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Call for a Free Consultation: (860) 222-0880
Whether you’re downsizing, moving, handling a family estate, or trying to sell a large collection, the process can bring up a lot of questions. Below are answers to some of the most common questions we receive about our estate sales, online auctions, and consignment services throughout Connecticut.
How does an estate sale work?
How does an estate sale work?
We start with a free consultation to look at the property, discuss what needs to be sold, and determine which selling method makes the most sense.
We start with a free consultation to look at the property, discuss what needs to be sold, and determine which selling method makes the most sense.
For an in-person estate sale, our team handles the preparation, research, pricing, staging, advertising, sale operation, and customer checkout. After the sale, we reconcile the results and provide the client with their payment.
How much does an estate sale cost?
How much does an estate sale cost?
Our estate sale services are commission-based, so our compensation comes primarily from what is sold.
The exact terms depend on the property and scope of the project and are explained before you sign an agreement. There is no charge for the initial consultation.
Do I need to clean or organize the house before you arrive?
Do I need to clean or organize the house before you arrive?
No major preparation is necessary.
No major preparation is necessary.
We generally ask clients to remove or clearly separate anything that is not for sale before we begin working. If there are larger items you want to keep or items that require a specific minimum price, those can be identified ahead of time.
You do not need to price, stage, photograph, or organize everything yourself.
What kinds of items can be sold at an estate sale?
What kinds of items can be sold at an estate sale?
Estate sales can include a wide range of household property, including:
Furniture and home décor
Antiques and collectibles
Jewelry
Tools and garage items
Electronics
Kitchenware
Clothing
Artwork
Vintage items
Lawn and garden equipment
Household goods
Collections and specialty items
Not every item has significant resale value, but having a large variety of merchandise can help create a successful sale.
How do you determine prices?
How do you determine prices?
We use a combination of experience, market research, comparable sales, condition, age, brand, desirability, and current buyer demand.
Some specialty or unusual items may require additional research.
Our goal is to price items appropriately for the estate-sale or auction market rather than retail-store pricing.
Will everything sell?
Will everything sell?
No estate sale or auction can guarantee that every item will sell.
Buyer demand, condition, price, location, season, and the type of merchandise all affect results. Our goal is to market the sale effectively and sell as much appropriate merchandise as possible during the available selling period.
Do you discount items during the estate sale?
Do you discount items during the estate sale?
Yes. Discounts are commonly used as the sale progresses to help move remaining merchandise.
Pricing and discount decisions are made based on the merchandise, buyer interest, and overall goals of the sale.
Should the family be present during the estate sale?
Should the family be present during the estate sale?
We generally recommend that clients and family members are not present during public sale hours.
Estate sales can be emotional, and allowing our team to manage customers, questions, negotiations, and checkout usually makes the process easier for everyone.
Clients can coordinate with us if they need access to the property.
How long does it take to prepare an estate sale?
How long does it take to prepare an estate sale?
Preparation time depends on the size of the home, quantity of merchandise, amount of research required, and condition of the property.
A smaller estate may require only a few days of preparation, while a larger property may require considerably more time.
We discuss the expected timeline during the consultation.
How are estate sales advertised?
How are estate sales advertised?
We use a combination of online advertising and local promotion.
Depending on the sale, marketing may include estate-sale listing websites, social media, our email list, online marketplaces, photographs, videos, signage, and other appropriate advertising channels.
How are estate sales advertised?
How are estate sales advertised?
We use a combination of online advertising and local promotion.
Depending on the sale, marketing may include estate-sale listing websites, social media, our email list, online marketplaces, photographs, videos, signage, and other appropriate advertising channels.
How does an online estate auction work?
How does an online estate auction work?
Items are photographed, researched, and listed individually or in groups for online bidding.
Bidders compete during the auction period, and the highest bidder at closing wins the item. Winning bidders then attend a scheduled pickup or arrange shipping when shipping is offered.
We commonly use AuctionNinja for our online estate auctions.
Why would you use an online auction instead of an in-person estate sale?
Why would you use an online auction instead of an in-person estate sale?
Online auctions can work particularly well for collectibles, vintage items, specialty merchandise, tools, electronics, jewelry, and items that may benefit from reaching buyers beyond the immediate neighborhood.
In some estates, we use both methods.
A hybrid estate sale may include an online auction for selected items followed by an in-person sale for the remaining contents.
Can you ship auction items?
Can you ship auction items?
Shipping is available for selected items when practical.
Shipping charges are paid by the buyer. Large furniture and other items that cannot reasonably be shipped are generally offered for local pickup only.
Do I need an entire estate to work with you?
Do I need an entire estate to work with you?
No.
No.
Our online consignment service is available for select antiques, collectibles, jewelry, electronics, tools, vintage items, furniture, and other desirable property.
Our online consignment service is available for select antiques, collectibles, jewelry, electronics, tools, vintage items, furniture, and other desirable property.
This can be a good option if you have valuable items to sell but do not need a full estate sale.
This can be a good option if you have valuable items to sell but do not need a full estate sale.
How does online consignment work?
How does online consignment work?
We evaluate the items first to determine whether they are a good fit for our selling services.
When accepted, we may handle research, photography, listings, buyer communication, payment, pickup, and shipping when appropriate.
Depending on the merchandise, items may be sold through AuctionNinja, eBay, local marketplaces, private buyers, or another suitable sales channel.
Do you buy items outright?
Do you buy items outright?
Our primary business is estate sales, auctions, and commission-based selling rather than purchasing entire estates outright.
For some situations, we may be able to recommend a more appropriate buyer or selling option.
What happens to items that do not sell?
What happens to items that do not sell?
There are usually several options depending on the client's plans for the property.
Remaining items may be kept, donated, offered through another selling method, or handled by a separate cleanout or removal company.
We can discuss possible options with you, but full property cleanouts are not a standard part of our estate sale service.
Do you provide cleanout services?
Do you provide cleanout services?
No. We specialize in selling estate contents, not junk removal or full-property cleanouts.
If a cleanout is needed after the sale, we can discuss the types of services you may want to look for.
When do I receive payment?
When do I receive payment?
After the sale or auction is completed, we reconcile the transactions and prepare the client payment.
Clients are typically paid within the timeframe stated in their service agreement after reconciliation is complete.
Are you insured?
Are you insured?
Yes. Will’s Lost & Found Estate Sales LLC carries business insurance for our estate sale operations.
Where do you provide estate sale services?
Where do you provide estate sale services?
We are based in Bristol, Connecticut and serve clients throughout Connecticut.
We frequently work throughout Central Connecticut and surrounding communities, and larger projects may take us farther across the state.
How much experience do you have selling items?
How much experience do you have selling items?
Will’s Lost & Found has experience selling online dating back to 2010.
That background in online resale, product research, photography, marketing, and buyer communication eventually expanded into professional estate sales, online estate auctions, and consignment services for other families.
How do I get started?
How do I get started?
Start with a free consultation so we can learn more about what you need to sell, your timeline, and which option may work best for you.
You can choose whichever is easiest:
- Call or text us at (860) 222-0880
- Fill out the Contact Us form below
- Schedule a video consultation online: Schedule Now
During the consultation, we can discuss the property, the items involved, your goals, and whether an in-person estate sale, online auction, consignment service, or a combination of methods makes the most sense.
Still have questions? We are here to help.
Call or email Will's Lost and Found today to discuss your specific estate needs.
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