QUESTIONS ASKED AT ESTATE SALES

QUESTIONS ASKED AT ESTATE SALES:

This is the first in a series – if you have questions please send to [email protected].

WHY IS THE PRICE HIGHER THAN THE ORIGINAL PRICE?

I can’t tell you how many times people come to estate sales and see a price tag on an item and say, “but you only paid $1.99 for that.”

There are a few reasons that items aren’t always priced according to the price on the item.

The first case is when the item was purchased 20 to 50 years ago. The fact that an item was priced $1.99 in 1960 usually means that item is now vintage and has increased in value. A Holly Hobby doll purchased for $4.99 may now be worth $20. Items are priced according to what their current value is – NOT what it cost 40 years ago.

Another case is when an item’s original price at, say, TJ Maxx was $24.99, but the owner, who was a savvy shopper, purchased it on sale for $10. That discount is not always going to be reflected in the price. Instead it is based on the VALUE of the item.

On the flip side of this, there are cases when the original price was higher than we think the item is worth. In that case, we will price the items lower than originally priced.

We do try to remove the original price labels, but it is not always possible, so hopefully this will remove some of the confusion.

WHY ARE ONLY A CERTAIN NUMBER OF PEOPLE ALLOWED INTO HO– USE?

The customer’s safety – and shopping experience – are very important. Every house is different and if the house is large enough, and items are spread out, then most people can usually be accommodated.

However, if the house is small and items are hard to get to, it is very important to limit the amount of people that can enter the house.

Too many people in the house at one time can cause chaos, crowding and make it hard to maneuver.