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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;komokwa, post: 304822, member: 301&quot;]For items sold at estate sales, the estate liquidators usually set the prices, but most of them are not trained appraisers. That’s fine, as long as they know to call in reinforcements when they’re in over their heads. When liquidators don’t know the value of an item, they should consult a trained professional, rather than, say, doing some cursory research on eBay. Ideally, consumers should get items of perceived value appraised before hiring an estate liquidator, experts advise. (A good liquidator will refer clients to an appraiser for hard-to-price items, but don’t count on it, Zeman says.)</p><p><br /></p><p>If an item is truly worth something—think authentic Cartier or Tiffany—then it might be best to sell it at auction instead of at an estate sale. Estate-sale treasure hunters may appreciate it when liquidators undervalue an item, but the estate’s owners or their representatives typically want fair market value, and auction houses will likely do a better job of ensuring that they get it for rare items, appraisers say.</p><p><br /></p><p>&quot;A liquidator should never be the first person who digs into the belongings of someone who’s no longer living—a family member or friend should always do a first pass.&quot;</p><p><br /></p><p><font size="5"><b>What to watch out for when it’s time to clear out a home</b></font></p><p><font size="5"><br /></font></p><p><b> “We’re thinking of snagging some of your goodies for ourselves.</b></p><p><a href="https://www.marketwatch.com/story/10-things-your-cruise-line-wont-tell-you-2013-05-10" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.marketwatch.com/story/10-things-your-cruise-line-wont-tell-you-2013-05-10" rel="nofollow">Some estate liquidators will buy items from an estate they’re selling. While this practice might seem harmless—even beneficial, since it helps to clear things out—it presents a potential conflict of interest, some experts say. Some feel a professional should not buy items that she prices, since her motivation to buy might motivate her to set the price low so she’ll pay less—or unreasonably high to drive off other potential buyers. She also shouldn’t hide desirable items during the sale so she can underpay for them when it’s over. Another no-no, according to some experts: paying workers with items from the sale.</a></p><p><a href="https://www.marketwatch.com/story/10-things-your-cruise-line-wont-tell-you-2013-05-10" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.marketwatch.com/story/10-things-your-cruise-line-wont-tell-you-2013-05-10" rel="nofollow"><br /></a></p><p><a href="https://www.marketwatch.com/story/10-things-your-cruise-line-wont-tell-you-2013-05-10" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.marketwatch.com/story/10-things-your-cruise-line-wont-tell-you-2013-05-10" rel="nofollow">Some liquidators will offer clients a flat fee—say $2,000—for the entire contents of an estate. This might be a good option for people under extreme time pressure, or those with estates that are too small to justify holding their own sale. While there’s no hard and fast rule, some experts say estates worth less than $3,000 or $4,000 might not support their own tag sale. However, before accepting a lump sum offer, it’s a good idea to get a second opinion unless it’s absolutely clear there’s nothing of real value in the home, says Barry Gordon, founder of MaxSold, an online auction liquidation company.</a></p><p><a href="https://www.marketwatch.com/story/10-things-your-cruise-line-wont-tell-you-2013-05-10" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.marketwatch.com/story/10-things-your-cruise-line-wont-tell-you-2013-05-10" rel="nofollow"></a>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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