WHAT IS AN ESTATE SALE?
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An estate sale is when someone opens up their home with the intent to sell all of their belogings quickly and for the most money possible. It is sometimes referred to as a "tag sale". While estate sales/tag sales are interchangeable, there is a HUGE difference between estate sales/tag sales versus garage sales/yard sales. Estate Sales take place because someone can no longer keep their stuff, while a garage sale or yard sale is held when people no longer WANT their stuff.
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There’s a big difference. At an estate sale, you can find everything from high-end items like jewelry and fine art, to expensive household items like tools and kitchen stuff, to ordinary things like books and cleaning supplies. Reasons why someone would hold an estate sale can usually be attributed to the 4 Ds: divorce, downsizing, debt or death. These monumental life changes not only bring on emotional challenges, they bring on logistical challenges, too. Specifically, people often find themselves in situations where they need to sell their belongings, and sell it quickly. That’s where an estate sale comes in. Estate sales may be held by the family or estate executor taking matters into their own hands. Or, people might hire an estate sale company like ours where professional liquidators take care of every aspect of the estate sale, from estate sale pricing and appraisal to advertising and clear-out. No matter the reason, though, an estate sale is a wonderful option for an overwhelmed estate owner, as well an exciting opportunity for the treasure-hunter, bargain seeker, or curious lover of interior design.
In short, an estate sale is the liquidation of an entire estate that offers the public a chance to buy unique second-hand items, while offering an inside look at
people’s lives, and ultimately, history.
Estate Liquidation Guide for Real Estate Agents
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The real estate market is hot hot hot, and you are all turning over homes faster than lightning. With houses selling in a flash, homeowners are often left asking, “But what do I do with all this stuff!?” Estate liquidation is no simple task, and just the thought can leave folks with a massive headache. Things can get tied up, and the situation can become stressful for the seller and agent alike. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a trusted referral network to ensure that your closings go smoothly and wrap up right on time?
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THAT'S WHERE WE COME IN!
We pride ourselves on taking the hassle out of estate liquidation, all while creating an upscale shopping environment for our thousands of customers. We sell everything from Cadillacs and Rolexes to pots and pans. Nearly everything in a home has value, and we’re here to assess, price and sell it all, leaving our clients with a great return for their lifetime of collections.
As you well know, there’s a trend these days of people listing their home before settling on their next destination. Add the stress of figuring out what to do with years of belongings to the stress of finding a new address, and you have, well, a stress fest. We’re happy to step in and bridge that gap, both effectively and efficiently.
Our experience extends to all aspects of the transition, including staging, pricing and conducting sales, all while meeting tight deadlines. We fully understand that efficiency is key, and we have tactical solutions. In the average time it takes to make it through the inspection period, we can have things out the door.
In addition to clearing hundreds and sometimes thousands of items from a home, our sales serve as a second open house. Our dedicated shoppers can be found lined up outside, usually hours prior to the opening of the sale. Waves of people pour through each estate, admiring both the contents and the home itself. This is a great way to drum up even more interest in a property, all at no cost to you!
Whether you’re a new agent or have been in the real estate world for years, having client resources on hand can give you a huge competitive edge. Our consultations are totally free with no strings attached, and we’d love to be your go-to estate sale provider.
As you well know, there’s a trend these days of people listing their home before settling on their next destination. Add the stress of figuring out what to do with years of belongings to the stress of finding a new address, and you have, well, a stress fest. We’re happy to step in and bridge that gap, both effectively and efficiently.
Our experience extends to all aspects of the transition, including staging, pricing and conducting sales, all while meeting tight deadlines. We fully understand that efficiency is key, and we have tactical solutions. In the average time it takes to make it through the inspection period, we can have things out the door.
In addition to clearing hundreds and sometimes thousands of items from a home, our sales serve as a second open house. Our dedicated shoppers can be found lined up outside, usually hours prior to the opening of the sale. Waves of people pour through each estate, admiring both the contents and the home itself. This is a great way to drum up even more interest in a property, all at no cost to you!
Whether you’re a new agent or have been in the real estate world for years, having client resources on hand can give you a huge competitive edge. Our consultations are totally free with no strings attached, and we’d love to be your go-to estate sale provider.
WE CAN MAKE LIFE EASIER FOR BOTH YOU *AND* YOUR CLIENTS!
Estate Sale Lingo 101
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Antique, vintage, retro, repro, collectible… sometimes it seems like the estate sale world has a language all its own. When it comes to hitting the sales, you may feel like you can walk the walk, but can you talk the talk? Learning the lingo can help you shop with confidence so we are happy to walk you through the basics! |
AGE ISN'T JUST A NUMBER
An item’s value is based on many factors, and age is definitely one of those factors. Terms like “vintage” and “antique” do more than just make old stuff sound fancy. When used correctly, words like these can quickly and easily communicate an item’s history and context. Understanding this kind of terminology means that you can speak confidently about the items that interest you, and who doesn’t want to do that?
- Antique: having an age of 100 years old or older
- Collectible: an item suitable for being collected
- Estate: previously owned; typically used in reference to jewelry
- Period: of a specific time, often in a style characteristic of that era
- Repro: an item or work made to imitate or closely resemble an existing item typically of higher value or significance
- Retro: imitative of a style of the recent past
- Vintage: having an age of 30 to 99 years old
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Now that you’ve got the lingo down, you know that those over-the-ear headphones that you just bought at the mall are retro and that the 1970s Pioneer receiver you plug them into is vintage. The 1880s Eastlake style chest of drawers that holds your turntable is both period and antique, and the 1968 pressing of Van Morrison’s Astral Weeks that you like to listen to is both vintage and collectible. The Vincent Van Gogh museum print hanging on the wall nearby is a repro.
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Next time you’re at an estate sale, don’t be shy. You’ve got the tools to talk shop with the best of them. Flex those language skills!
Not Your Grandma’s Attic
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RC Estate Management Services is proud to be revolutionizing the estate sale experience. What used to be thought of as piles of old, dusty stuff in Grandma’s attic is now understood as a modern marketplace for cool and contemporary goods.
RC sales are like boutique pop-up retail events. They're clean, organized and full of great items that folks can't wait to get their hands on! We do realize that estate sales are often held as a result of someone's passing. However, more often than not, an estate sale is the result of a family or individual downsizing their own belongings. |
It's amazing how many items we amass over time, and that accumulation can become overwhelming when we're ready to make a change. We’re thrilled to assist our clients, all while breathing new life into belongings by finding them happy new homes.
Empty nesters headed to their long-awaited retirement beach cottage or mountain retreat are some of our most common clients. These types of sales offer high-quality pieces that won’t break the bank. You can find everything from high-end decor and furniture to power tools and like-new sets of pots and pans.
Empty nesters headed to their long-awaited retirement beach cottage or mountain retreat are some of our most common clients. These types of sales offer high-quality pieces that won’t break the bank. You can find everything from high-end decor and furniture to power tools and like-new sets of pots and pans.
If you’ve been hesitant to attend or host an estate sale, don’t be deterred! Our trusty teams organize sales in a manageable, intuitive style that gives our shoppers a one-of-a-kind retail-like experience.
Our sales are always welcoming, orderly and fun. It's the RC way.
How To tell True Vintage Apart From Reproduction Clothing
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One of the most popular things searched for at estate sales is clothing. Vintage clothing, particularly from the 40’s and 50’s eras, never goes out of style, and it gives people the ability to wear history in a very fashionable and beautiful way. Back in the old days, clothing - like everything else - was made to last (rather than the fast fashion labels we have today), and you’re likely to find these vintage pieces at your local estate sale still in surprisingly good condition. Because the styles of the 40’s and 50’s never go away, there are also a ton of vintage reproduction pieces floating around as well. While there is nothing wrong with vintage reproduction, and some are done very well, it’s not quite the same as having a true piece of history to call your own.
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Vintage reproduction has been popular since the 1970’s, and it is possible you can find a vintage reproduction piece that also counts as true vintage for your next estate sale find. For instance, in the 1970’s, 40’s fashion trends came back in a big way, and “70’s does 40’s” pieces with small bits and pieces of 70’s flair can still be found in estate sale markets rather frequently. Like today’s vintage reproductions, designers would take the base style of a vintage piece and add in their own little modern touches to it, bringing it into the new era.
The vintage reproduction pieces found today really strive for authenticity, which is great for achieving that vintage look but a little tricky if you’re looking for a true vintage piece.
Reproducing authentic vintage prints in fabrics and using vintage patterns almost exactly makes determining if a piece is true vintage or not is something you’ll need to train your eye for.
We can focus on one really popular style of vintage reproduction to really see these differences. 50’s era day dresses, whether vintage reproduction or true vintage, are some of the most sought after items at estate sales for retro clothing enthusiasts. In reproduction styles, you’re apt to see a hidden zipper going up the back of the dress, a belt that contrasts with the dress, wrap-type styles are popular, and a hemline that hits juts above the knee. Even if the piece matches in fabric and cut, these are all telltale signs you’re looking at a reproduction. If you took the same, for all intents and purposes, dress and looked at the true vintage version, you’ll see an exposed black metal zipper going up the back or side of the dress, a matching belt, a hemline that rests just below the knee, and no wrap-type style as this was typically reserved for evening wear during that time.
Another pro tip when searching for vintage clothing: always look for the designer label. A good indicator that you have found genuine vintage is an embroidered label. These labels will show threading on the back and will indicate the designer. Reproduction and modern pieces typically have a label printed on the fabric or the tag and will not be embroidered. This is a quick, easy way to identify old from new.
Another pro tip when searching for vintage clothing: always look for the designer label. A good indicator that you have found genuine vintage is an embroidered label. These labels will show threading on the back and will indicate the designer. Reproduction and modern pieces typically have a label printed on the fabric or the tag and will not be embroidered. This is a quick, easy way to identify old from new.
The best tip is to simply have fun with your search. It’s all about the thrill of the hunt! Stumbling upon a 40s or 50s style party dress is like winning the estate sale vintage lottery.
