Wednesday, March 22, 2017

ESTATE AUCTION

760 Keimsteadt Rd
Kenny, TX
Sunday MArch 26 starting at 11 AM

All American Auction has been contracted to liquidate the estate of William K. Foss
 Mr. Foss was an international traveler and has some interesting items for us to sell.
14 Head of cattle will be included in the sale. Property will be offered at auction by Mark Switzer at around 2:00 PM. Please join us onsite as we liquidate this country estate!!

Firearms will be kept in a secure off-site location until auction day!
 
10% Buyer's Premium will be in effect on all items sold!

NO Internet bidding will be available for this sale.
 
Bring a chair and join us for this estate auction.
Everything must go!! We will be auctioning outdoors so bring a hat or umbrella. Yard has lots of shade but you won't want to sunburn.

Refreshments and food will be available onsite

Come one, come all for a day of beautiful items, useful furniture, friendship, fun and every now and then a bargain!
We accept MC/Visa, & Discover, personal checks(run electronically) and cash.


Got an item or house full of items to sell? Don't want to hassle with a newspaper ad, a garage or an estate sale? Not sure what your items are worth? An auction is a great way to turn those items into cash. Since auctions attract all types of buyers you'll get a fair market price for your item and you won't have to haul the items in and out to the driveway. In some cases we can offer you a buy out bid and save you all sorts of time and trouble. Remember too, the auctioneer is licensed and regulated by the state of Texas and folks you hire to do a tag or an estate sale for you are not! If we can be of service or if you have any questions give us a call at 254-583-4329 or 254-583-4270. Cells: 281-507-8713, 254-493-8853 or 254-716-0532.
The only way to buy and sell is at auction!

Come to one of our sales and see what we mean. We promise you will enjoy yourself!

J. Bartosh #13414 

T. Cooper #15810
Estate sale dangers & liabilities: Advice from Estatesales.org

Avoid Harming Clients, Customers, and Yourself

An estate liquidator faces numerous liabilities when walking into someone’s home with the intent to open it up to the public. This is one reason why people hire an estate sale company in the first place. A professional knows how to make sure everyone stays protected, bodily, legally and financially. Selling to the public can open up a whole grey area of litigiousness, which can be tricky and expensive to navigate alone or thoughtlessly. With rapid changes in the industry and more people needing liquidation services, estate sale contracts are getting longer and more complex. If anything bad happens, you need to make sure you’re covered.
Estate Sale Contracts Inclement Weather
Proper insurance is key—for both the estate sale company and the homeowner. Did you know most home insurance policies become null and void after a certain period of inoccupancy? This means if the estate owner passed away weeks or even days prior, there could be a lapse in coverage. This is not something you want to find out the day of the sale, or worse, when it’s too late. Make sure the home insurance policies are current and can cover the cost of damage in a worst case scenario.
Insurance is protection in case something happens on the premises. But insurance won’t help if you sell something from the estate that’s illegal or harmful. Depending on the offense, you could get hit with a hefty fine, sued in civil court, or even serve jail time.
Taking the time to get educated before making these mistakes can save money and heartache later. We talked to estate sale veterans, American Society of Estate Liquidators (ASEL’s) Julie Hall and National Estate Sale Association (NESA’s) Martin Codina to get their thoughts on these common dangerous issues often encountered when holding an estate sale.
Items to Think Twice About Selling
1. Discontinued Toys
Tons of toys have been discontinued, especially vintage ones, and sometimes they show up at estate sales. The question is, is it legal to sell dangerous, discontinued toys like Clackers, Cabbage Patch Snacktime dolls, “slap” bracelets, some versions of the Easy Bake oven, or Jarts—to name just a few? Some people might say the toys will just stay in the box as collectibles, or that Jarts don’t kill people. . . people kill people.
There are state laws concerning this. Of course since no one is actively checking up on estate sales, it’s ultimately up to the estate sale company to decide whether or not the risk of breaking state laws or causing possible injury is worth it. (Everyone we talked to agrees: no, it isn’t okay!)
guns on display at an estate sale
2. Firearms
Not only is the subject of selling firearms a huge grey area, it’s also a hot political topic. It’s true people have a right to own guns, and when they die, someone has to handle the estate’s firearms. As an estate sale liquidator you have a few options:
a. Suggest your client contact an FFL dealer to handle the sale of all firearms. A word on referrals: some estate sale companies avoid referrals to avoid any possible liabilities. It’s an easy way to avoid any hassles that may arise. Unless you’re super familiar with the company whose services you recommend, it may be safer, to stay general in your recommendations.
b. Let an auctioneer handle the firearms. Auctioneers have licenses and are used to dealing with items that go beyond the normal scope of an estate sale, like firearms. If you don’t know anything about firearms, (or farm equipment or fine art or jewelry, etc.) it’s a good idea to let an expert handle it who does.
c. Handle the sale yourself at your own risk. Consult your state laws regarding selling firearms at private sales or talk to your state official. In general estate sales are treated as “private sales” and private sale gun laws vary per state.
A word on this: Finding the right answers to legal questions can be like searching for a needle in a haystack. In case you haven’t noticed, people in government can be hard to get a hold of, and legalese isn’t often clear. Between outdated website content and infuriating phone trees, finding information can be a chore. Not to mention all the conflicting information out there. Organizations like ASEL and NESA that are made up of living, breathing estate sale veterans can steer you in the right direction.
3. Knives
Like guns, knives are often found in estates across the U.S. and are subject to state laws. Julie Hall points out many states have a “fixed” versus “folded” law, as well as limits on length. Like firearms, knives considered “vintage” or “antique” may be subject to even different laws.
4. Food
It might sound preposterous, but some estate sale companies think it’s okay to sell off someone’s old pantry leftovers because hey, they’re canned. This is not okay! In fact many states have laws requiring special licenses or certifications to sell food to the public—for good reason.
When coming into someone else’s estate, Martin Codina points out, you don’t know anything about that food, how long it’s been there, or how it’s been handled. Selling it to someone who plans to consume it is a risk not worth taking. Throw out all food or donate the canned goods.
Liquor bottles at an estate sale
5. Alcohol
You’re likely to run into alcohol at an estate, and most of the time alcohol keeps for ages. Does this mean you should sell it? Absolutely not. There are probably laws against selling bottles of booze in your state (and definitely concerning selling to minors or criminals), and selling half-used items of anything is pretty tacky.
6. Drugs or Contraband
Just say no. . . to selling drugs that could potentially hurt your customers and get you in trouble. (To be safe, just say no to selling drugs of any kind). It’s not unusual to find over-the-counter medications and prescriptions drugs at an estate. Here are a few items bound to pop up:
a. Over-the-counter medications
We all have these laying around, from innocuous pills like Advil or Tylenol to more regulated o-t-c meds like cough medicines. While most estate sale companies probably wouldn’t sell them, the issue is they’re likely to just throw them away. Don’t do this!
While it might have been okay in the “old days” to just toss old medications, now we know more about what happens to these drugs after they’re trashed – and it’s not pretty. They get into the water system, endanger wildlife, and ultimately affect our delicate eco-system. Sure, it’s much easier to toss it and forget it—especially if you conduct a lot of estate sales. But don’t let this stop you from being diligent. There are proper ways to dispose of medication. Julie Hall suggests techniques like packing pills with coffee grounds or neutralizing meds in white vinegar.
Some cities even have Drug Drives, like Shredding Events, where you can dispose of drugs safely and properly.
medication at an estate sale
b. Prescription medication, including narcotics or opioids
This should be a no-brainer, considering it’s a federal offense to take medicine that’s not prescribed to you. Dispose of them properly, or turn them in to a medical facility. Two things to watch out for around narcotics and opioids especially:
Your employees. While we all want to think we hire trustworthy people, there are some out there who may think it’s a good idea to steal someone’s medical stash to take or sell on the street later. Martin Codina suggests keeping an eye out to be safe.
The environment. In the case of regulated medications, be mindful of tossing these in the trash where animals or dumpster divers could find it—it could end up in the wrong hands (or paws).
c. Marijuana
Since marijuana has been legalized in some states for medical and/or recreational use, it’s possible you may run across someone’s stash of wacky tobacky. It’s also possible the estate executor doesn’t know about their client’s hidden stash. Use your own judgment in this situation to flush away the evidence. . . or whatever else you may decide.
d. Cocaine, heroine, etc.
Hard drugs should be reported to the local authorities for obvious reasons. Plus, Scarface might be coming to get it. . . or the money for it. Probably not a situation you want to handle yourself.
7. Pornography / Sex Toys
Pornography isn’t illegal, and different estate sale companies have their own ideas about selling it. Generally, we all know there are different levels and kinds. If it’s cheesecakey vintage photos or celebrity-related, it’s probably fine for an estate sale and likely will sell quickly. Some companies may want to restrict sex-related items to a restricted room in case of children present.
Other liquidators may choose to dispose of the items or let the executor handle the estate. As one liquidator put it: Do you really want to be known as the people who sell porn at estate sales?
Sex toys? Use your good judgment.
As in anything, trust your instincts on this and maybe put it through the “mom test” (which I just made up). Would you feel comfortable selling it to someone’s mother? If not, maybe take a pass.
cans of bug spray and pesticides8. Pesticides and Chemicals
There are no particular regulations concerning this, but some estate sale companies refuse to sell lawn chemicals and other pesticides because they are hazardous to people, pets, and the environment. Again, it’s your call.
Estate Sale Environmental Hazards
Homes can present a lot of other hazards as well—the ones that aren’t for sale. As anyone with homeowners insurance knows, the minute someone gets injured on your property, it can turn into an expensive ordeal. Multiply that risk by a thousand when you open up an estate to the public for a sale.
As mentioned, it’s pertinent the home has a current insurance policy that covers the cost of damage in the event someone has an accident or becomes impaired for some reason in the home. In addition to insurance there are other precautions you can take because all too often a claim ends up being one word against another’s. You can never document too much or take too many photographs of the premises beforehand.
Moldy estate
Mold and Soft Goods
Everyone knows about black mold, that nasty stuff resembling pond scum seen growing on walls and ceilings. But what about the zillion other kinds of mold? These can be dangerous, too, but invisible—and you never know who might have a reaction.
“Soft goods,” porous items like upholstery or things made from paper like books and ephemera, can breed mold just by breathing in a moldy environment. If you walk into someone’s home and smell mold, there’s a reason for that, Martin Codina says. It’s because there’s mold. What kind of mold is much harder to tell—as well as who it might affect—and you don’t have the time or resources to test spores. To be safe, some estate liquidators won’t sell soft goods from an estate with mold – knowing those goods contain mold spores that can be spread to other people and places.
It’s a tough job to have to tell a client their things cannot be sold due to mold, and many won’t like hearing this, but know you’re doing the right thing by keeping it away from the public.
Pests and Their Droppings
When walking into someone’s estate, one thing is certain: you never know what you’re going to find. Julie Hall suggests to train yourself to look in the nooks and crannies where critters might like to congregate. Infestations can occur between walls, so pay attention to scurrying or buzzing sounds. The last thing you want is for a bee attack to happen, where a shopper gets stung and sent into anaphylactic shock. Sure, this is a worst-case scenario, but the point is: bugs are more than just a bother—and if they’re inside somewhere—they can get out!
Droppings are also not okay. They can carry viruses often fatal to humans. Be mindful about vacuuming up droppings and spreading them this way— or vacuuming a rug and then selling the rug—as well as how you dispose of the mess (use biohazard bags).
Common droppings:
Mice
Rats
Roaches
Cat or Dog
dangerous old estate
A lot of old homes, especially homes where senior citizens live, haven’t been kept updated. Older people often don’t have the energy to do things like change lightbulbs or other maintenance jobs. These things might seem minor but can turn into a major catastrophe fast! As an estate liquidator you should develop an eye for noticing things – up high, down low, in corners, in the dark. You should also be prepared to do a little maintenance or handiwork yourself, including carrying a flashlight to examine things others might not easily see.
Poor Estate Conditions
Be mindful of the estate sale location’s overall conditions. Of course there are disaster situations, like hoarder households and this is the subject for another blog post. But things like loose railings or broken steps, loose rocks, anything people can trip on can be a real liability. Do whatever you can to secure areas where people might trip like rugs, poorly lit hallways or narrow, steep stairways.
poorly lit estate hallway
Bad Lighting
Homes that haven’t been well maintained could have missing or dimmed bulbs—which can make it hard for people to see in narrow hallways or stairwells. When replacing these lights be sure not to use wattage higher than suggested, warns Julie Hall. Homes built in the early 1900s can’t handle modern bulbs and using higher watts can be an electrical hazard.
Bodies of water
Ponds, fountains, swimming pools, even buckets of water can all be danger zones with small children around. Be wary of any bodies of water that might be unattended and either use signs, caution tape or some other means to create a boundary around them.
Estate Sale Solutions
1. Post Signs
Never underestimate the power of a sign—and if you think you only need one, use two. Signs are very important and can alert people to ramps, steps, dips in structure and anything else a stranger might not be looking for. Remember, when people are shopping they’re engaged in looking— usually eye level, so they won’t think to look up or down when moving around, said Julie Hall. Use bright neon signs that can easily be seen.
2. Use Barriers
Don’t be afraid to block off shady areas, like ponds, fountains, or rickety parts of the estate that could be a danger to shoppers. Bright yellow caution tape works well for this.
3. Be Specific in the Estate Sale Contract
Be sure to go over worst case scenarios with your lawyer so you can cover yourself in the estate sale contract. The more detailed and clear your contract is, the less likely you are to get slapped with a lawsuit in the event something bad happens.
Thanks again to Julie Hall “The Estate Lady” and Martin Codina of Fine Estate Sales for their help with research!
Visit ASEL and NESA for more industry resources and be sure to join our Facebook Group to meet other estate sale professionals.

Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Now I have heard it all!! I know many auctioneers will say "you name it, I can sell it!" Yet this beats all. Auctioning water!!
There is definitely a battle going on as far as water is concerned....who needs it more? Cities or Agriculture??
In a recent auction water was up for bid. 400 acres with water rights. The selling price? $12.6 million dollars! And only 40 miles from Denver, Colorado.
Check out the details water auction

Sunday, October 19, 2014

When the Bidding Stops: AuctionZip uShip Deal Addresses Online Auction Buyers’ Big Frustration


AUSTIN and BOSTON – July 9, 2013 – For years, auction houses have opened their doors to online buyers. Yet few have adequately addressed the “Now what?” question virtual buyers invariably ask when faced with shipping after winning an item.

A partnership between online auction marketplace AuctionZip and uShip, the online shipping marketplace, is making the post-auction experience more e-commerce friendly for Internet-based buyers by placing uShip’s Shipping Price Estimatortm directly within Lot Detail pages on the Artfact network of Web properties, including Artfact.com, Auctionzip.com and Invaluable.com.

Customers now see approximate shipping costs based on comparable item, weight and distance moves on uShip, and then within a few clicks, can connect with thousands of feedback-rated service providers in uShip’s network to get their item moved, whether it’s decorative arts, antiques or collectibles.

uShip’s marketplace connects people with transport companies that competitively bid to win business. Carriers use uShip to maximize their loads and fill extra truck space at deeply discounted rates, helping customers save an average of 50 percent over traditional rates.

“We heard from our customers that they wanted a way to determine shipping costs and get their items moved after winning. Our partnership with uShip gives them an easy and affordable way to do that,” said Josh Hale, vice president of product & marketing, AuctionZip.

“uShip’s Shipping Price Estimator can serve as a pricing barometer specifically for AuctionZip customers who may not be aware of the cost to transport auction items. It offers a reliable source for that information and gives them access to trusted service providers who understand what it takes to move larger-than-parcel deliveries,” said Philip Strohl, vice president, business development at uShip.

Saturday, April 12, 2014

Items are already rolling in for the July 4th annual sale. Nice coins, several Colt firearms, Beautiful old furniture and many more nice items. Be sure to check out the pictures. Tomorrow we will be getting pictures for the April 19 estate auction. Be sure to check them out at www.aaauction.net in the coming days.

Sell through percentage

In leading auction houses what is considered a good percentage of 'lots sold' per sale?
Aaron EdwardsMedia & Marketing Coordinator at Brunk Auctions 
Votes by Marc BodnickYair Livne, and Cody Reid.


There are several variables that factor in to the percentage. I can not speak for Christie's or Sotheby's, but I do work for a reputable auction house in the Southeast US with an international clientele, and we normally average 95% to 92% of lots sold.

One of the major factors to consider when determining this percentage is reserve price. Without a reserve price, several unsold items would likely sell for less than the consignor are willing to let the item go for. Auction houses with higher reserve prices are likely to have more passed lots. Also, if the estimate is initially too high, bidders will be less likely to compete or even bid on that item.

The item as it relates to market interest is also another factor in percentage of lots passed. For instance, if an auction is heavy on low-end Asian antiquities in the current market, more lots are likely to pass than say some of your best works by American Impressionists.

Overall, auction houses will try to sell every item, as it takes a considerable amount of resources to locate, ship, handle, provide condition reports, catalog, photograph, and market items. Passed lots are basically lost money and wasted time.

Monday, July 9, 2012


eBay is NOT an auction site

The idea of eBay as an auction website is nothing more than clever e-commerce marketing.
As a professional auctioneer, eBay is a regular part of my lexicon. Many people I talk to commonly associate online auctions with eBay. eBay has done well marketing their service, because while they do have a bidding process, they are not an auction site. eBay does not conduct online auctions; items sold on eBay are not sold at auction. They promote the idea of an auction without actually having one.
The definition of an auction is: “[a] public sale in which property or items of merchandise are sold to the highest bidder.” Source: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/auction
eBay does not sell anything to the highest bidder. Instead, items are sold on eBay to the winning bidder at a pre-set end time. There is an entire cottage industry that builds software to deploy last second bids on eBay. This behavior is known as “snipping.” By entering a bid with only a few seconds left, other users do not have enough time to enter a counter-bid before time expires and the sale is made.
By having a pre-set ending time instead of selling to the highest bidder, eBay effectively circumvents auction laws created to protect buyers and sellers. They also get around licensing requirements in many states. Many items on eBay are sold for less than their actual value because time expires before bidders have a chance to bid again after being outbid. In the past on eBay I have been a buyer willing to pay more for an item but didn’t get my bid placed before the sale closed, and I have also been a seller who received calls from upset bidders pleading me to sell them the item for more than the final price listed on eBay.
eBay doesn’t even claim to be an auction. The eBay user agreement states that they are a venue to conduct “auction-style formats.” Their user statement goes on to state: “you acknowledge that we are not a traditional auctioneer. Instead, our sites are venues to allow anyone to offer, sell, and buy just about anything, at anytime, from anywhere, in a variety of pricing formats and locations, such as stores, fixed price formats and auction-style formats.” Source: http://pages.eBay.com/help/policies/user-agreement.html
At a real auction, online or live, there is a binding contract between buyer and seller. eBay expressly states that bids DO NOT create a formal contract: “For certain categories, particularly Motor vehicles and Real Estate, a bid or offer initiates a non-binding transaction representing a buyer’s serious expression of interest in buying the seller’s item and does not create a formal contract between the buyer and the seller.” Source: http://pages.eBay.com/help/policies/user-agreement.html
Not a binding transaction?! This defeats the purpose of a website that is supposed to sell items. When all is said and done, eBay is just a marketing site charging a fee for an ad. If the buyer can walk away from a bid without repercussions, no transaction has occurred, and no one is any better off.
eBay is a site for consumer to consumer transactions. It is a place to sell tchotchkes, collectables, trinkets and other C-to-C items. It is an online market place just like Amazon.com, or an online version of a flea market. The design of eBay gives regular people the opportunity to sell online. As such, it is not a professional environment. It is not a place to sell complete estates or to conduct business to business transactions. Their terms and conditions allow too much freedom to back out of transactions once they are complete.
eBay should not be a tool used regularly by licensed auctioneers who make a living using the auction method of selling. Professional auctioneers conduct real online auctions on sites like Proxibid or from their own websites. The rules are different on an authentic online auction website and the terms and conditions allow real business to be conducted. Buyers and sellers are protected and both benefit from a controlled environment.
True online auctions have extended bidding. With extended bidding there is no set closing time. Instead each lot remains open until there are no additional bids for a set amount of time. This method nets the seller more money and insures the buyer willing to pay the most has the opportunity to win the item.
Now that you know the difference between an online auction and eBay, consider avoiding the term “eBay style auction” when describing your online auction. To me, “eBay style” means a clever e-commerce marketing idea where items are sold for less than they are worth to the lucky bidder who got the last second bid. That is not an online auction, nor is it something I want to promote.

by wavebid on February 24, 2012