What We Do?
What kinds of things do we sell?
How do we organize and display items?
How do we advertise?
What do we do about clean up after the sale?
What do we do about bad checks?
What does your commission include?
How do you know we are honest?
Do you have a separate antique business?
Why should I sell my things?
What if I only have a few things I want to sell?
May I attend the sale?
What should I throw away and what should I keep?
How can I find out what my things are worth?
I was told that my ??? is worth $XXX ! Or, I saw an item like mine on a TV show and they said it's was worth $XXX !
Someone told me that my sterling silver, cut glass, and china aren't as valuable as they once were. Is this true?
Do you pay people for referring business to you?
Why can't I just do my own sale?
My neighbor/ friend/ mailman want to buy something. Can't I just sell it myself?
What do I have to do to help?

►What We Do?
We sit down with you and listen as you tell us what you want to accomplish. We carefully consider what you tell us, what you want to sell, and the market for your merchandise. We also study the physical arrangement of your home and property. We provide all of the resources needed to sort, organize, display, research, price, advertise, and sell the contents of the home or estate in a professional manner.  We provide exceptional attention to detail, with many years of experience identifying and valuing antiques and collectibles. We offer a variety of comprehensive services that we can tailor to meet the needs of each client. Then we custom design a unique plan that will most effectively accomplish your goals.

We write and place all newspaper advertising, send out e-mail announcements to our subscriber list, distribute flyers and place directional signs in appropriate places for locating your sale.

Throughout the liquidation process, your household contents will be treated with the utmost respect. We understand that you may have many memories associated with the items being sold.

Settlement for the Sale: We maintain a cash drawer during the sale and keep all proceeds after the sale and until all checks have cleared the bank. Then our fees and expenses are deducted and the balances of the proceeds are paid to the designated recipient of the estate within ten days of the sale.

Our first meeting is on a "no cost/no obligation" basis. If you contract with us for the sale of your property, additional meetings related to the sale of your property are also on a "no cost" basis. If you do not contract with us for the sale of your property, additional consultations can be scheduled on a fee basis.

Contact us for flexible solutions tailored to your situation. (Top of Page)

►What kinds of things do we sell?
We have extensive experience selling antiques, collectibles, estate property, personal property, and "anything and everything else" that can be found in a private residence! When pricing items, we consider all markets and other factors relating to the item, ensuring the best possible price for you.  Our experience ranges from jewelry to automobiles, antique furniture to modern furniture, books to tools, household items to garden items, and ceramics to glassware. And, we have sold just about everything from the $1 Avon bottles to the used $10,000 car, and... advertising items, art glass, bronzes, sculptures, camping equipment, Tupperware, Indian artifacts, baskets, clocks, coins, collectibles, crystal,  depression glass, dolls, electronic items, figurines, fine arts, furniture, historical documents, Hummels, jade, linens, marble statues, office equipment and supplies, perfume bottles, porcelain, quilts, pottery, Roseville pottery, samplers, scrap gold, snuff bottles, soapstone, sporting goods, sterling silver flatware and serving pieces, toys, trucks, old paper goods, vintage clothing, vintage hats, vintage photographs, vintage purses, watches, and much more. (Top of Page)

►How do we organize and display items?
We organize and arrange items in the most attractive manner possible so that they will be appealing to potential buyers. Small valuable items are placed in locked display cases. Large valuable items are placed where they are easy to monitor and safeguard. (Top of Page)

►How do we advertise?
We develop a promotional campaign that is designed to attract the maximum number of qualified buyers to your sale. We advertise and market your property using: (Top of Page)

• our network of established buyers,
• our e-mail lists, snail mail lists, and telephone lists,
• our web page and other internet ad sites,
• Flyers at Girlfriends Antique Shop in Renton & other shops in the area   
• advertisements in local newspapers,
• neighborhood flyers,
• sandwich board signs on street level.

►What do we do about clean up after the sale?
The end result should be generally a cleaned-out home, with just a few things left to donate. Disposal of items that are left are generally garage sale items or items that have no desirability. The owner has the option to dispose or retain those items on their own, donate the items to charity, or arrange prior to the sale for Girlfriends Estate Sale Service to dispose of the items to their favorite charity. In the latter, Girlfriends Estate Services will leave the premises broom clean and provide the owner with a tax deductible receipt. We dispose of any ordinary household trash at no additional cost to you, provided that you maintain your trash service. If there is excessive trash, or if you have discontinued your trash service, we will dispose of it at an additional cost to you. We will not dispose of any chemicals, paints, hazard waste or hazardous materials. Disposal of unsold items and complete clean out are optional. (Top of Page)

►What do we do about bad checks?
We assume total responsibility for any bad checks. We pay you the total receipts of the sale (minus sales taxes and our commission) regardless of any bad checks. (Top of Page)

►What does your commission include?
When you hire us to conduct your Estate Sale you are getting... our experience and expertise, our ability to attract buyers, our ability to sell your property for top dollar, our ability to solve problems for you, all necessary supplies and equipment, trained personnel, advertising, removal of ordinary household trash, and freedom from the concerns of receiving bad checks. We apply our management experience, business experience, product knowledge, people skills, and knowledge of the market to conduct a successful Estate Sale for you. (Top of Page)

►How do you know we are honest?
We have established an outstanding reputation for uncompromising honesty, integrity, professionalism, and service. We would be happy to provide you with a list of references.
(Top of Page)

►Do you have a separate antique business?
I do not have a separate antique business at this time. Some of my staff still own their own Antique store or are dealers in other antique malls. If any staff member chooses to purchase an item, they will pay the full retail price as it would be priced to the general public. (Top of Page)

►Why should I sell my things?
Selling items you no longer need is a wise financial decision! Selling unused items allows you to invest the money, or use the money for other purposes. It can also make more room in your home, give your home a new look, and reduce upkeep, maintenance, or insurance expenses. (Top of Page)

►What if I only have a few things I want to sell?
We accept good items on consignment to include in another Estate Sale, on our Web site, or we can arrange for it to be consigned at Girlfriends Antique Store or another Auction Facility. (Top of Page)

►May I attend the sale?
We are very comfortable having you attend the sale. However, many people find it emotionally difficult and choose to do something else. (Top of Page)

►What should I throw away and what should I keep?
Do not throw anything away until you have talked with us. The old saying that "one man's trash is another man's treasure" is very true. Practically everything has some value, and we can find a buyer for almost anything. (Top of Page)

►How can I find out what my things are worth?
We will come in and assess the items for sale or we can arrange for a certified appraisal to give you an idea of the value of your property. But, the only way to find out exactly what an item is worth is to advertise it well, and place it for sale in a competitive public arena that is attended by a number of potential buyers who would like to own the item, and who have the money to buy the item.
(Top of Page)

►Someone told me that my _____ is worth $_____! Or, I saw an item like mine on a T.V. show and they said that it was worth $_____!
Some people may tell you what they think you want to hear - especially if they do not have to be accountable! Remember - there is a big difference between a verbal opinion of value and an offer to buy. (Top of Page)

►Someone told me that my sterling silver, cut glass, and china aren't as valuable as they once were. Is this true?
Generally speaking, sterling silver, cut glass, and formal china are not as valuable as they once were. The reason for this is quite simple - many people do not have time for formal entertaining, many homes do not have formal dining rooms, and many people prefer a simpler lifestyle. Nevertheless, we do have a solid market for these items and we can sell them if the client is realistic about their fair market value. (Top of Page)

►Do you pay people for referring business to you?
We do not pay referral fees! We want people to refer us based solely upon the quality of work we do, not based upon a possible financial gain. We appreciate referrals from people who are aware of the quality of work we do and our strict adherence to professional standards and codes of ethics. Our commitment to every person who refers business to us is that we will do a quality job that will make them proud that they recommended us. We believe that there is no better way to demonstrate our appreciation for referrals! (Top of Page)

►Why can't I just do my own sale?
A successful sale doesn't "just happen." It takes a considerable amount of time to organize. It requires a wide range of knowledge, trained, experienced, hard working personnel who place attention and emphasis on every detail from pricing to set up. We have seen what happens when an individual, friend, or family member conducts a sale themselves. Too often, the valuable items are sold at "give away prices" and the less valuable items are priced too high. This results in a home that is depleted of its valuable resources and left with the more common, everyday items that must be donated or given away. The result is far less money than we can earn for you! You never get a second chance to sell estate property. Make sure it is done right the first time. Selling family heirlooms and memories can be very difficult to detach from. (Top of Page)

►My neighbor/ friend/ mailman want to buy something. Can't I just sell it myself?
We have seen countless situations where people have sold items to neighbors, friends, and even the mailman for a fraction of their fair market value. Ask yourself if your relationship with the person is such that you want to give the item to them. If it is, then just give the item to them. Otherwise, do not sell anything yourself! An individual simply cannot know fair market values unless they are engaged in selling property on a daily basis! (Top of Page)

►What do I have to do to help?
We ask that you remove any item from the property you do not want to sell, if possible. Other than that, you do not have to do anything other than tell us what you want to sell, and accept our check for final settlement. We do all the work and we handle all the details! (Top of Page)