What would you think about having an estate sales event where EVERYTHING from start to finish was free?!? Would you go? Would you join a membership to be a part of it? Would you pay $10 for a membership fee? Would you pay $25.00? (to fund the cost of creating an app to be read with our phones to see who is a member and who is to be allowed into each event) to be a part of free estate sale events on a regular basis?
What thoughts do you have on this option of business model for sales that cannot weather the prepping or staging costs of a hoarder type house? Would you be eager? Or would you be fearful to enter a house where everything that was inside or outside the home was free for the taking? Would it be exciting to you? Would you come?
Please do not email Jennie with ANY questions about this future model of estate sale. We have nothing set in stone but rather are looking for ways to make this work for you. If you DO have any colorful ideas to share about how this might work better, please feel free to share them via email. We always welcome constructive criticism and look forward to reading any new thoughts you may have on helping this to be a more fair minded and enjoyable possibility.
Just fishing for now…. email Jennie your thoughts at jennie-at-jenniekrausse-dot-com
So far our thoughts are this;
Sign up lists stay as they always have been; first people to arrive police the list and if you leave the property your name will be removed and added again in the tail end upon your return.
There will be no donuts or coffee or water, cover, chairs or other costly additions to these events. There will be no hold tables, labor to help you or boxes/bags provided. We simply cannot afford to pay out of pocket for something that is making no money.
There will be a limited number of people let inside each house at a time to keep the fire code in check. The amount of people allowed inside initially, would depend of the size of each home. More than likely it would be between 50-100 people the same as we allow inside each home now. On larger sales we have allowed over 200 people inside the homes with no adverse affects, orderly conduct and no issues.
Once a person fills a box it must be removed from the house to their vehicle immediately (no stacking or hoarding of boxes…one box per person at a time inside the home is fair) once that person goes outside and takes their box away, they then start at the back of the line for their next entry into the home with their own fresh box to be filled. This allows us to empty the home but at the same time not have one family or person to take the entire content in one fell swoop. We will have a limit of 10-20 minutes for each person to fill a box inside the home to keep the line moving. You will not be allowed to dawdle inside the house for hours on free events or we will never get the home emptied. This just makes more sense to move the line along and have everyone get a fair chance at taking something for free.
No holding or saving of anything inside the home. If you tag it you remove it at that time. Immediately. It goes out the door when you do. No one hoards any furniture or large art pieces they need to come pick up later. Rather, the next person who wants it…takes it right then. Otherwise one person with sticky notes could easily tag the entire house and never show up to remove the items.
We are limited to three or four hours to empty the entire property. We will still need to deep clean the home before returning the keys to the owner/realtors. Know in advance to come prepared with friends and family who will load you up. We cannot and will not be able to assist you with any lifting or loading of heavy items.
No hold tables…you box your own items into your own boxes and load them into the car yourself. Think ahead. If you want one box of items you are probably good to come alone. However if you plan on getting ten boxes…unless you believe you have 20 hands, bring 9 friends along to assist you.
No removal of any appliances or fixtures unless they are tagged to take. Nothing attached to any house is to be taken for free. We will have crew in each room and outbuilding to be sure nothing is taken that is not to go from the premises.
No running, rushing, pushing, shoving, stealing or looting of another persons items. Be respectful or you will be asked to leave. As per usual, this is private property and not a public venue. You do not have the right to act as you do in your own home. You are a guest!
Be sure to always bring bags, boxes and ways to move any items you might want. If you are coming for a washer, dryer or fridge and they are free, by all means pack a furniture dolly in the truck along with your nephews and or people you hired to help you load and lift it, tools to remove it and know-how to disassemble it if need-be.
Never smoke in or around any of these houses. Do not drink or come to the event impaired. No one likes to call for assistance from the police and it is a drain on their resources but if we must, we will have you removed from the property immediately if any disorder is to take place.
We are hoping for peaceful, fun and fair free events where everyone gets what they need and no one goes home unhappy. This may not be possible, but we can sure try to make it happen by thinking it out in advance and planning ahead for a best case and worst case scenario.
Thanks for the read and we look forward to your advice and thoughts.
Jen and crew