Summit Estate Sales, Inc. is a full time estate sale company with only one goal in mind, representing your estate sale.  We do not divide our interests with other occupations, therefore you have our complete undivided attention to detail as an estate sale agent.  When specific estate improvement, real estate sales, and moving services are desired, we offer several options from a wealth of  professional service references (also refer to the linked web site service icons on our home page - left column).  

Consultation and Estate Sale Evaluation

   Consultation - Listening first,  to prospective clients and their need for our services is priority #1.  As noted in our introduction, dealing with an estate is a very personal matter often involving a lifetime of memories and generations of estate items and collectibles.  There are several scenarios that create the need for an estate sale including the loss of a loved one, downsizing, moving, divorce settlement, legal actions and unforeseen circumstances.  Each scenario is unique and should be treated accordingly.  In many circumstances, an estate sale may not be the best alternative in resolving the disbursement of an estate.  As the executor to my father's estate, I understand the difficulties one faces in executing a family will, and the resolution of a very large estate.  There are many personal and family details that must be concluded before an estate sale is finalized and agreed upon.  We listen to your ideas and concepts, after all, we are working for you and honoring your values in confidentiality.  And if an estate sale is not the final resolution, we are not offended if we do not get the job.
   Estate Sale Evaluation  -  Upon conclusion to consulting with a prospective client, we conduct a very thorough, comprehensive and written  Estate Sale Evaluation (ESE Report). Each ESE Report will detail key sale items, provide a summary of overall estate sale worth, recap any sale operational highlights including:  marketing, operating and sales strategies, length, time, and date of sale, customer logistics and safety measures, and scheduling of presale preparation days and times. The ESE Report will also determine the feasibility of conducting an estate sale, and offer a client viable alternatives if an estate sale is not recommended.  Upon mutual consent of conducting an estate sale, we provide our clients with a very detailed written legal binding contract that outlines the responsibilities and obligations of all parties involved.  We take our business very seriously and leave nothing to chance.  All information provided and shared during the Consultation and Estate Sale Evaluation period will be completely confidential between Summit Estate Sales and the prospective client. 

Full "Turn-Key" Estate Sale Operations

   Pre-Sale Operations -   The most critical stage of a successful estate sale is the preparation or pre-sale period.  From contract signing to the actual start date of an estate sale will generally involve a 2 week sale preparation period (large estates may take longer).  During this period, Summit Estate Sales will:
      

• Establish premise work schedule and secure utility usage.
• Obtain all required city sales permits and business licenses.
• Secure safe traffic and street logistics, notify local authorities as to any road restrictions and street closures.  Properly post any road, curb, and driveway restrictions.
• Secure neighborhood relations regarding the sale time table, possible traffic congestion and the marking of personal property restrictive zones.
• Safe proof sales premises by utilizing protective measures to preserve new flooring, carpet and fragile structures, posting restrictive areas within the sale zone, posting safety signs in hazardous walking areas (steps, low overhangs, loose shelving, etc.),  and request/require any necessary preventive maintenance or facility upgrading by the client in sale areas deemed unsafe, dangerous, or not up to code. This might include exposed fuse boxes and electrical wiring, unsafe flooring, structural hazards, etc.
• Development of a preplanned customer traffic logistics offering limited entrance and exiting, theft prevention, crowd control and occupation limit monitoring, reduced checkout threshold times, and providing a comfortable shopping atmosphere to stimulate customer purchasing. Special considerations will be addressed regarding multiple sales zones (ie. more than one building such as a barn, shop or adjoining structure).
• Post all sale hours, codes of conduct, bidding, payment and discount policies in high visibility and strategically placed areas utilizing professionally designed signage.
• Assign all professional staffing based on sale size and operational demands.
• Preplan with the client all estate sale related client contracted and professional services including real estate agents, cleaning and trash disposal services, etc.    

      Pricing and Merchandising - Summit Estate Sales will spend the extra time to carefully research your antiques and collectibles.  We provide extensive research of all collectible fields utilizing several areas of expertise including - reputable dealers, collectors, high end-auction houses and professional appraisers, our massive library on reference, trade, and price guide materials, internet research,  professional club affiliations, and our own professional intuition.  Our intent is to maintain as much value at the estate sale as possible.  However in some cases, certain items with notable value may be sent directly to upper end auction houses or sold on the internet that may realize several times their value in a different buying field.  
      Cleaning and Merchandising - It pays off to take the extra care and time to make sure all sale items are properly cleaned and professionally displayed for maximum exposure and marketability.  We provide lockable display showcases for the small valuable items such as jewelry and coins which may be targeted by untrusting shoppers (shoplifters).  Each selling area or room will be carefully planned as to how it well be merchandised.  In short, buyers can expect to enter our estate sale as if they would be entering your attractively organized and displayed house.  Kitchenwares will be organized in the kitchen, tools and hardware in the garage or workshop,  and books prominently displayed in their bookcases.  Sale items sell better when properly grouped together by items or sets. Attractive furniture and shelves provide excellent display areas for desirable collectibles and antiques.  Aesthetically pleasing items will be organized so their beauty can be seen .  Special care will be given as to the placement of fragile and breakable items.  Another merchandise strategy that works well is to place items in an "action mode".   For instance, place setting a dinner table with sales items as you would for a formal dinner is very eye appealing, and demonstrates the action mode of selling.   We also provide long tables for display of large volume of knick-knacks or collectible items.
      A Special Note on Pricing - There's nothing more heartbreaking when a very desirable collectible is degraded or damaged due to improper pricing techniques.  Summit Estate Sales prices with care only using light pencil markings for paper, ephemera, and book collectibles, special pressure sensitive labels on collectibles, and string tags clearly marked and identified on antique furniture and larger items. Our staff will take every precaution possible to oversee the buying public, to answer their questions and to prevent possible sticker price swapping.  Price tags and labels on valuable antiques and collectible will be clearly identified so that the cashier can verify the match of the price tag with its corresponding selling item. Our bidding program policies and protocol on designated sale items will be clearly posted and user friendly for our customers.

   POS and Advertising -  We utilize four basic forms of advertising an estate sale:  local newspapers, internet website and subscribers, flyers and mailers, and POS signage.

• Local Newspapers - In the Kansas City area, generally the Kansas City Star is utilized as the main source of paper advertising media. Week prior to your sale we would include an ad detailing the highlights and "tickler information" of your sale (without revealing the exact location) in the Sunday classifieds to stimulate buyer attendance.  The Sunday ad would also reference the next classified ad which would run (with the specific sale address) the day prior to the actual start sale date.  A third reinforcing ad would be placed the day of the start sale date.
• Internet Website and Website Subscription - Once a contract is signed and exact contents for the sale are determined, we immediately log the estate sale on our website calendar and upcoming sales events pages.  Detailed sales information can be added on these pages (with the exception of announcing the exact location which would be added the day before the start sale date).  All subscribers will receive automated emails flagging them on your upcoming sale. Our website will also display digitally colored enhanced photography highlighting key sale items and displays from the sale to increase the "visual marketing experience" to our buyers.  Also expressed throughout our website, Summit Estate Sales gives both the client and customer a full comprehension regarding who we are, what you can expect from us as an estate sale company, and how we conduct an estate sale.
• Flyers and Mailers -  Informative flyers on our upcoming estate sales will be posted in area antique malls, antique and trade shows, community and retail centers, and at our own estate sales.  We may utilize a mailer program if the sale warrants additional advertising to key professional antique dealers and collectors.  If you plan on selling your house or real estate property where the sale is conducted, we can provide attractive flyers and key realtor contact information.  In many instances real estate is purchased by an attending estate sale customer. 
• POS Signage - Pending local ordinances, all directional and site signage will be posted the evening prior to the estate sale start date.  ALL directional and site signage will be of professional quality (no hand written signage).   

   Sale Operations -  Up to this stage, most of the hard work has been accomplished!  We take considerable pride in the preparation stages so your estate sale runs smoothly, generating positive buying experiences for our customers, and profitable end results for you our client.  Money is an issue in itself.  We make sure only one person is responsible as the cashier and the "two-deep" leadership rule applies to our personnel at the checkout area. Any price indifferences or missing tag issues will be handled or checked upon by the "floor" personnel only.  We create a very user friendly buying environment by posting all sale policies and action signs for maximum viewing, provide our prepared and knowledgeable staff members with identifying company shirts, expedite all customer purchases in a expedient and caring manner, and regulate sale operations and customers relations as if we were conducting a sale in our own home.    Professionalism, organization, and good old fashion courtesy will keep our customers satisfied, and anxious for our next estate sale!

   Post Sale Operations -  At the conclusion to the estate sale,  we provide our client with a copy of the daily cash register tape and sale financial recap report.  The final sale report summary with our business check for the sale proceeds minus our commission will be mailed typically 5 days after the estate sale is concluded.  At this time buyers of larger items will make final moving and hauling arrangements for item pickups.  We will arrange for unsold sale items to be picked up by a reputable auctioneer to be sold, or offer the remaining items to an estate liquidator for an agreed upon price.  Once the house is completely empty of all items, we will "broom clean" the premise, and dispose of the remaining ordinary household trash at no additional cost (provided that you maintain your trash service).  If there is excessive trash, or if you have discontinued your trash service, we can arrange to have it removed at an additional cost. Please keep in mind we do not dispose of any organic matter, chemicals, paints, or hazardous materials.   As noted earlier, we are happy to provide our clients with contact information on realtors and professional cleaning companies and facility improvement contractors if additional services are desired.