Estate Sales - Lessons Learned

Estate sales are defined in Wikipedia as follows:

An estate sale or estate liquidation is a type of garage sale, yard sale or auction to dispose of a substantial portion of the materials owned by a person who is recently deceased, or who must dispose of his personal property to facilitate a move.

Having defined that, the first lesson I've learned in attending estate sales for over 30 years is that MOST "estate sales" do NOT meet this definition.  Many people use the terminology to generate interest in their yard or garage sales.

In this blog, I will address those estate sales that are both advertised as such and are professionally (?? - more on that later) handled - there is an estate sale company overseeing the sale; pricing; hours; etc. etc.  In most cases, although not all, the actual seller/owner is not present.

In the Atlanta market, there is are a fairly limited number of estate sale companies that handle 90% of the advertised sales (look for sales in newspapers - both print and online and Craigs List).  They usually imbed a key phrase in their ad that tells you which company is handling the sale such as:

• GREAT FINDS (one of my favorites although, sadly, the principal has moved away and seldom comes back into town for a sale)
• From A to Z (one of my least favorites)
• Exclusively
• Look for the Yellow Tags

The companies generally provide a fairly long listing of what is available at the sale so that buyers with a wide range of interests attend.  

These are some of the lessons I've learned:

• The hours are the hours - no exceptions.  You can show up as early as you want, and some people do, but you will be standing in line.
• Generally, prices are much higher than yard or garage sales - most companies work on commissions.
• The prices are usually not negotiable on day 1 but may be increasingly more negotiable as time passes - the best prices (of what is left of course) are available toward end of sale.
• Most companies accept bids and will contact you if your bid is successful (meaning no-one has offered to pay more).  The integrity of this process is not always sacrosanct.  The phrase "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush" comes to mind - if they have an onsite willing buyer who offers a similar price, they will probably let him/her have it and not take the chance that you will not honor your bid.
• Look very carefully before buying or bidding - everything is "as is" and the sellers/companies will not necessarily disclose flaws - even if/when they are aware of them.
• Be prepared for a messy and/or smelly setting - some companies take the time to clean up and others leave you to do that - there is a wide range of how well the sales are organized (usually by company who is working the sale).
• If you want something, let the sellers know immediately - this is definitely first come - first serve.
• Most companies accept personal checks but it's good to have cash in case they don't.
• Most companies add sales tax (they are legally obligated to do so).
• Some companies offer on-site help in moving (be sure to tip the helper is such service is offered) but most do not.  You may need to come back later with help or beg/plead with fellow buyers to help you (I've had many generous helpers but it is a little tricky).
• Be prepared to remove items immediately or before the selling company leaves the premises - they usually are shielding the real owners/sellers from the sale and do not want them inconvenienced.

Those are the tips that come to mind.  I have had a lot of luck with these sales but more often than not find them overpriced and not willing to negotiate to the level I need/want.  I've bought enough over the years to know when something is or is not a good value and that is a definite asset.  

Good luck and let me know how you've done and if I've missed any important advice!

Putting Together the Perfect Room Online

Returning customer, Linda A, asked me to put together a set of refurbished pieces for her family room and was very open to any ideas.  She wanted a colorful, cheery spot where her family could lounge and wanted it to be very distinctive - generating all sorts of "ohhs" and "ahhs".  The fact that Linda had previously bought from me was a major advantage - she already knew I was honest and she trusted my judgment. Working with Linda to create this space involved a number of steps:

• Reviewing my existing products to see if there was a logical starting place - I suggested two different scenarios anchored around two loveseats and complementary fabrics from my collection - providing photos, dimensions and details.
• Sending samples of the fabrics that were being considered (photos and through mail) as well as photos of "before" pieces that could be incorporated.
• Once the overall color scheme and pieces were selected, shopping for another chair and a specific fabric (Calico Corners) that would complement the grouping.
• Obtaining approval for the additional purchases including all costs; completing the purchases; and, arranging for the upholstery work with Song's Upholstery of Norcross, GA.
• Completing all other elements of transaction - billing, arranging shipping, providing progress reports, etc. etc.

Here are the pieces - most are photographed at the upholstery shop - most of the fabrics did come from Calico Corners.  

Loveseat in Buttercup

French Chair in Buttercup

Club Chair in Ralph Lauren Print

Round Ottoman in Faux Suede

I Love Chaise Lounges

Vintage Chaise (SOLD)

The first chaise lounge I ever bought was immediately converted from a business piece (to be sold) to my own - once I sat on it and took a nice nap.  Now it is in my bedroom and it is my favorite place to not only nap but also to read and plan my day.  I love the rich history of chaise lounges and association with Hollywood glamour and Freudian psychoanalysis!

From humble beginnings [as far back as the 16th century], chaise lounge furniture evolved into a symbol of luxury and extravagance, and truly came of age in the 20th century. By the 1930s, chaise lounge furniture came to be associated with Hollywood glamour. Stars of the golden age of cinema, such as Jean Harlow, Gloria Swanson, and Greta Garbo, draped themselves across chaise lounges for photo shoots.  Meanwhile, Victorian-style chaise lounge furniture became a staple of Freudian psychoanalysis, as doctors around the world adopted Freud's method of having patients recline as their dreams were interpreted.

Here are some of my favorites - all are sold:

This lovely vintage piece is the star of my website

This is a Storehouse piece upholstered in Ralph Lauren 

French Style Chaise with Painted Woodwork

American Furniture Manufacturing – A Fine Tradition – North Carolina (first installment)

I thought it would be interesting to research and share information about the great American furniture manufacturers – both those still in existence and those no longer in business - and relate it to the pieces I have acquired over the years.  One of Wydeven Design’s primary goals is to applaud this fine heritage and in my own small way, do what I can to extend the life of the fine quality pieces they have produced.  It is because they have crafted such exceptional furniture that my business of refurbishing “heirloom pieces” exists – there are many pieces around and available and, with any kind of concerted effort, they will still be around for generations to come.

Over the past seven years, I have carefully recorded the provenance of pieces I have acquired and refurbished whenever that information was available.   I noted that many of the finest companies have their origins in North Carolina.   Some have simply vanished; some have been merged with other companies both in NC and elsewhere; and some remain to day as they have stood for decades and more.  I plan to do a series of blogs on fine American manufacturing and this is my first installment focusing on some North Carolina Companies.  In this listing, I will skip well-known and beloved manufacturer, Hickory Chair (Hickory, NC) since I’ve addressed them in another blog.

Bernardt - (link) - Lenoir, NC since 1889.  In 1958, they launched their Flair Division.

Bernhardt Chairs (SOLD)

Lee Industries  - (link) - Newton NC since 1919

Lee Industries loveseat (SOLD)

Statesville Chair Company – (link) - Statesville, NC since 1919

Statesville Chair (SOLD)

Century Furniture – (link) -  Hickory NC since 1947

Disque Furniture Company (out of business) - High Point, NC

Schoonbeck Company (out of business) - High Point, NC

Woodmark Originals (now part of Hekman - link) - High Point, NC since 1964

Woodmark Originals

The list goes on and on and I will introduce others in future blogs. 

There is one lesson here – if you can find pieces made by these great companies – buy them and preserve them – they represent the best in American craftsmanship!!

Upholstered Furniture for Children

One of the truths about home furnishings is that the pieces for children are every bit as expensive as those for adults.  Some years ago, my daughter purchased a very inexpensive little upholstered chair for her first-born and brought it to Mrs. Song's Upholstery to have it recovered - thinking it would be very reasonable.  Unfortunately, as Mrs. Song pointed out, the amount of labor ($$$) for small pieces is about the same as for for larger pieces. She, being the good soul she is and the amount of business I give her, asked one of her master upholsterers if they were willing to take in on as a personal (not shop) project and my daughter was able to get a pretty good discount.     

Hickory Chair Compact - Rose and Green

Caroline's Chaise - Rose and Pale Yellow

Lisa's Chair - Blue and White

I have a number of smaller (not as small as my daughter's piece) in my inventory that are very suitable for children's rooms and suitable through their teen and later years.  The scale and colors are great for other purposes as well!

The Virtual Storefront

For only a brief period in the seven-year history of my little business was I actually a "store".   When I first starting out selling refurbished upholstered furniture, I was approached by an entrepreneur who was setting up an "eclectic" selling space in the heart of Atlanta.  My lovely pieces were integrated with fine oriental carpets, original art and other eye candy - it looked great!  BUT, she had almost no traffic and was forced to close after nine months.  I explored other space options and determined that I neither wanted to stand behind a counter nor pay the freight of leased space - so I started using eBay as a selling source.  I designed a simple listing format and haven't changed it much since.  I also have a website link to wydevendesigns.com  These two sites provide me with a virtual storefront that has brought customers from all over the United States.   I have had sales from Washington State to Florida and from Connecticut to California.  Over 90% of my sales are not in the state of Georgia.  The vast majority of my furniture pieces are bought sight unseen (and not sat on ... which may be even more important)!

There are some virtual storefront tips:

• Create a simple format and stick to it - changing the look and feel of your site too often (whether eBay or website) does not generate viewer/client recognition
• Use photographs to generate visual appeal - make certain to get all the angles and features
• Be brutally honest in the descriptions - customers are already weary of online buying so they need to have confidence in you
• Encourage and use feedback to create comfort for potential buyers - I use a testimonial page on my website and strongly encourage buyers to leave eBay feedback (it is REALLY important)
• Respond promptly and courteously to all inquiries even if you can't provide all the information immediately (e.g., away from your product and cannot immediately get an additional measurement or obtain shipping rates)
• Use a standard shipping rate whenever possible and explain carefully what that shipping process entails - I use Greyhound Package Express as my standard shipping rate since their pricing throughout the continental United States does not vary greatly 
• Discuss speed of shipping by option immediately - some methods take much longer than others

Like everything else you do, the obvious attention you pay to the customer through the virtual storefront either promotes or harms the selling process - act like the customer is standing in front of you and you are trying to make a very good impression!

Linen in Home Furnishings

Linen is a very nice fabric for upholstered pieces - either all linen or a mixture of linen (usually with cotton).  I love the crispness and texture - and the resulting refurbished products always looks great!  I learned that linen is considered to be the oldest fabric.

According to Wikipedia

"Linen textiles appear to be some of the oldest in the world: their history goes back many thousands of years.  Fragments of straw, seeds, fibers, yarns, and various types of fabrics which date back to about 8000 BC have been found in Swiss lake dwellings. Dyed flax fibers found in a prehistoric cave in Georgia  suggest the use of woven linen fabrics from wild flax may date back even earlier to 36,000."

Zoffany Fine linen (SOLD)

Textured Soft Linen (SOLD)

Belgium Linen (Blend)

Ralph Lauren Mid-weight Linen (SOLD)

Heavy-weight Textured Linen (SOLD)