Estate sales are often managed events with pre-established prices determined by professionals. While there may be some room for negotiation, you will find that it is much less of a feature than it usually is at the common garage sale. Indeed, garage sales are known for their more spontaneous nature, usually being organized and set up by individuals who are simply looking to offload some personal items. There is much room for price negotiation and haggling. Still, you may have some questions or confusion about the differences between estate sales and garage sales. As Milwaukee area estate sale professionals, Heritage Estate Settlement has put together some basic information about the differences between the two to help you better understand what to expect when you attend one of these events.
Purpose & Context
Though there can be other reasons for holding an estate sale, the most common one is a death in the family. That means that the sale will likely be more comprehensive than that of a garage sale, as well as more personal for the sellers. It will be more comprehensive because it will usually consist of the majority of a person’s belongings, including furniture, flatware, art, and more.
In terms of the family members who are involved in the sale, it is extremely important to be respectful to them due to the likely context of the sale. The items you are interested in were indeed those belonging to their loved ones and, therefore, respect should be shown at all times without callous focus on a bottom line.
Organizers
Estate sales are often organized and overseen by professionals, such as Heritage Estate Settlement. So, though family members may still be present and involved as mentioned above, you will likely find a professional onsite.
There are many reasons individuals choose to hire companies like ours to run their estate sales. One of the reasons is that we have the experience and necessary skills and tools to conduct the sale in the most efficient and successful manner. We handle the setup and takedown of the sale as well as the overall presentation and providing of necessary materials, like tables and cash registers.
So, as you can see, the customer’s experience will be different at an estate sale versus a garage sale. An estate sale will generally be more organized and feature more oversight.
Item Appraisal
Unlike a garage sale, major items at a managed estate sale will usually have been professionally appraised by estate sale appraisers. This means that there is often less room for haggling and a firmer floor on what price will be accepted for a major item.
In other words, when attending an estate sale, the opportunity to negotiate price is less of a feature than it commonly is at garage sales. There are, of course, benefits and drawbacks to this component of estate sales. While you will not have as much room to set your price, you will also know that you are paying a fair and professionally-established valuation for a special item.
Contact Heritage Estate Settlement For More Info On Estate Sales
While some consumers may think of estate sales and garage sales as interchangeable, we have explained some of their fundamental differences. While they both can be valuable community events, estate sales will often offer a more managed and professional atmosphere as well as one that calls for a bit more restraint when it comes to negotiating and choosing items. If you are interested in holding an estate sale or in learning more information about attending one, contact Heritage Estate Settlement today. We will be happy to assist you in better understanding our estate sale processes either as a seller or a customer.