How To Choose A Company To Sell Your Estate
How do you choose a company to handle your sale? One thing is for sure, you should not go by price alone. For example, a bid that is ridiculously low should raise all kinds of red flags such as does the person really know what he or she is doing and will they be able to perform as promised?
Here are some examples of things to look for when making your decision:
What experience does the company have in doing an estate sale or auction the size of yours?
For example, AAA Auction has been hired more than once by people who have previously hired an inexperienced estate sale company that held a sale that bombed. This may have been due to over-pricing, ineffective advertising, poor scheduling, or poor set-up. Make sure your company has plenty of experience before you trust your sale to it. AAA Auction has done hundreds of auctions over the last 16 years that attract around 250,000 page hits every auction.
Does the company you are considering cover its employees with worker’s compensation insurance?
If the company you are considering does not carry the state-required worker’s compensation insurance and one of its employees is hurt while working for you, you would likely be sued to provide all worker’s compensation benefits yourself to the injured person. This is true even if the company calls their workers “independent contractors.” That will not fool lawyers or insurance adjusters. So, you should ask for a certificate of worker’s compensation insurance from the company you hire. AAA Auction carries all insurance that good business practices and the law requires including workers’ compensation insurance.
Does the company you are considering have a well-written contract that explains and documents everything that they are promising?
It would be nice if all business could be done on a handshake, but that is not the real world. The purpose of contracts is to make sure that each party has a full understanding of the agreement reached. A contract must not only cover the essential terms of the agreement, but it should also cover some unanticipated but not uncommon things such as what happens if a Seller withdraws something from the sale after it has started. AAA Auction uses professionally written contracts and makes sure that our clients fully understand the agreement.
Is the person you are considering licensed, bonded and insured?
A license and a bond are required in Minnesota to hold one’s self out as an auctioneer. No license though is required to hold online auctions or estate sales. Thus many people who think that it is an easy profession try it for a while and then get out of the business after learning that it is not as easy as they thought. Unfortunately, some sellers have very bad experiences in the meantime. So, you should ask your professional if he or she is licensed, bonded and insured and if you are a skeptical person, you also might ask to see the license, bond and certificate of liability insurance. AAA Auction is licensed, bonded and insured and we will gladly show you our records at any time.
Does the company you are considering seem professional?
This involves more than having the right insurance, using a well-written contract and being licensed. This has to do with the personality of your estate professional. Your professional’s demeanor, dress, and the way in which he or she treats you and others is important as well. Does your professional show respect to your home and your items? Is he or she friendly and do they relate with other people in a comfortable and respectful manner? At AAA Auction we strive to follow the Golden Rule. That means that we take the time to learn what your needs are, and we will make a recommendation that will be the most profitable for you. It may be an online auction, it may be a live auction, it may be a buy-out. or a combination of these methods.
Does the company you are considering have sales records online that you can review?
Anyone can give you an opinion of the value of your items, but even if a professional is knowledgeable enough to know the value of an item that does not mean that he or she will be able to sell your item for that value. There is no better way to get an idea of the realistic value of your items than to see the prices the company has obtained for similar items in the past. AAA Auction has many of its prior sales online that will allow you to get a very good idea about the selling price of many items. Of course, there is never a guarantee, and there are sometimes exceptions, but if you use a professional company with good advertising and a good following, you can be assured that competitive bidding in the marketplace will result in your item selling for it’s true value.
What do others say about the company you are considering?
At AAA Auction we have testimonials posted on our website for you to review. Whether we are working with our Sellers or our Buyers, we are very grateful about all the compliments that folks have given us.
Does the company you are considering hiring have the manpower and facilities to handle everything you need?
One of the mistakes most non-professionals make is underestimating the time it will take to get the job done. At AAA Auction, we have not only the experience to size up a job correctly, but we also have the hard-working staff, trucks, trailers and storage space to process your items in the best way possible.