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DISPOSITION

 

I believe that I am unique among sellers in that I use multiple sources of disposition, in an effort to
maximize my client's return. Most companies sell in just one way: Auction houses sell exclusively at
auction, estate sale providers sell exclusively at estate sales, and eBay sellers sell exclusively on eBay.

I use all three venues, depending on where I believe my client will end up with the most money. Like
most sale providers, my focus, when approaching a house full of personal property, is tagging everything in
the house, running ads where they will bring a crowd, and selling everything in a weekend. I only do one
sale at a time, I carefully research items of value, and I sell in a manner that maximizes your (rather
than my) return.

Here's a link to an article I wrote regarding the pluses and minuses of the venues one might use to sell personal property.

With a my very reasonable commission rates, you will find that often the amount realized using me to sell
your items is higher, even after my commission, than you could have received selling on your own.

In the last eight years I have averaged 1/2 million dollars a year in sales of my client's personal
property. All client money is deposited in a separate account and dispursed from that account.
I have a 35+ year spotless record of 100% on time payments, and I have never, nor will I ever, use my
client's money for my own purposes.

Estate (tag) sales:

I set up every house in a manner that displays items attractively, with realistic pricing designed to sell
items in a weekend. I aggressively advertise my public sales, generating a large turnout and maximizing
sales and prices realized. See this sale for an example of the internet exposure your
sale will receive, and my completed sales page for examples of other past sales. All items are
individually tagged with a price, or generically priced with easy to read signage. All sales are run through a cash register,
generating a receipt for my buyers.

I carefully research items of value, often uncovering items of unexpected value, thus maximizing your
return.

I only do one sale at a time, thus you are assured that my energy is going in to making your sale as good
as it can be.

Unlike so many of my competitors who have raised their fees to 40% or even 50%, I generally charge
a 35% commission for a clean sale, and 40% for a messy one.

Auctions:

Some of my sales are conducted via auction over the internet, primarily eBay.
I have very good feedback, and a large following that watch for my items, thus
I consistently get higher bids for many items than do other sellers.



I consign to other auctions when my experience has shown that particular items sells for a premium price at
that venue.If I see an item that needs international exposure, for example luxury brand jewelry, Disney collectibles,
comic books, California pottery, higher priced coins and currency, and many other items far too numerous to list,
I will put the item on eBay. Unfortunately, eBay's new radically higher fees and cluttered marketplace have me using eBay far less often
than I did in the past.

Similarly, if I see an item that needs to have the backing of an internationally regarded
expert to get serious bids, I will consign the item to an auction house such as Sotheby's, Bonham's, Skinner or
Heritage.

Auction can also be the venue choice when there is too little in the house to justify a sale, or when the
house needs to be emptied very quickly.

Just as important is the fact that I do not auction items where I believe your net proceeds will be lower
as a result.

Private Sales:

My private sales benefit from my knowledge of the high buyers for most items typically found in estates.
This knowledge allows you to maximize the return for your client, with no work on your part. Often private
sales are the best disposition method if you need to quickly and discreetly dispose of a few items.



Below are a few of the many items where my clients have realized great prices for
their items:

Unsigned naive (or primitive) portrait, local estimates of value under $3000, $210000 (Skinner)

hamblen

Carved Rhino horn cup, no offers over $1000, sales price $17,000 (Bonham's)

rhinocup

1893-S Morgan silver dollar, best local offer $6500, sales price $18,500 (Heritage)

1893smorgan

Japanese glass fishing float, guide book value $300-500, sales price $4227 (eBay)

float

 

14K gold, Platinum and diamond necklace, best local offer $2200, sales price $5100 (estate sale)

necklace


Statue sitting on an outdoor fountain, $1750 (estate sale)

statue

George Nakashima chair, no local offers over $5000, $15000 (auction)



This painting was purchased by a client for $20 at a Goodwill outlet store. As you can see it's initialed but not signed. I was able to identify the painter, find a good marketplace, and sent it in to Heritage where is sold for a very pleasing $3000