Clearing House Estate Sales is your answer to complete household liquidation. We handle down-sizing and estates with care, sensitivity and professionalism.
We believe it is our responsibility to simplify the process and maximize your financial returns.
All of our estate sales are conducted online and we have found that the expanded audience and bidding enthusiasm generated on the internet increase sale proceeds by 30-50% over traditional estate sale formats.
Additionally, this format maintains the seller’s privacy and limits the risks and exposures associated with a traditional estate sale.
If you are an estate executor or attorney, down-sizing, relocating, or managing a divorce settlement get in touch with us today to schedule a complimentary, no-obligation on-site evaluation of your property by a member of our experienced staff.
We offer highly competitive commission rates, and since our sales are conducted online, seller’s receive an itemized inventory list and settlement check.
Based on 5978 reviews
Connecticut
Verified Bidder
I like Clearing House Auctions. The photography was excellent.
Connecticut
Verified Bidder
no communication from the seller and my charge card was charged twice along with postage which I had already paid through paypal
Connecticut
Verified Bidder
Great experience all around. Items accurately described. Pick-up a breeze.
Ky
Verified Bidder
I paid all fees required. I've requested tracking number with no response. I've contacted the auction house....waiting for a response. First time purchase may be my only purchase.
Massachusetts
Verified Bidder
Nice item. Love Clearing House Estate Sales! 5 Stars
Idaho
Verified Bidder
Good looking dollars. fun auction Thanks
Nh
Verified Bidder
This is my second negative experience with Berman Sales, which is a shame because many of the items in the auction were lovely but it's just not worth it to deal with the owner.
Pros:
1) loading help available at pickup; the 2 gentlemen there were quick to wrap and load my items carefully, despite the poor weather, which I greatly appreciated
2) items generally as described
3) employee Megan seemed to have the best command of what was happening of all of the available staff and was trying her hardest to be helpful
4) other staff offered to help with packing up items; this was very thoughtful
Cons:
1) poor organization and communication amongst Naomi and her team, and the clients; I was originally handed an item by Naomi that belonged to someone else and it was only when it was already in my car that she asked for me to bring it back because she gave me the wrong one
2) Insufficient inventory controls over sold items; one of my items was "still at her house" because Naomi was "taking photos of it". She offered to ship it to me, but I didn't trust this as in a prior auction she had listed items that were somehow given away to someone else. I asked for a refund instead, which she initially agreed to but got salty over and still hasn't processed yet. Another buyer came by for one item and was also told that it wasn't at the pickup site. Why not tell us this before we get to the auction?
3) confusion amongst staff during item allocation and handout; bless Megan for trying to bring order to chaos, but I had 4 different people handing me things and pointing at things, and Naomi flat out walked into the rain with my items uncovered 10 seconds after I asked if I could wrap them in the garage first, despite me yelling after her repeatedly to stop! I also overheard the staff confused regarding what rugs had been sold and were going to whom, and if not for Megan I think that there would have been a lot more problems
4) inconsistent levels of professionalism amongst Naomi and her team. Naomi falters between false accountability and antagonism when dealing with clients, and thought she needed to provided me with feedback when I said I wanted to get my things and be done with dealing with her after she repeatedly kept poking at me about my missing item. This was absolutely precious coming from a person who doesn't have a clue what is going on most of the time.
Megan, spend 6 months learning from Naomi how not to run an auction company and then start your own gig. I'd happily work with you and refer my friends to you in the future. You're better than this.
Nh
Verified Bidder
Thank you for these great items and for being flexible with pickup!
Ohio
Verified Bidder
Love both pieces!.
Connecticut
Verified Bidder
That was a great deal!!
Stamford, CT 06605
Please call or email the auction manager assigned to the auction you are bidding in with any questions regarding items, previews and pick ups. This information can be found on the auction details page for each auction.
Please use the contact information below for selling inquiries and general questions.
Estate Inquiries:
info@clearinghouseestatesales.com
Please call AUCTION MANAGER for questions regarding individual auctions.
CONTACT INFO CAN BE FOUND ON INDIVIDUAL AUCTION PAGES.
Email: info@clearinghouseestatesales.com
We look forward to hearing from you!
Getting in contact with us is now easier than ever! Just fill out the appropriate fields below and we'll get back to you as soon as possible!
EASE One call can do it all! We start with a complimentary on-site evaluation, during flexible hours scheduled at your convenience. Within 48 hours of the completed evaluation you will receive a customized liquidation proposal. Our commission rates are competitive and all-inclusive, we handle everything from sorting, cataloging, research, staging, photography, marketing, advertising and staff through sale completion & pick up. If you’re happy with the proposal and wish to proceed with the sale, just sign & return the contract… we do the rest!
ACCESSIBILITY & EXPOSURE Reaches a broader audience - with a traditional estate sale you may be limited to whoever happens to be in the area and willing to invest their time to take the trip and shop the sale. The online format allows bidders to take their time and view all of your items from the comfort of their home, or on the go with mobile devices. Everyone can shop from anywhere at anytime while your sale is live, and can easily be viewed by bidders from a wide geographical range.
Levels the playing field for buyers - aggressive buyers and dealers and the frantic nature of traditional estate sales can intimidate newer or more relaxed buyers. The online auction format allows everyone a chance to see & bid on every item in the sale, and increases the overall revenue of the sale.
SELL MORE We know… sometimes it’s hard to see Grandma’s favorite mug walk away for $1, but unlike a traditional estate sale, 98-100% of items will sell online, leaving you with more money in your pocket and eliminating the possibility of having 14 tables of miscellaneous “stuff” left over, or having to hire a clean-out contractor after your sale.
MORE ACCURATE PRICING & INCREASED REVENUE A traditional estate sale relies solely on the knowledge and expertise of the estate sale company to determine the final pricing, which despite anyone’s best effort is not an exact science. The online auction format opens your items up to a competitive bidding environment in which prices are determined by the consumer, and often exceed expectations due to unforeseeable factors, such as bidders willing to pay more for reasons such as convenience or nostalgia. Plus, the competitive & timed bidding environment tends to excite bidders and drive prices.
PRIVACY & SECURITY Not interested in having strangers poking through your property? The online format reduces the likelihood of theft as bidders do not enter the premises during pick up, and if bidders wish to see your items before they bid, they do so in a well staffed, relaxed and controlled preview environment without all the commotion of buyer’s haggling, money exchanging hands and people moving about and picking up property.
All payments are made by debit or credit card, pre-approved when bidders register, within 4 hours of the close of the sale, eliminating the risk of bad checks & counterfeit cash. Your items are paid for before the buyer’s even arrive to pick up!
TRANSPARENCY & QUICK SETTLEMENT Since all items are sold online you can follow the bidding live, and once the sale is complete you will receive an itemized inventory list & settlement check within 2 weeks.
What is my “dashboard”? Your dashboard is a place that organizes and presents you account information in one, easy-to-access location. You can access all your account information directly from the dashboard including: items won, consignments, items following, items bid upon, billing info, etc. You can also update your credit card information from your dashboard ( see “How do I change my credit card on file?”) below.
How do I access my dashboard?
Why do you require a credit card on file in order for me to bid? CHES only accepts bids by people whose credit cards are valid, registered and vetted by our credit card processing platform in order to protect the integrity of our auction. We require a valid credit card for all bidders (Amex, Discover, Visa, or Mastercard). Additionally, to ensure efficient processing, the primary credit card on file for all bidders is charged once the auction closes. The charge will include the hammer price, buyers’ premium, and pertinent sales tax.
Please note: All credit card information is encrypted to the highest levels of safety possible and will not be used or distributed for any other purposes.
How do I change my credit card on file?
Once the card is added you can choose to make it your primary (or default) card for any future auction’s auto debit.
If you received notification that you were a winning bidder but your credit card was declined, simply update your credit card on file. You will then notice that your auction winnings will appear in your shopping cart. Simply check-out and you’re all set.
What is an opening bid? An opening bid is the price at which bidding begins. While most of the items in our auctions start at $1, we do occasionally have starting bids of higher value. All lots are subject to reserves.
What is extended bidding and why is it necessary? Much like bidding during a live auction, the auctioneer generally won’t hammer at the first bid. Auctioneers will give other bidders an opportunity to increase their bids until there is no further action / interest in the piece. We feature “extended bidding”in our online auction format because it best mimics live bidding (albeit in a timed format). The CHES system resets the countdown clock to five (5) minutes on any lots that receive bids under the five minute mark.
Why do we use extended bidding you may ask? In order to create the fairest simulated “real-life” auction scenario possible and to prevent “bid sniping.”
Why was I outbid by an amount less than the next minimum increment? Sometimes our bidders wonder how they were outbid by an amount lower than the minimum bid increment ( see bid increments in our Terms & Conditions). All bidders may place their max bids at any time. As a result, you may be outbid by what seems to be an incorrect increment. Let us try to give you an example:
Let’s say you place your maximum bid of $100 on lot #2 but another buyer wins the lot for $101, even though the next increment is $5, not $1. Here is how the scenario might occur...
It’s 4pm on closing day and lot #2 is currently at $15. At 5:10pm you place a maximum bid of $100. There are a few bidders at play and so by the time 5:45pm comes around, the current bid is at $78 with you as the highest bidder. At 7:05pm a new bidder joins in and places his maximum bid of $101. Since this new bidder’s bid of $101 is above the minimum increment at the time she placed the bid, it is accepted by the system. Since there were no additional bids placed before the countdown clock ran out, the $101 bidder wins the lot because it is higher than your $100 maximum bid.
Sometimes I’m immediately outbid. Why? Because all maximum bids are “masked” (hidden from other bidders), you do not know what other bidders maximum bid may be or when they placed it. Sometimes you will be outbid as soon as you bid. This only occurs when another bidder had a higher bid than yours already already in the system. Your bid set in motion the CHES automatic bidding system which raised the other buyer’s bid before yours. The other bidder may have placed their max bid days, hours, or mere moments before you placed yours.
However, if you place a bid and there are no competing bids against your bid, the system WILL NOT immediately go to your next bid. In fact, if you are the only bidder by the time the lot closes, you will win the lot for the lowest possible dollar amount (based on whatever the opening bid was for the item), not your maximum bid. So if you place a max bid of $25 on a lot with an opening bid of $1 and there are no other bidders vying for that lot, you will win it for $1. NOTE: This only happens when there are no competing bids.
I think I won an item but I never got an email with pickup instructions. How do I know and where do I find my pickup instructions? All pickup information can be accessed by logging into your dashboard.
I don’t seem to be getting the emails with pickup instructions upon winning an item? If you are not receiving emails with your pickup info, please notify us by emailing:
Info@ClearingHouseEstateSales.com . Please make sure you also check your email’s spam folder, mark info@clearinghouseestatesales.com as a trusted or “safe” sender and that you have submitted the correct email address on your account.
1. USE OF SITE You may use the Site only in accordance with and subject to these Terms of Use. Once you complete and submit your registration you have opted-in to receive email communication from us and in order to remain a member of this Site, you must agree to receive email from us.
You must also authorize Clearing House Estate Sales to charge the credit or debit card you have entered on this site for the hammer price of an item which you were the high bidder plus the buyer's premium and all applicable sales tax. Your card will be charged within 24 hours of auction end. Failure to keep valid credit card information on file will result in your use of the site being terminated.
To initiate your ability to bid with Clearing House Estate Sales, an itinital $1.00 pre-authorization transaction will appear on your statement. This pending transaction will not settle and will drop off after 5 -7 business days (American Express & Discover may take longer).
You certify that you are an authorized user of this credit card and that you will not dispute the purchase payments with your credit card company provided the transactions correspond to the terms indicated in this authorization outline.
2. MEMBERSHIP ELIGIBILITY The Site is available to members who are 18 years and older and who have not been suspended or removed by CHES for any reason. By becoming a member you represent that you are of legal age. As a member, you agree to provide true accurate, current and complete information about yourself as prompted by the Site’s registration forms. In addition, as a member, you agree and acknowledge that you will maintain valid credit card info within your membership profile so long as you maintain an account with CHES.
3. BUYER’S CONTRACT Bids placed on the CHES website are a binding contract and you are responsible for paying all amounts due to CHES including sale price, buyer's premium and all applicable taxes. Please do not bid if you are unable to pay and take possession of the items in the specified time periods for each auction, sale or event. Any items won and not paid for within 24 hours of auction close are eligible for sale to underbidder(s). All sales are final. No returns, credits or exchanges.
4. ITEM DESCRIPTIONS All items are sold as-is, where-is. While CHES will do its best to list any damage, repairs or restorations, the absence of these descriptions or conditions must not be taken to imply that the lot is in perfect condition. Most of the items CHES sells are antique, vintage or used. You should expect signs of wear consistent with age. CHES offers preview inspections for the sole purpose of allowing the opportunity for personal inspection before placing your bids. Condition reports may be available. All sales are final. No returns, credits or exchanges.
5. BUYER’S PREMIUM A buyer’s premium of 18% will be added to the hammer price in all auctions and will be charged along with the hammer prices and applicable sales tax to the credit or debit card you have on file with CHES within 24 hours of the auction end.
6. SALES TAX All sales are subject to appropriate sales tax laws. Tax exempt buyers must provide the appropriate state sales tax exemption certificate prior to the end of the sale. Upon receipt of such information by CHES, your future purchases will not be taxed. Tax resale forms can be submitted in your membership profile. Your profile name and address must be the same as your resale certificate.
7. RETENTION OF CREDIT CARD INFORMATION By providing your credit card information to CHES, you authorize CHES to charge your credit card for the purchase amount of any successful bid plus the buyer's premium and any applicable taxes.
Your card will be charged within 24 hours of auction end. Failure to keep valid credit card information on file will result in your use of the site being terminated.
To initiate your ability to bid with Clearing House Estate Sales, an itinital $1.00 pre-authorization transaction will appear on your statement. This pending transaction will not settle and will drop off after 5 -7 business days.
You certify that you are an authorized user of this credit card and that you will not dispute the purchase payments with your credit card company provided the transactions correspond to the terms indicated in this authorization outline.
CHES does not store your credit card information for security purposes.
8. PICK-UP Successful buyers must pick up their items at the designated sale location within the assigned time frame as stated in the sale details page.
If after winning an item you determine you are unable to pick up your items during the scheduled removal times and dates, you must contact CHES within 24 hours prior of the pick-up date and we will determine if alternate arrangements can be made. These arrangements will be at the sole discretion of CHES and will be subject to transport, labor and/or storage fees.
9. FORFEITURE OF ITEMS Any items not paid and / or not picked up during the specified pick up time in accordance with the Site’s Terms & Conditions will be forfeited by you. CHES at its sole discretion will reoffer the items or donate them to a charity of CHES’s choosing. CHES reserves the right to report your account to collections for the combined total of the original invoice amount and any moving or disposal charges. Your membership with CHES will be revoked unless past due invoices and any additional charges are paid in full.
10. PROHIBITED USE You agree not to sell, license, rent, modify, distribute, copy, reproduce, transmit, publicly display, publicly perform, publish, adept, edit or create derivative works from content or materials on the SIte. Use of the content and materials for any purpose not expressly permitted in these Terms of Use is prohibited. You may not decompile, reverse engineer, dissassemble, or otherwise reduce the Site to a human-perceivable form, except and only to the extent that such activity is expressly permitted by applicable law, and in that case, only if you notify us in writing in advance . You may not copy, frameset, enclose or otherwise distribute any part of the Site.
A NOTE ABOUT EXTENDED BIDDING ("Soft Close") CHES online auctions feature extended bidding (a.k.a. "soft close"). Is is the closest way to mimic the actions of an auctioneer (in a live auction) in an online/automated format. During a live auction, the auctioneer gives bidders opportunities to increase their bids before hammering the winning bid (when there is no further interest in the lot). Our online, automated system will automatically extend the closing time of a lot (auction item) whenever a bid is placed within the last five minutes of its scheduled closing to allow other interested bidders an opportunity to increase their bid (if the wish to do so). This may occur multiple times on any given lot depending on bidder interest. Once all interest and bidding in a lot ceases, the clock will run out and the lot will close.
Clearing House Estate Sales is expanding! We're currently seeking talented, self-starters to join our amazing team. We offer full training.
If you're interested in joining CHES, send your resume and a quick note outlining why you believe you'd be a good fit to info@clearinghouseestatesales.com.
AUCTION MANANGERS NEEDED: CHES is currently seeking auction managers to join our growing company in the following territories:
If you have an entrepreneurial spirit and are looking to take control of your earning potential, we want to hear from you.
To see details about the role of our auction managers click here.
Clearing House Estate Sales offers a remote, fun, flexible and financially beneficial work environment. Send your letter of interest and/or resume to info@clearinghouseestatesales.com.
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