoption
- Birth and death
- Citizenship
- Marriage
- Immigration
- Credit card statements
- Driver’s licenses & vehicle titles/registrations
- Health records
- Insurance policies
- Life
- Auto
- Legal contracts
- Power of Attorney
- Financial
- General
- Medical
- Mortgage documents
- Passports
- Photographs (of sentimental value)
- Property deeds
- Stock certificates
- Veteran’s papers
- Will and trusts
Note: It is important to take those items that are sentimental or of personal importance before signing the contract. Any item removed after the sale regardless of the reason will be invoiced for commission at the estimated cost it was valued at. When personal paperwork is located that appear to be of importance (e.g., bank cards, passports, etc.), they will be put aside, and the person listed on the contract will be advised. At that time, arrangements can be made for pick-up, drop-off or shipping.
4. How will the sale be advertised?
5. How are items priced?
Setting reserves can be discussed; however, bids below the reserve may be considered if they are within reason.
6. Can a sale be conducted while we are still living in the house?
In situations where a homeowner is downsizing and unable to take all their contents with them, we certainly will do our best to accommodate each unique instance.
7. What kind of items can I sell?
There are different ways an estate sale can be conducted, and these methods can be discussed when reviewing your contract.
- On-site — takes place in the owner’s house/business.
- Consignment — items are taken off-site to a showroom, storefront or other location.
- Clean-out — a fee is paid to estate company to clean out the entire estate.
Methods of liquidating may include selling items on-site, on-line, auction, store front consignment, donated or discarded as they see fit to clear everything out within the timeline agreed. - Buy-out — all contents from the estate are purchased for one set price by the estate company.
- Clear-out – this is removal of all contents. The terms are discussed after an on-site evaluation of what items have potential value and can be resold.
8. What happens to items that do not sell?
On average, there is 10% to 30% of items that remain in the home after an estate sale.
Some options to consider for post-sale can include but not limited to:
- Items identified with significant value can be placed on consignment;
- Homeowner arranges for remaining contents to be dealt with in a manner they choose (e.g., family, friends, etc.);
- Clear-out services can be requested. Typically, usable items are donated where they can best find a new home (e.g., local charities, women shelters, thrift stores, church rummage sales, etc.); and
- Waste removal is also an available option to remove debris.
9. How do I get paid?
- Cheque
- Copy of invoice for your records, and
- Inventory booklet that includes a list of all items sold.
10. Am I able to attend the sale?
To the best of our ability we provide regular progress updates with photographs at different stages of the process.
We look forward to taking your call! Ask for Jodi-Rose
(705) 493-9060 or info@timelessstaging.ca or estatesale@timelessstaging.ca.