FAQs
What does payment look like?
Great question! For estate clear-outs, we bill by man-hour and dumping fees where applicable. We have a dump trailer, so no dumpster rental is needed. With estate sales, we have a minimum that must be met. Once the minimum sales are met, we share profits with clients. Once the sale is complete, and any additional labor/cleaning is conducted, we transfer money to your bank account.
What items can be sold?
Please, read our list of items that can be sold prior to removing ANYTHING from your home! You would be shocked at the things people are willing to pay for. A fifty cent item is still contributing to the gross sale. Money in your pocket is what we shoot for!
Do you have insurance?
We certainly do! We have general liability insurance to cover any potential accidents that happen during set-up and tear-down. Homeowners are required to have home-owner’s insurance, to keep everyone safe during the process.
How long does the process take?
We need at least a week and a half to inventory, organize, and price everything. The sale usually lasts three days, with an additional day for a two-hours of everything free. Extra time is required for cleaning-out, if that’s what you choose! For downsizing, we take as long as is necessary to accomplish your end-goal. Clean-outs can be relatively quick, depending on scope of what needs to be done.
Do I need to be present?
We’ve had clients who wish to be present, and those who cannot be there during the process. Either one is totally fine! We are happy to accommodate in any circumstance.
What happens to unsold items?
Our personal goal is to remove as much as physically possible prior to the end of the sale. We accomplish this by pricing items at a fair market value for the first two days of the sale, with the third day being “Deal Day.” Our customers are aware of any deals happening and they come prepared! We also offer two hours of everything free (after the sale has finished) to encourage anyone who can use/needs items to come by and take a look. This ensures as little waste is happening as possible. We partner with local non-profits and charities to go the extra mile in putting usable items into the community’s hands. Once all avenues have been exhausted, we will then dispose of items at a local transfer station. Our goal = LOW waste, and we go the extra mile to accomplish this.
How does Wind & Waves ensure safety and protection of the home and it’s contents during the sale?
Your home’s safety is our top priority. We are careful to not disclose location until absolutely necessary. During sale hours, we staff the home well to ensure our customers have access to help if they need it. We are careful during the winter season to make sure water pumps are off and take other proactive measures to ensure full protection during our process.
Will my personal information or documents be protected?
Absolutely! We do not advertise family names at any point during the sale, and keep any information close to our chests during the sale. Oftentimes, we are asked what will be done with the home, and have sometimes had people come to sales specifically to see what will be done with the home. We keep your personal information safe. Any personal documents, photographs, and belongings are removed and hidden during the sale. Preferably, clients will take care of personal information prior to the sale, but should they be unable to do so, we will assist in that process.
How do you handle valuables or sensitive items?
Sensitive items, such as alcohol, firearms, munitions, and medications cannot be sold. We do know of people who could be interested in purchasing firearms (local, licensed individuals who run firearm stores), but we do not participate in the sale of those items. Medications and alcohol cannot be sold, so clients should assume the responsibility of them prior to the sale. Owner/operator, Hope Linan, is working on becoming credentialed through the International Society of Appraisers to assist clients with appraising value of specific items!
How do you ensure fair pricing?
Trust us, we want to get you the most return that we can. We use a variety of metrics to determine fair pricing. During the inventorying phase, most items are vetted through Ebay, Poshmark, Facebook Marketplace, and Etsy to determine fair market value. Research is key to getting you the most profit at the end of the sale.
Can you meet a tight real estate deadline?
Yes! We are happy to do what we can with a tight deadline. Please keep in mind, due to time constraints, we may not be able to list valuable items and retain their full value.