Frequently Asked Questions
What is your fee for coming to the house and assessing it for an estate sale?
Our initial consultation with you is free of charge.
Our initial consultation with you is free of charge.
How far in advance do I have to book an estate sale at my home?
The estate sale process takes approximately 10-14 days (on average) from the time that we first enter your home to stage and price your items for the sale until the end of the estate sale and we organize your items. Therefore, we require at least a 15 day notice, though we prefer to schedule estate sales well in advance due to our availability.
The estate sale process takes approximately 10-14 days (on average) from the time that we first enter your home to stage and price your items for the sale until the end of the estate sale and we organize your items. Therefore, we require at least a 15 day notice, though we prefer to schedule estate sales well in advance due to our availability.
Where do we begin planning our estate sale?
When you contact Boxwood Estate Sales, we will talk with you and get to know your situation as well as the type of estate that we are working with. We will setup a convenient time to meet with you or your representative on-site.
When you contact Boxwood Estate Sales, we will talk with you and get to know your situation as well as the type of estate that we are working with. We will setup a convenient time to meet with you or your representative on-site.
What happens at the first estate sale planning meeting?
When we arrive on-site, we will assess and determine the feasibility of a sale. This means, we will determine whether there are enough items in the residence to host an estate sale. By doing this, it allows us to make an informed decision as to whether an estate sale is in your best interest or if you should use alternate means to liquidate the contents of the home.
When we arrive on-site, we will assess and determine the feasibility of a sale. This means, we will determine whether there are enough items in the residence to host an estate sale. By doing this, it allows us to make an informed decision as to whether an estate sale is in your best interest or if you should use alternate means to liquidate the contents of the home.
Who are my contacts at Boxwood Estate Sales?
Brittany Swales
phone number: (828) 333-3335
email address: info@BoxwoodEstateSales.com
Brittany Swales
phone number: (828) 333-3335
email address: info@BoxwoodEstateSales.com
My family members and I would like to keep certain contents in the house. How should we handle this?
We ask you and/or your family members to remove all items that you would like to keep prior to us coming out to assess the estate. This allows us to conduct a thorough assessment of what the estate sale can bring.
We ask you and/or your family members to remove all items that you would like to keep prior to us coming out to assess the estate. This allows us to conduct a thorough assessment of what the estate sale can bring.
There are some items that we want to keep but do not want to remove them from the house. How is this handled?
Any items that you would like to keep in the house are either secured in a certain room/area of the home and/or marked as “not for sale”. But, we do prefer for all items to be removed from the home prior to staging for the sale as too many items left in the home "not for sale" frustrates customers attending the sale.
Any items that you would like to keep in the house are either secured in a certain room/area of the home and/or marked as “not for sale”. But, we do prefer for all items to be removed from the home prior to staging for the sale as too many items left in the home "not for sale" frustrates customers attending the sale.
What do I do to prepare for an estate sale?
First and foremost, please do not donate or throw away any items (other than trash). We also ask for you not to pack or organize the items that will be sold during the estate sale. Please leave all items where they have remained so that our staff has ample time to stage and price the items.
We ask that you remove all personal items from the house such as money, jewelry (that you want to keep), personal photos, prescriptions/medication, and paperwork (ie. birth certificates, social security cards, taxes, driver's licenses, passports, military documents, bank statements, pay stubs, medical bills, and any other items that you want to keep and/or remain private). Please note that we want you to remove these items for your safety and the safety of your family members since there will be strangers entering and exiting the home during the sale. If any personal items are left, our team will collect these items and box them up for you prior to the sale.
First and foremost, please do not donate or throw away any items (other than trash). We also ask for you not to pack or organize the items that will be sold during the estate sale. Please leave all items where they have remained so that our staff has ample time to stage and price the items.
We ask that you remove all personal items from the house such as money, jewelry (that you want to keep), personal photos, prescriptions/medication, and paperwork (ie. birth certificates, social security cards, taxes, driver's licenses, passports, military documents, bank statements, pay stubs, medical bills, and any other items that you want to keep and/or remain private). Please note that we want you to remove these items for your safety and the safety of your family members since there will be strangers entering and exiting the home during the sale. If any personal items are left, our team will collect these items and box them up for you prior to the sale.
What should we throw out ahead of time?
Again, please do not donate or throw anything away, other than trash. You can remove any broken/non-repairable items and trash. If you have any questionable items that you are unsure if you should remove or not, please reach out to Brittany for confirmation. Many clients donate or throw away many items that are sellable and could increase the profit of the sale.
Again, please do not donate or throw anything away, other than trash. You can remove any broken/non-repairable items and trash. If you have any questionable items that you are unsure if you should remove or not, please reach out to Brittany for confirmation. Many clients donate or throw away many items that are sellable and could increase the profit of the sale.
I have items that I don’t think will sell? What should I do with them?
We will attempt to sell every item in your house from antiques to bath towels and cleaning products. Clients lose a lot of potential earnings by giving away or disposing of items they feel isn't sellable before a sale. You will be surprised at how much revenue all of these lesser items will bring.
We will attempt to sell every item in your house from antiques to bath towels and cleaning products. Clients lose a lot of potential earnings by giving away or disposing of items they feel isn't sellable before a sale. You will be surprised at how much revenue all of these lesser items will bring.
Do I need to rent tables, display cabinets or clothing racks?
No, we will bring in tables, tablecloths, clothing racks and display cases, as needed, for the estate sale.
No, we will bring in tables, tablecloths, clothing racks and display cases, as needed, for the estate sale.
Do you sell fine jewelry and silver?
Absolutely. We provide locking display cases that are always monitored by a trained sales professional during the estate sale.
Absolutely. We provide locking display cases that are always monitored by a trained sales professional during the estate sale.
Should we sell our fine jewelry/silver to a pawn shop or sell our gold for cash beforehand?
Absolutely not. Pawn shops and cash for gold businesses give you only a fraction of what your jewelry is worth. You will receive more money selling your jewelry and silver at an estate sale rather than selling it at a pawn store or a jewelry shop.
Absolutely not. Pawn shops and cash for gold businesses give you only a fraction of what your jewelry is worth. You will receive more money selling your jewelry and silver at an estate sale rather than selling it at a pawn store or a jewelry shop.
Are there any items that you don’t sell?
-Box springs and mattresses (per NC law)
-Broken items
NOTE: Per NC law, we cannot sell box springs and mattresses. However, we do sell headboards, footboards and railings/bed frames. Box springs and mattresses can remain on the bed frames and will be taken by the customer when purchased.
-Box springs and mattresses (per NC law)
-Broken items
NOTE: Per NC law, we cannot sell box springs and mattresses. However, we do sell headboards, footboards and railings/bed frames. Box springs and mattresses can remain on the bed frames and will be taken by the customer when purchased.
How do you price items?
Brittany has experience in dealing with and selling antiques and various items for years. Your items will be researched and priced by our professionals with our expansive market knowledge. We consult with antique and jewelry appraisers, interior decorators, several online databases as well as draw from our professional experience in order to price your items.
Brittany has experience in dealing with and selling antiques and various items for years. Your items will be researched and priced by our professionals with our expansive market knowledge. We consult with antique and jewelry appraisers, interior decorators, several online databases as well as draw from our professional experience in order to price your items.
How do you market your estate sales?
Every estate sale is advertised on EstateSales.net, BoxwoodEstateSales.com, Facebook, Instagram and other various outlets. All photos are in color and a general list of the items that are being offered is noted. Every sale has an individualized marketing campaign and is emailed out multiple times to our subscribers prior to and during the estate sale dates. Physical signage will be posted across town directing drivers to the estate sale.
Every estate sale is advertised on EstateSales.net, BoxwoodEstateSales.com, Facebook, Instagram and other various outlets. All photos are in color and a general list of the items that are being offered is noted. Every sale has an individualized marketing campaign and is emailed out multiple times to our subscribers prior to and during the estate sale dates. Physical signage will be posted across town directing drivers to the estate sale.
Do you charge sales tax or credit card fees to the customer at the time of purchase?
Per NC law, we have to collect sales tax for all items purchased. However, we do not charge a credit card fee to the customer.
Per NC law, we have to collect sales tax for all items purchased. However, we do not charge a credit card fee to the customer.
What happens to the remaining items that were not sold during the estate sale?
Our staff will straighten up the remaining items at the end of the estate sale's last day and organize all items, generally, to one side of each room. Our company will schedule a pick-up date and time for a donation company to come get the remaining items after the sale has taken place. Donation companies currently have an average of 2-4 week wait for pick-ups. It is up to the client to be at the house during the time of donation pick-up and is responsible for any additional items not picked up by the donation company (ex. dated tv's, sleeper sofas, cribs and baby furniture/toys (that do not comply with CPSC safety standards), pianos, large appliances, building/plumbing materials, bed pillows, boxsprings and mattresses, firearms, fireworks, hazardous materials, etc.).
Our staff will straighten up the remaining items at the end of the estate sale's last day and organize all items, generally, to one side of each room. Our company will schedule a pick-up date and time for a donation company to come get the remaining items after the sale has taken place. Donation companies currently have an average of 2-4 week wait for pick-ups. It is up to the client to be at the house during the time of donation pick-up and is responsible for any additional items not picked up by the donation company (ex. dated tv's, sleeper sofas, cribs and baby furniture/toys (that do not comply with CPSC safety standards), pianos, large appliances, building/plumbing materials, bed pillows, boxsprings and mattresses, firearms, fireworks, hazardous materials, etc.).
When will I be paid?
Your settlement statement and check will be mailed out 6 business days or less after the conclusion of your estate sale.
Your settlement statement and check will be mailed out 6 business days or less after the conclusion of your estate sale.
What other services do you offer?
We can provide you with recommendations for any additional services that you may need.
We can provide you with recommendations for any additional services that you may need.
