Selling with Clearing House Estate Sales - The Benefits:
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.
CALL TODAY TO SCHEDULE A COMPLIMENTARY ON-SITE EVALUATION 203-327-2227
BIDDERS:
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?
- 1) Visit ClearingHouseEstateSales.Com and sign in with your email and password. Once you are successfully logged in, you will note that the banner at the top of the page will read “WELCOME! [YOUR NAME].
- 2) On that banner you can also access your BIDS, INVOICES, ACCOUNT, and CONSIGNMENTS
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?
- 1) Log into your dashboard
- 2) Click on ACC;
- 3) Choose MANAGE PAYMENT OPTIONS
- 4) + ADD CREDIT / DEBIT CARD button;
- 5) Enter your details as prompted and then click ADD.
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.
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.
