FAQ
IN NEED OF AN ESTATE SALE
Is my collection right for an estate sale?
First and foremost, it is essential that you and your loved ones are very clear about what you want to keep and what would be included in an estate sale. Then call us to schedule a complimentary consultation. Our consultations last about an hour, during which time we tour your home, discuss your collection and talk about how we would execute a sale in your home.
How do you price my items?
Amy Byer is a certified appraiser with years of experience in the world of vintage decorative arts and furniture. Coupled with the careful examination of results from our past sales and various online auction results, our pricing is careful, thorough, and evidence-based. Amy works with a team of knowledgeable and enthusiastic vintage experts and has relationships at several Los Angeles area auction houses.
I am putting my home on the market. At what point should I have an estate sale?
Do you need us to clear out everything so your Realtor can stage it? We can handle that. Is your home in escrow and you'd like us to clear it out before closing? We can handle that. Our one requirement is that the client must have already moved out prior to the date we begin prepping the sale.
What if I have a house in the Los Angeles area that needs to be totally cleared but I can’t be there?
We are a full-service estate sales company. Just hand us the keys and it will be handled. We will deliver it empty in a matter of weeks.
What do you do with the items that don’t sell?
We will donate as many "unsolds" as we can and provide you with the receipt for tax purposes. We junk whatever they won’t accept.
Can you move my whole collection to another location to have the sale?
Our sales are in-home only. We are experts at logistics and crowd control and we are sticklers for protecting your home during the estate sale process.
I only have a few pieces I need to sell, can you sell them for me?
It depends on the pieces. Large pieces of furniture are a tough sell even in an estate sale setting. Please contact us for advice.
Do you clean the home once it’s empty?
We do the heavy lifting of the full clear out but we do not clean.
Are you Insured?
Handled is insured, has official employees, workers comp insurance and collects sales tax.
HOW TO SHOP OUR ESTATE SALES
How Does It Work?
Generally, most items inside the home are for sale (except attached fixtures and built-ins but sometimes even those are for sale). Items for sale will have price tags. Items not for sale will be marked as such. You simply shop around the home as if it's a retail store. If you see something you would like to buy, you can place it on the "hold" table while you shop around. If you have any questions about an item or its price, you can ask one of the sales associates working the sale. When you are ready to pay, we write up a sales ticket for you and you take it to the register to pay. We will stamp your ticket "paid," you pick up your purchase, show your paid receipt to the security guard and head out.
Do I need to RSVP?
Our estate sales are mostly open to the public and don't require an RSVP. Occasionally we have a sale that does require an appointment. We make it clear in our advertising what type of sale it is. Sign up for our emails to receive our estate sale invitations.
Can I bring my purse?
Purses, tote bags, and boxes are not permitted inside. We kindly ask that you please leave them along with your your heavy coat and/or big sweater in your vehicle and bring your wallet and phone. We cannot hold your belongings due to potential liability.
How do I find out about your sales?
Subscribe to our email list to receive our estate sale invitations. Our subscribers receive the sale address before the general public. Otherwise, you can always find our ads on www.estatesales.net or follow us on Instagram and Tik Tok @handledestatesales.
Is there a list I can sign up on before the sale?
Typically the estate sale address is revealed to our subscribers early, the morning of the first day of the sale. Buyers who wish to be among the first inside may head to the address to sign up on the sheet outside (then go get breakfast as we open at 10am). The security guard will begin lining up buyers in numerical order a few minutes before we open. If you are not already on the sign up sheet when the line forms, you simply get in line behind those who have signed up. Once the line has formed, the sign up sheet is obsolete.
Do you allow previews of sales before they are open to the public?
We don’t allow in-person previews before the sale date, however, we do provide a link to several photos in our invitation to our subscribers and in our ad on www.estatesales.net and we produce video previews on Instagram and Tik Tok. Please follow us @handledestatesales.
I see something in one of your photos I want to buy, can you hold it for me? Can I buy it over the phone?
We do not allow phone purchases for a couple reasons. A one-dimensional photo may not accurately reflect the condition of a vintage item, so it’s important that you see the item in person and assess its condition on your own. We cannot assess it for you. You are welcome to put something on the hold table while you are shopping the sale in person. But we do not hold something over the phone or after you depart the sale. Everything at our sales is sold as-is. There are no refunds or exchanges. Also, we don't take credit cards over the phone.
Can I call or text to ask questions about pricing before the sale or sale day?
We do not discuss pricing over the phone, only in person.
What if I get home and notice the item I bought is damaged or the furniture doesn’t fit in my home?
There are no refunds or exchanges at our sales. Items are sold as-is. These are pre-loved items, so please thoroughly inspect and / or measure the treasures you are considering (and your space at home) before you buy.
Will I have to wait in line to get into your sale?
There could be a line to get into the sale, particularly at the start of the sale day. Due to concerns about Covid-19, we are limiting the number of shoppers. We appreciate your patience.
Do you charge sales tax at the estate sales?
Yes, it is the law. We charge 9.5% unless you have a valid resale license with you at the time of purchase.
Will you move my furniture to my car / deliver the furniture I purchase at your sale?
It is up to the buyer to bring the help they need (and tools) to remove their buys from the sale. We cannot do it for you. If you need extra help, please bring it or else we are happy to provide a list of movers you can call.
I am unable to pick up my pieces during your estate sale hours, what do I do?
We are happy to arrange a convenient time for you to pick up your items on the Monday after the sale.
What kinds of payment do you accept?
As of January 2024 we are cashless. We accept Apple Pay, Venmo, Zellle and major credit cards.