What is an estate sale?

An estate sale is a type of sale where the majority of a person's belongings, such as furniture, antiques, household items, collectables, toys, clothing, kitchenware and other personal possessions, are offered for purchase by the public.

What is the difference between an estate sale and a tag sale?

Technically, an estate sale involves selling the belongings of a deceased person. But the terms have become used interchangeably as people frequently have a sale when planning a move to a smaller home or condominium, a retirement community or to a warmer climate.

How does an estate sale differ from a garage sale or a yard sale?

An estate sale typically involves selling the entire contents of a home, while a garage sale or yard sale usually involves selling a small number of unwanted items. Estate sales and tag sales often feature higher-value items and are managed by professionals, such as Kimbell-Brown.

How does an estate sale differ from a moving sale?

An estate sale typically involves selling the entire contents of a home, while a moving sale has a smaller number of items as the residents take some things with them to the new home. Moving sales often occur when someone downsizes, relocates to another state or moves to an assisted living facility. They often don’t have room for all of their belongings in the new space.

When should I consider having an estate sale?

You may want to consider having an estate sale after the passing of a loved one, downsizing, moving, or if you have a significant number of items you wish to sell quickly.

How do I prepare for an tag sale?

To prepare for a tag sale, sort through the belongings and determine which items you or other family members want to keep. Call a professional estate sale company such as Kimbell-Brown to discuss your options.

Should I hire a professional estate sale company?

Hiring a professional estate sale company such as Kimbell-Brown can be beneficial, especially if you have a large estate or valuable items. They handle pricing, advertising and managing the sale, which can lead to better results and higher returns for you.

How do estate sale companies charge for their services?

Estate sale companies often charge a percentage of the total sales or a flat fee. The percentage varies depending on the company and the size and value of the estate. Each sale is unique and Kimbell-Brown’s fees reflect that.

What questions should I ask before hiring an estate sale company?

Hiring an estate sale company such as Kimbell-Brown is something most people only do once, or maybe twice, in their lifetime. It can be overwhelming, especially if Probate Court is involved. We work hard to make this process as easy as possible for you. When talking with professional estate sale companies, here are some questions you should consider asking:

• How long have you been in business?

• What services do you provide?

• How many people will work at my sale?

• Are you insured?

• Are your employees covered by worker’s compensation insurance?

• What is your commission rate?

• Will I have to pay anything up-front for your services?

• How will you price my items?

• What is the pre-sale process?

• Is there anything required on my end?

• What happens with items that don’t sell?

What items are typically sold at estate sales?

At estate sales, you can find a wide range of items, including furniture, antiques, collectibles, artwork, jewelry, electronics, toys, household goods, kitchenware, books, clothing, tools, decorations and more.

Can I set the prices for the items myself?

Professional estate sale companies such as Kimbell-Brown have experienced staff members who determine fair market prices for items. We certainly will consider a client’s input in determining pricing on unique items.

Can I negotiate prices at an estate sale?

Unlike garage sales and yard sales, negotiation is not common at estate sales. We have years of experience pricing items and determining fair market value. Discounts, however, are typically offered toward the last day of a sale on unsold items.

Do I need a permit to hold a tag sale?

Usually not, but this can vary by location. Check with your local government or homeowners association to determine if a permit is required.

What happens to unsold items after the estate sale?

That varies by sale. Some people choose to donate the remaining items to charity. Others keep them, dispose of them or hire a liquidation company to remove and sell the remaining items. Kimbell-Brown can assist with all three options.

How does Kimbell-Brown advertise my tag sale?

We use several methods to advertise an estate sale including nearby street signs, email, social media and national estate sale websites, such as EstateSales.net and EstateSale.com. We have also used advertising in local newspapers or online classifieds.

Does Kimbell-Brown accept credit cards at the tag sale?

While cash is the most common form of payment at tag sales, major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Discover) and debit cards are accepted. A small fee is added to credit card purchases.

Does Kimbell-Brown sell online?

Kimbell-Brown has an online store that is used to sell selected items on short-term consignment from our clients. These are usually items from a previous in-home tag sale. We also post some items on sites such as Facebook Marketplace and Nextdoor.

Does Kimbell-Brown offer a delivery service?

Unfortunately, we do not. All purchases are required to be removed by the buyer. Our staff may be able to help with carrying items to your vehicle depending on how busy the sale is. We frequently do, however, have staff available on the last day of a sale to help with larger items.

What is Kimbell-Brown’s refund policy?

All sales are final. All items are sold “as is” and “where is.” Shoppers are able to inspect items before buying. We are unable to test all electrical items but can help buyers plug them in to test them. We do, however, take special circumstances into consideration for items for which an incorrect amount was charged and similar things.

Can I get prices of items ahead of time?

With thousands of items at a typical sale, we are unable to share prices with customers ahead of time. We strive to price all items at fair market value. Discounts are typically offered near the last day of a sale.

Can Kimbell-Brown host more than one sale a weekend?

Our excellent team has hosted multiple estate sales on a weekend. But we prefer to host just one tag sale at a time so we can give our clients 100% of our attention.

Where are Kimbell-Brown sales typically hosted?

Our team has decades of experience hosting tag sales throughout northeast Ohio. However, we currently focus on the Canton-Massillon area and communities in northern Stark County. We have held estate sales in Akron, Canton, North Canton, Massillon, Louisville, Alliance and Canal Fulton, as well as Plain Township, Jackson Township, Lake Township, Perry Township and Canton Township.

Does Kimbell-Brown have a store or warehouse?

While we have an on-line store, we do not have a physical store location. We also do not operate a warehouse.

How do I find an estate sale near me this weekend?

You can subscribe to the Kimbell-Brown mailing list and follow us on our Facebook page. You can also search for tag sales near you and subscribe to mailing lists at national websites such as EstateSales.net, EstateSale.com, GoEstateSale.com and MegaEstateSales.com.

 How early should you arrive at an estate sale?

Experienced estate sale shoppers arrive at least 30 minutes before opening, especially on a tag sale’s first day. That’s when the selection is best. Kimbell-Brown distributes numbers 30 minutes before opening so customers don’t have to stand in line as long. If you have something specific on your shopping list, get there before someone else buys it.