Estate Sales in Pittsburgh, PA (2024)

FAQs

Do you negotiate at estate sales? ›

Haggle, but don't be a jerk about it

It's their job to do the research and set the price of the items they're selling. Plus, they're in this to make money for their client too. So, yes, you can absolutely bargain with the seller.

What Percentage Do Estate Sales Take? Estate sale companies generally charge a standard commission rate between 30 to 40 percent of sales. Before they agree to take on a client, they'll typically provide a gross sales minimum. This means that the total value of all the items to be sold must meet or exceed that value.

Hold Your Estate Sale on a Weekend Day.

When you're considering how to run an estate sale, your foremost goal is to draw prospective buyers — and the best way to do that is to host your estate sale on a weekend.

While our sales open at 9am, our customers sometimes arrive as early as 3am (or even the night before) to ensure they are first in line to get their most sought after item(s). This is where the watched list comes into play. The standard practice is that the first person to arrive is the person who starts the list.

Most estate sales will take cash and credit/debit cards. Some will also take checks. Recently I attended a local estate sale that didn't take any credit or debit cards, cash or check only.

Evaluating Condition And Rarity

Condition and rarity greatly impact the value of estate sale treasures. Whether it's a vintage painting, a piece of antique jewelry, or a mid-century furniture set, the better the condition, the higher the value.

Do you want to carry out your estate sale? Winter is a good season because of low competition and high probability of sales. Moreover, estate agents won't charge you a fortune.

Catalogue each item – Make an itemized list of everything to be sold. Be thorough, keep it organized and include specifications. This document can be printed and used as a reference for you and any family members, or others that will have a financial stake in the estate sale.

However, many agree that 20%-30% is a typical range for sales representatives. Most companies pay a base rate (either by the hour or as an annual salary) in addition to the salesperson's earned commission. Commission rates go as low as 5%, though these companies typically offer significant base rates.

What percentage do most estate agents charge? ›

Fees tend to be between 0.9% and 3.6%. It's a good idea to ask exactly what the fee covers before signing a contract. Make sure to check any additional costs before deciding on an agent. Estate agent fees should only be paid when your sale is completed.

Of course, real estate commissions can be negotiated, and nowadays they typically run somewhere closer to 5 percent of a home's sale price. That means the means the more expensive the home, the more money the agents make.

Here's how each month of the year ranked for the best time to sell a house. The highest-earning months are, in ranking order, May, June, April and March. Just over 18 million purchase transactions took place during this period, according to ATTOM.

The worst time to sell a house is typically during the winter months, particularly in December, January, and February. During this period, bad weather can deter potential buyers from attending open houses, and many people are preoccupied with holiday activities and planning.

What time of year are most properties sold? The time of year when most properties are sold is autumn (March to May). There is a good balance of buyer demand and limited supply.

When you are discussing fees, be firm, be open to discussion, and be polite. Ask your estate agent exactly what you get for those fees and stand your ground if you think the fees are too high. It's worth thinking about it like this – the fee structure is there as a first point for discussion.

The major benefit of a counter-offer for buyers is the potential to secure the home for less money and on better terms. However, if you really want the house, it's not a great idea to go back and forth too many times with counter-offers.

Your commission split will be higher or lower depending on a few factors. In general, the longer you're in the business and the more closed deals you produce, the higher you can negotiate your commission split with your broker. Starting out, it's not uncommon for new agents to have a 50/50 or 60/40 split.